PAULDING — Paulding Putnam has announced two new additions to its management team: Erika Willitzer as vice president of strategic engagement and external affairs, and Bobby Armentrout as senior director of technology and network operations. Their arrival follows a year of hiring that has added five more employees across the cooperative, according to a media release from Paulding Putnam.
The new team members join Paulding Putnam as the cooperative expands its electric and fiber services. Paulding Putnam, based in Paulding, has constructed more than 1,000 miles of mainline fiber across Paulding, Putnam, and Van Wert counties in Ohio, and has started building in Allen County, Indiana. Simultaneously, the co-op continues to deliver electric service to nearly 14,000 members across seven counties in northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana, a service it has provided since 1935.
Erika Willitzer returns to Paulding Putnam, having previously worked for the electric cooperative years ago in marketing, member services, and economic development roles. Most recently, she stepped down last month as the executive director of the Defiance Community Improvement Corporation, a position she held since 2020. During her six years as the Defiance County CIC director, Willitzer and community partners were instrumental in securing over $2.5 billion in private investment for northwest Ohio, which resulted in more than 1,900 new, high-paying jobs, according to the cooperative. This work included the First Quality Tissue project, a nearly billion-dollar undertaking currently under construction, which stands as the largest single investment in Defiance County’s history. In her new role, Willitzer will focus on growth by leading economic development, government relations, member engagement, and marketing and communications for both the electric and fiber internet operations. She expressed excitement to "bring people and ideas together" to create meaningful growth across the organization's electric and internet sides.
Bobby Armentrout brings more than 25 years of experience in telecommunications, broadband engineering, construction, network operations, and technology leadership to his new position. Before joining Paulding Putnam, he served as vice president of engineering and technology at Home Telecom in South Carolina, where he led significant fiber deployments, network expansions, and operational improvement initiatives. At Paulding Putnam, Armentrout will oversee technology strategy, broadband engineering, construction, network operations, GIS, and vendor relationships. His responsibilities also include ensuring the cooperative’s technology infrastructure supports a reliable and secure electric grid. Armentrout stated this is an opportunity to "improve reliability, create strong processes" and build systems for the future benefit of the cooperative and its members.
The cooperative’s hiring efforts are also part of its succession planning. Paulding Putnam is preparing for a leadership transition scheduled for January 2027, when General Manager and CEO Randy Price is set to retire. Chief Operating Officer Nick Eltzroth will then become the cooperative's next CEO. Randy Price commented that "every person we’ve added or transitioned into a new role this year is an investment in our members and the communities we serve." He added that Willitzer and Armentrout contribute experience for growth, while the newest linemen, installers, and staff will maintain electric and network connections for years to come.
In addition to the new hires, Paulding Putnam has also made internal transitions. Renee Hull of Paulding has moved from chief financial officer to chief financial and risk officer. In this expanded role, she will continue her oversight of accounting, billing, and purchasing, while taking on a greater focus on legal and regulatory matters. Hull has been with the cooperative for over two years, following previous accounting experience at OmniSource, Allison Payment Systems, and National Door and Trim. Tara Schlatter, also of Paulding, has been promoted to director of networking and business solutions. She will now oversee networking, IT, GIS mapping, and business solutions software, consolidating technology functions across many areas of the co-op. Schlatter has nearly 20 years of experience at Paulding Putnam, having worked in various departments including billing, accounting, member service, and data analysis.
Other recent hires in 2026 at Paulding Putnam include Jesse Lammers of Leipsic and Dakota Burke of Edgerton as apprentice linemen. Austin Puckett of Fort Wayne joined as a broadband installer, Gavin Huff of Continental as an engineering intern, and Keith Kimmet of Cloverdale as a facilities assistant.
Paulding Putnam is a member-owned electric and fiber internet cooperative. It serves approximately 14,000 members across its service area. Founded in 1935, the cooperative has evolved from a rural electric provider into a full-service utility offering high-speed fiber internet.
