Greetings, my fellow Chariton Valley Telephone Cooperative Members!
It is my honor, as President of the Chariton Valley Telephone Cooperative Board of Directors, to invite you to participate in our annual election process once again. This year’s annual meeting will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Electronic Voting will open on September 25 and will close on October 9 at 1:00 PM CST. I am excited to announce that this year we will have an option to attend the annual meeting of members in person. The annual meeting will be held at St. Mary’s Hall in Wein, MO, on October 9, with a luncheon at 11:00 AM and the business meeting to follow at 1:10 PM. There will be access to online voting stations on-site that day, prior to lunch, for members. The business meeting will also be live-streamed on the company’s Facebook page.
Chariton Valley has utilized the electronic voting process for the past seven years with great success. The percentage of members participating in the elections has increased from around 6% to over 22%, with our membership now enjoying the convenience of online voting and participating in the democratic process of electing a board that will represent their interests within our company. In the coming weeks, you will receive a letter and/or an email from Survey & Ballot Systems, our third-party electronic voting system provider. The instructions will include your credentials (username and password) needed to vote during the two-week voting window, which opens on September 25 at 8:00 a.m. and closes on October 9 at 1:00 p.m. sharp. All voting members will receive a $10 bill credit and will automatically be entered into a drawing for a chance to be one of the five winners of a $ 1,000 prize. The winners are randomly selected by Survey & Ballot System, and we will announce them at the conclusion of the annual meeting. I encourage you to explore www.cvalley.net and click on the CV Annual Meeting tab at the top of the page, where you can read through the board candidates’ profiles, see frequently asked questions, and find a wealth of other information. Your vote matters, so please take a few minutes to review the candidates and cast your ballot.
Important business is conducted during the annual meeting, which includes the election of three board members and a comprehensive report given by Ryan Johnson, President & CEO, on the state of the company and the exciting developments that can be expected over the coming year. The past several years have been marked by intense activity in the telecommunications industry. We have successfully pursued numerous grant opportunities to offset the costs of expanding our fiber network. Fiber is the gold standard across our entire nation for the best possible service, and I am proud that each and every member of our cooperative is now served by fiber! Having good, dependable broadband for activities like streaming our favorite TV shows, connecting via social media, kids doing homework online, or working from home is a blessing in our daily lives. In addition to the benefits fiber broadband brings to our personal lives, the economic opportunities for existing businesses to expand and for new businesses to locate in our communities cannot be overstated. Fiber is a big deal, folks, and it will be for many years to come. Your cooperative is leading the way.
Your board of directors and employees are very dedicated to ensuring that you, the members, are our priority. The board dedicates a significant amount of time to assessing opportunities for growth and sustainability, ensuring the long-term success of the company. In my opinion, the highly skilled employees of Chariton Valley are its greatest asset. They work hard and they get the job done! Local services are provided by local people who live where you live.
In closing, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve you; it is truly an honor. Please check out cvalley.net for more information on the annual meeting, and don’t forget to vote!
Sincerely,
Melissa D. Cole
Board President
Chariton Valley Telephone Corporation
Fellow Cooperative Members,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, leadership team, and employees of Chariton Valley, thank you for your continued trust and support. As I reflect on 2025, I am proud of what our cooperative accomplished. We continued to invest in our network, expanded broadband availability across rural Missouri, strengthened our financial position, completed several transformational strategic initiatives, and took a major step forward in diversifying our business through the acquisition of InfiniTech Consulting.
Chariton Valley’s vision remains unchanged: to provide premier services that enhance opportunities for rural communities. That vision drives everything we do, from expanding broadband access and investing in next-generation networks to delivering innovative technology solutions that support economic growth throughout our service area. While the technology landscape continues to evolve rapidly, our commitment to serving rural Missouri and creating long-term value for our members remains stronger than ever.
Strong Financial Performance
The year 2025 was a landmark year for Chariton Valley. Total assets increased to $244.8 million, up from $213.8 million in 2024. Members’ equity grew to $189.6 million, reflecting the strength of the cooperative and our continued focus on prudent financial management.
Operating revenues reached $35.7 million, compared to $31.3 million in 2024, driven by continued broadband growth, strong support revenues, and the addition of managed IT services through InfiniTech Consulting.
A significant milestone during the year was the completion of the sale of our tower assets, which significantly strengthened our balance sheet. This transaction enabled Chariton Valley to fully repay all outstanding long-term debt and line of credit obligations, leaving the cooperative debt-free at year-end.
Our strong financial performance also allowed the Board of Directors to approve the retirement of more than $2.8 million in capital credits, continuing our longstanding commitment to returning value to our members.
Investing in Rural Broadband
Chariton Valley continued to make substantial investments in broadband infrastructure throughout 2025. Total property, plant, and equipment increased to $284.7 million. During 2025, Chariton Valley invested approximately $26.8 million in fiber plant infrastructure as we continued expanding our fiber network across north-central Missouri.
These investments are helping position our communities for the future by delivering the high-speed broadband connectivity required for education, healthcare, agriculture, economic development, and everyday life.
The cooperative also continued work under multiple state and federal broadband programs. Through Enhanced A-CAM, Connect America Fund II (CAF II), and Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) support mechanisms, Chariton Valley remains focused on meeting buildout obligations and connecting more rural homes, farms, and businesses with world-class fiber broadband service. The company received approximately $5.7 million annually through Enhanced A-CAM support, along with ongoing support through CAF II and RDOF programs.
Expanding Beyond Connectivity
One of the most exciting developments of 2025 was the acquisition of InfiniTech Consulting, completed in September and integrated into the Chariton Valley family during the second half of the year. Earlier in July, Chariton Valley InfiniTech Consulting was established as part of our strategy to expand beyond traditional telecommunications services
InfiniTech strengthens our ability to serve business customers through:
• Managed IT Services
• Cybersecurity Solutions
• Cloud Services
• Network Monitoring and Management
• Professional Technology Consulting
• Technology Procurement and Support
In its first partial year as part of Chariton Valley, InfiniTech contributed more than $2.39 million in managed IT services revenue.
The addition of InfiniTech represents an important strategic diversification of our business model. Today, Chariton Valley is not only a communications provider but also a trusted technology partner helping businesses throughout Missouri manage increasingly complex IT environments and cybersecurity challenges.
Supporting Our Communities
While technology continues to change, Chariton Valley’s cooperative values remain constant. We believe strong communities depend on strong connections.
Every mile of fiber placed, every business connected, and every customer served reflects the dedication of our employees. Their commitment to providing exceptional service continues to distinguish Chariton Valley from larger competitors and national providers.
Throughout 2025, our employees demonstrated remarkable professionalism while managing network expansions, supporting customers, implementing new technologies, integrating InfiniTech operations, and maintaining the high level of service our members have come to expect.
Looking Ahead
As we move through 2026 and beyond, Chariton Valley is positioned for growth.
We have a robust fiber network, a debt-free balance sheet, strong equity, expanding broadband opportunities, and a growing managed services business. We will continue investing in our network, pursuing strategic growth opportunities, supporting economic development throughout our service area, and delivering the technology solutions our members and customers need.
Rural America deserves access to the same technology opportunities available anywhere else, and Chariton Valley will continue leading that effort.
Thank you to our members, Board of Directors, employees, and customers for your confidence and support. Together, we are building a stronger future for the communities we proudly serve.
Respectfully submitted,
Ryan N. Johnson
President & CEO
Chariton Valley Family of Companies
