Creating Connection in South Dakota: the Legacy of Mark Shlanta
Mark Shlanta (1965-2022) was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2022 for his life’s work within the state’s telecommunications industry. Mark led by example, and his legacy of vision, community involvement, and a love of work and learning brought an entire region together. He created jobs and opportunities across many communities in South Dakota and exemplified excellence in the way he connected the state.
His wife, Peggy Shlanta, and former colleague from SDN Communications, Vernon Brown, joined Board Chair John Porter to share more on the legacy of 2022 Inductee Mark Shlanta.
Peggy reflected on Mark’s excitement to understand the inner workings of industries that he served through his work and volunteer efforts.
“Mark would say, ‘Let’s make our community stronger; let's make our connections stronger; let's build a better ship’,” shared Peggy. Vernon reflected on Mark’s leadership in the state, and added, “He was a good connector – a good human connector, and a good technology connector, and always the last one to take the credit”.
Mark’s 23 years at SDN Communications, 21 of which he spent as the company’s CEO, changed the technology and communications trajectory of South Dakota’s future opportunities. SDN worked with the governor’s office to connect the schools and universities with a fiber optic network, opening schools to new technology and strong collaborations.
“We were the first state in the country to have all of the schools connected for broadband services,” shared Vernon.
Mark expanded the fiber optic network to 50,000 miles in South Dakota and surrounding states improving communications and connectivity for mobile wireless, healthcare systems, and state and county governments. His work in expanding broadband and cybersecurity services garnered national attention, and he served as an expert witness for several U.S. Congressional committees. In 2015, an international trade magazine named him a “Progressive Rural Network Evolutionary.” Much of what SDN achieved under Mark’s leadership is invisible to the average resident, but the work he lead became the backbone of daily communication in South Dakota.
To learn more about Mark Shlanta, visit his legacy page here.