We are excited to welcome Dustin "Dusty" Wehri to the Paulding Putnam team as our Network Engineer! He has over 15 years of IT experience and is eager to help bring reliable fiber internet to the community. 

Here's a fun Q&A with Dusty to help our members get to know the newest Paulding Putnam family member!

Tell us a bit about your family and where you're from. 

"My wife, Megan, and I live outside of Ottoville with our four kids: Natalie, Jake, David, and Maxwell, who range in age from 1.5 to 11. They're active in soccer, volleyball, cross country, Boy Scouts, and 4-H, so we stay busy! Megan and I will celebrate 14 years of marriage this September. She works as a nurse practitioner in primary care in Van Wert."

Why did you want to work at Paulding Putnam?

"I was drawn to Paulding Putnam because of the fiber project. I'm excited to work on something that will make a real difference in the community."

Tell us about your work history. 

"Before joining Paulding Putnam, I worked at Alliance Automation in Van Wert for 15 years as a network administrator. During that time, I handled a wide variety of tasks, including tech support, building networks, troubleshooting, and security — pretty much anything IT-related."

What will you be doing here at Paulding Putnam?

"I'll be serving as the Network Engineer for the new fiber internet service. When time allows, I also hope to help out with other IT-related projects around the co-op."

What are you looking forward to?

"I'm looking forward to getting the fiber network up and running and seeing members get connected. I'm also excited to learn more about the co-op community."

What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of work?

"I love spending time with family and friends playing board and card games, enjoying the lake, and cheering on the Buckeyes during football season — Go Bucks! I also like tinkering with tech projects, helping people with 3D house and outbuilding designs, and relaxing with movies or music.

A fun fact about you?

"My favorite TV show IS M*A*S*H. Fun side note: I can teach square dancing — it's actually how I met my wife!

A favorite quote or motto that inspires you?

"Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice — pull down your pants and slide on the ice." - Sidney Freedman MASH 4077* To me, it's a little reminder to lighten up and get a little silly, and enjoy life.

Welcome to the Paulding Putnam family, Dusty!