Q&A With Iowa Community Leader Jeremy Carroll

22 May Q&A With Iowa Community Leader Jeremy Carroll

Welcome to the first feature in our series of Iowa Community Leader Q & A! In this blog series, Iowa community leaders share their stories, including how and where they got started, how we engage the next generation, how to make an impact on your community, vision and goals for the future, and more. Our goal is to inspire others to make a difference in their communities, inform community leaders about the importance of getting involved, and share the impact (great or small) they’ve been able to make as a result of their dedication to their community and/or rural Iowa.

Jeremy Carroll is the General Manager of Manning Municipal Utilities in Manning, Iowa. Jeremy’s family moved to Manning around the same time as mine did, and we both came in with interests of enhancing rural Iowa and especially the Manning community. As a former project manager for Hy-Vee Construction, he focused on their “helpful smile in every aisle” motto and brings that same focus to Manning by striving for a better customer experience. His vision is to take what is a traditional service in the community and serve customers in a better way. MMU has since taken the lead on expanding the gas pipeline for Manning and parts of western Iowa. Jeremy’s goal is to have a consistent source of gas supply and to serve more customers in order to lower utility rates. Jeremy’s focus is to continue developing partnerships and reduce the cost of living in rural Iowa.

Just recently, the ‘next big project’ that Jeremy has sparked the initiative for, is building out fiber to homes and businesses in Manning and then beyond. Although the media has tried to spin the intention of his efforts toward political gain, Jeremy stands firm on what is truly his driving force: “I simply want to do what’s right for our current and future customers.”

We asked Jeremy some of his thoughts on how to ensure that our rural communities can not only survive, but thrive.

Emerge Marketing Solutions: How do we engage the next generation to ensure longevity in our businesses, communities, and organizations?
Jeremy Carroll: We should not dismiss the efforts of our young people, but give them clear expectations and purpose. They want assurance that their efforts are worthwhile, so let’s invest in them and make it our responsibility to teach them the values they maybe haven’t yet caught on to, and then hold them accountable.

EMERGE: What do you think has helped make an impact on your community?
CARROLL: Planning and Partnerships. I can’t take full credit for this progress. MMU started laying the groundwork for this project (gas pipeline) nine years before I came in. They just needed someone to finally make it happen. Founded in 1937, Manning Municipal Utilities had always been an island surrounded by many other utility companies. We were self-sufficient and didn’t need much outside support thanks to high usage from businesses and residents alike.

We began to pursue some non-conventional thinking and decided that we could start to help other communities with access to natural gas. Since natural gas can be a volatile market and everyone wants a clean, dependable, reliable fuel source, we knew that by developing partnerships we could buy in greater volumes and distribute more economically than smaller communities doing it themselves. Once we started having these partnership conversations and started realizing we all had the same end-goal, we knew that a gentleman’s handshake still works here and so we began. We recognize that being open and honest, and not pursuing this endeavor for political gain is what would be best for existing and future customers. I think this project has helped many people get over the fact that we’re a small town but we’re capable of big projects.

EMERGE: How has your organization adapted or been impacted by the Coronavirus?
CARROLL: Like nearly all businesses, we have taken all precautions to ensure our team’s safety. However, since customers rely on us 24/7 365 days a year, we can’t delay, stop, or hold off on providing our services. It is our duty to serve our customers and we have a responsibility to maintain utility infrastructure at all times. Due to the nature of the fiber project, we are able to continue with that project while following all recommended precautions.

COVID-19 made a reality become quickly apparent in that brick & mortar operations really aren’t the necessity they once were. I am grateful that we were already moving forward with the plan to install fiber because this pandemic has shone a bright spotlight on the fact that we need dependable internet connectivity now more than ever. We can now confidently tell every customer that 1 GB internet service will be available to them by the end of November.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that we are always looking at what the next 25-100 years will bring, not just the next year or five years. If we’re doing what’s best for the future of our organization and the communities we serve, we need to always be progressive and not be slowed down by a global pandemic, but rather maintain the commitment to serve our customers at the highest level, always.

EMERGE: What steps do you believe we could take to bridge the rural/urban divide in Iowa?
CARROLL: We need to give people more reasons to come see us. Give them a glimpse of what leaving your worries behind and losing yourself in rural Iowa looks like. Unplug and spend time together in the peaceful areas we call home. We enjoy the trails, camping, community festivals, Friday night lights, and so much more.

EMERGE: What visions and goals do you have for the future as it relates to community development?
CARROLL: The plans are endless!! Lower utility rates; keep growing through partnerships; gain more customers/rate payers; share expenses, resources, electric, gas; reduce cost of living, internet connectivity through the fiber build. But ultimately it’s about knowing where your roots are and placing an emphasis on the customer. In Manning, we want to make people feel wanted, needed, appreciated and accepted.

Manning Municipal Utilities’ mission is to provide customers with safe and reliable services at the best overall value. We are dedicated to meeting our customers’ needs, providing exceptional service, while helping to make the community a better place to live, work and play.