After earning top honors in a national fiber optic skills competition last year, Whidbey Telecom Service Delivery Supervisor Keagen Beumer returned to the Fiber Broadband Association’s OpTIC Path Rodeo in 2026 as an expert judge, helping evaluate the next generation of broadband technicians from across the country.
The OpTIC Path Rodeo, launched by the Fiber Broadband Association in 2025, is a nationwide competition that tests participants on the speed, precision and technical expertise required to design, build and maintain modern fiber broadband networks.
During the inaugural event, Whidbey Telecom swept the competition. Beumer earned first place, fellow Fiber Splicer Jeff Baesler finished second, and Gabe Renville, manager of Fiber Infrastructure, placed third.
This year, Beumer took on a new role, joining industry leaders on the judging panel to evaluate competitors as they demonstrated the hands-on skills needed to support the nation’s growing broadband infrastructure.
A broadband professional with more than a decade of experience, Beumer also helps train future technicians as an OpTIC Path instructor in the Optical Telecom Installer Certification program at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center.
“It was a very rewarding experience to participate in last year’s Rodeo and then see the level of skill and excitement generated by this year’s competition,” Beumer said. “I’m grateful to the Fiber Broadband Association for inviting me back and to Whidbey Telecom for supporting this opportunity. I’m proud of each contestant for demonstrating their craftsmanship on a national stage, and I hope this competition continues to inspire the next generation of fiber technicians.”
For residents and businesses on Whidbey Island, Beumer’s participation highlights the expertise behind the local broadband network that connects homes, schools, health care providers and employers throughout the region. As demand for faster and more reliable internet service continues to grow, skilled fiber technicians play a critical role in supporting economic development, education, public safety and quality of life in rural communities.
The OpTIC Path Rodeo is based on a nationally recognized training curriculum that teaches the essential skills needed to install, troubleshoot and maintain fiber optic networks. Whidbey Telecom’s success in the competition reflects the company’s commitment to workforce development and technical excellence while bringing reliable, high-speed broadband service to the communities it serves.
