Living our values.

The ripple effects of small acts can be extraordinary. Let’s take opportunities to lift up those who could use a little help. Our philanthropy program exists to more closely align our time & effort with our values in order to do more good. And in the immortal words of Montel Jordan…

Team Jack Teammate of the Year

At the 2024 Team Jack Gala, Ed Knott was awarded the Team Jack “Teammate of the Year” award. His involvement in Team Jack dates back to the foundation’s inception in 2013 and his connection to the Hoffman family predates Jack’s diagnosis. Applied Connective and Team Jack have been “big fans” of one another since the foundation’s inception.

In addition to regular financial support, and tech support for that matter, Applied Connective also offers in-kind and discounted labor to Team Jack, puts on an annual month-long fundraiser, and powers its annual radiothon. 

Applied Connective supports the food pantry view

Annual Food Drive

Applied Connective Wraps Presents For Christmas Blessings View

Christmas Blessings

Fulfilling the wish list of several families in Albion and Columbus

Applied Connective Supports Feed the Farmers View

Feed the Farmers at Harvest

We teamed up with US92 and Kayton International to feed local farmers in line for Cargill just down the road from our Albion Headquarters.

Applied Connective Technologies hosts fundraiser for pediatric brain cancer View

Big Summer Kickoff for Team Jack

We teamed up with US92 and Kayton International to feed local farmers in line for Cargill just down the road from our Albion Headquarters.

Applied Connective supports TeamJack view

TeamJack

We could not love TeamJack more. It’s been our pleasure to support this team of world-changers since day one, and we plan to continue our support for many years to come.

Team Jack Radiothon

We’ve been proud to power this annual fundraising event since it began in 2013.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness View

Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Lighting our building up with blue lights and supporting the cause by wearing blue! Screening is important; early detection makes a difference.

Applied Connective Winter Coat Drive View

Coat Drive

Supporting local shelters by donating new or gently used cold weather gear.

Applied Connective Pediatric Brain Cancer Event View

Benne(fi)tt Matball Fundraiser

A teachers versus staff matball game and fundraising event to support the Bennett family, a local family whose daughter is battling a pediatric brain tumor.

Pediatric Brain Cancer Fundraising

Rallying local businesses to display rainbow art in support of a local third grader battling a pediatric brain tumor and donating to TeamJack in honor of her.

Applied Connective Technologies Supports Blessings In A Backpack View

Blessings in a Backpack

Applied Connective packages meals for Blessings in a Backpack twice a year.

Applied Connective Donates To Lego League View

Donating Laptops to Lego League

We love supporting local lego leagues and robotics clubs with financial support & donation of equipment!

Applied Connective supports Habitat for Humanity View

Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build

Building a home for a very deserving family in Columbus, NE.

Applied Connective Charity Golf Event View

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Golf

Operation Gratitude

Every year after Halloween, we send leftover candy to deployed troops.

Winter Clothing Drive

Winter clothing collected to be donated to area youth in need.

50/50 Spree

To celebrate reaching 50 employees, Ed gave everybody $50 to keep and $50 to give to a worthy cause.

Applied Connective Valero Food Drive 2024 View

ACT & Valero Food Drive

In 2024, we challenged another local business to a food drive competition…and won (barely)!

Ed Knott and Applied Connective Technologies are iPledge members for the Columbus Area United Way View

iPledge

Supporting the incredible work of the Columbus Area United Way

Blood Mobile

Many of our employees donate blood regularly.

Breast Cancer Awareness T-Shirt Drive

Proceeds are donated to the Cancer Care Program at Boone County Health Center to purchase gas and grocery gift cards for local cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Boone Beginnings In-Kind Work

Support for our local high-quality daycare center meant involvement from day one. We’re so grateful to have such an impressive and awesome facility in small-town Nebraska. We provided the infrastructure, surveillance, access control, and technical components of the facility in kind.

Santa Buddies

Employees each pick residents at local nursing homes whose wish lists to fulfill. We then deliver them to the residents on their annual Christmas parties.

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."

-Aesop

We do it because

This is bigger than us.

We believe every-day interactions are not obligations but opportunities to leave people a little better than we found them.

We do it because

We like people.

We may be tech people, but frankly, we’re people-people. We feel privileged to serve the communities who have given us so much and who have supported us since day one. And while we may be a company who specializes in technology, we know nothing can replace human connection. 

Applied Connective Pediatric Brain Cancer Event View

We do it because

"With great power

comes great responsibility."

We’re not sharing to pat ourselves on the back. We’re sharing because these are wonderful causes, and we want to use the platform we have to help amplify their messages. (And yes, that’s a quote from Spiderman.)

Kory Bourek

IT Support Specialist

Kyle Oldenkamp

Relationship Manager

Shelby James

IT Support Specialist in the Panhandle

Mandy Luettel

Director of Growth & Development

Noah Burwell

IT Support Specialist

Chase Gragg

IT Support Specialist

Vaughn Finkral

IT Support Specialist

Ron Leimser

IT Support Specialist

Jill Petsche

IT Support Specialist

Nevan Hoffman

IT Support Specialist

Lacey Henn

Administrative Assistant

Andrew Grupp

IT Support Specialist

Heath Murray

IT Support Specialist

Will Frey

AVS Technician

Konnor Gibson

IT Systems Specialist

  • Cereal
  • Cereal Bars
  • Oatmeal
  • Chili spice packets
  • Large cans of tomato juice
  • Chili beans
  • Fruit juices
  • Creamed soups (mushroom, chicken)
  • Spaghetti noodles
  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Tooth brush
  • Tooth paste
  • Detergent
  • Shampoo

Kenley Silhacek

Senior IT Systems Engineer

Mason Uhing

IT Support Specialist

Faith Nunn

IT Support Specialist

Kara Frey

Administrative Assistant

Brandi Lueninghoener

IT Support Specialist

“Lakeview Community Schools has enjoyed our partnership with Applied Connective. They have been incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, and cooperative as we have worked together. Applied Connective has provided a team-like atmosphere in their service!”

Aaron Plas, Superintendent

Lakeview Community Schools

“We have been very pleased with their communication, efficiency, and customer service over the course of the last few years. We would highly recommend ACT to any other schools out there looking for a reliable partner for your technology needs.”

Brandon Detlefsen, Technology Director

Central City Public Schools

“Their service is always reliable and timely, and the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. Our needs are their #1 priority! Boone Central is beyond grateful to have top-of-the line technology services and customer support.”

Nicole Hardwick, Superintendent

Boone Central Public Schools

“They’ve been with us every step of the way as we implemented phone systems, security cameras, and keypad doors. Their customer service is second to none, and their business knowledge is outstanding.”

Ronda Weber, Technology Coordinator

Burwell Public School

Applied Connective did an amazing job with our school security cameras. They were very professional and easy to work with. [They’re] patient with our questions and quickly respond when we need some direction. The cameras work great and are very easy to access. Thank you for a job well done!”

Amy Sokol, Principal

St. Anthony's School

Lance Bain

Voice Technician

Brigitte Burbach

HR Manager

Clay Anderson

IT Support Specialist

Brandon Petersen

Relationship Manager & IT Engineer

Relationship Manager/IT Engineer – I work side by side with our clients to ensure they are receiving the best value from our products and services, offer insights to improve their workflows, and resolve any issues that may arise as fast as possible.

Logan Niewohner

IT Systems Specialist

Justin Borgmann

Level 1 IT Technician

As a level 1 IT Technician, I assist customers in their daily IT needs, and respond to any issues that may arise.

Bryce Molt

Level 1 IT Technician

As a Level 1 IT Technician, I provide general help desk support for clients.

Weston Ray

Warehouse

Casey Schalk

AVS Technician

My role as a general technician at Applied Connective is primarily to work with the AVS crew to install and configure surveillance, internet, security, and voice technologies.

Grady Higgins

IT Support Specialist

Eric Beckman

AVS Project Foreman

Kris Wright

General Technician

My role as General Technician includes installation and troubleshooting of door access and camera security systems.

Mikki Mangus

General Accountant

Some of my duties as General Accountant include payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable and reconciliation. I am happy that I am part of the Applied Connective Team.

Heidi Kahlo

IT Technician

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Eric Petsche

General Technician

My role as a general technician at Applied Connective is primarily to work with the AVS crew to install and configure surveillance, security, Internet, and voice technologies.

Kelsi Funk

IT Systems Specialist

Chase Thieman

AVS Technician

My role as an AVS technician at Applied Connective is to work with the AVS team to install and configure surveillance, security, internet, and voice technologies.

Cody Banzhaf

IT Manager

Eric Henn

Voice Technician

My job is to do whatever Ed tells me to. Just kidding…sort of. I am part of the voice group.

Alex Herstedt

Telecom / IT Technician

As a Telecom/IT Technician, I work with traditional and hosted phone systems.

Scott Whaley

Level 2 IT Technician

I’m part of the IT team at Applied Connective, so my days are spent setting up new PCs for customers; troubleshooting broken PCs, printers, etc., and installing new hardware.  

Jessi Larson

Creative & Marketing

I’m in charge of creative content development and marketing—advertising, design, copywriting, PR, and social media as well as coordinating our philanthropy efforts—a wide variety, and I love it.

Matt Childress

Relationship Manager

Sara Rasmussen

IT Service Manager

Nathan Niewohner

IT Project Manager

Justin Niewohner

AVS Project Manager

I fit customers with the right surveillance, security, internet, phone, and audio-visual systems for their specific needs.

Ryan Robinson

AVS Service Technician

I provide and coordinate technical services and support for infrastructure, access control, surveillance, and audio/video solutions.

Jarod Dendinger

VP of Business Development

My role here at Applied Connective centers on business development, so that involves assisting our team in focusing on value-added processes as well as leveraging technology to provide solutions for our business partners that support them in continued success and growth.

Will Zoucha

VP of Operations

Ed Knott

President

As President at Applied Connective, I am responsible for organizational direction and general oversight of all product/service areas.