Get to the Point — The High Point Networks Podcast

Brandi Mentele and Andy Middlemiss never planned to host a podcast. In Part 1 of the Season 1 finale, they talk about how Get to the Point got started, why they focus on the “why” behind technology more than the tech itself, and what they’ve learned from the guests who joined them this season. It’s also a thank-you to those guests, to the team behind the scenes, and to everyone who’s been listening.

0:00 - Kicking off the Season 1 finale
 0:51 - How two reluctant hosts ended up here
 4:48 - Why we chase the “why,” not the tech
 10...

What happens when a business has outgrown ad hoc IT help but isn't ready for a full-time CIO? In this episode, Andy and Brandi talk with Dan Heckaman about the fractional CIO model. They cover what it is, who it's for, and how it differs from a traditional advisory role. Dan explains why readiness matters more than willingness, how he helps IT teams through change, and why treating IT as an investment (and choosing true partners) changes what a business gets back.

Dan Heckaman is the founder of Mindset Partners, where he serves as a fractional CIO...

Rural electric co-ops and broadband providers keep small towns running, and behind many of them is a technology partner most people have never heard of. Doug Remboldt, President & CEO of NISC (National Information Solutions Cooperative), joins us from Fargo to talk about 36 years at a member-owned cooperative, the realities of serving some of the most remote communities in the country, and why a people-first approach shapes every decision, from culture and retention to how NISC puts AI to work. 

In this conversation, Doug covers: 

-How the co-op model lets NISC plan long-term instead of chasing qu...

Andrew Moore has spent more than 40 years in IT, and as Chief Information Officer at Colorado School of Mines, he's built a reputation for choosing disruption over the easy path. In this episode, Andrew shares his philosophy on the two types of CIOs — the ones who keep the lights on, and the ones who push for change — and how Mines' size and culture let IT move faster than most institutions. He also walks through how one simple frustration, not being able to connect to wifi between buildings, sparked a network overhaul that now reaches football stadiums, parking garages, and even...

Cyber insurance isn't a safety net you buy once and forget (or...it really shouldn't be). Rather, it's a living part of your security posture. Yet, most businesses don't realize how little their policy actually covers until after a breach has already occurred.

In this episode, Andy and Brandi sit down with Travis Kroger, Cyber Insurance Practice Lead at UKON, to pull back the curtain on what cyber coverage really means, how to read between the lines of a policy, and why the affordable market we're in right now won't last. Travis brings a rare "no-nonsense" perspective...

Technology and healthcare collide in this episode as Andy and Brandi welcome their first-ever two-guest lineup: Kevin DeWald, Executive Director of South Dakota Health Link, and Secretary Melissa Magstadt. Together, they unpack how South Dakota built one of the most connected rural health information networks in the country, and how new federal funding is helping close longstanding technology gaps in rural and frontier healthcare.

Kevin DeWald has worked for South Dakota's state public health agency for 23 years and has led state, regional, and national health IT and health information exchange efforts for 18 years. He currently serves as...

Most organizations are already licensed for more than they're using — and AI is a big part of that. In this episode, Solutions Architect Chris Watson walks through what's already baked into your Microsoft environment, why a thoughtful rollout matters more than a fast one, and how teams are actually using Copilot day-to-day to work smarter.

Chris Watson is a Solutions Architect at High Point Networks with over 13 years of industry experience. He holds Microsoft Certified Cloud Solutions Provider and Enterprise Mobility and Security certifications, specializing in Microsoft 365, Azure, and cloud and on-premise architecture.

0:00 - I...

What separates a good leader from one people actually want to follow? 

Scott Erkonen, COO of Performance Bankers and former CIO at Great Western Bank and First Interstate Bank System, has spent more than two decades figuring that out. In this episode, Scott joins Andy and Brandi to talk about the leadership traits that matter most: raising your hand when you don't know something, building the kind of confidence that doesn't crumble under pressure, staying present in a world built to distract you, and keeping it simple when everything around you is telling you to make it m...

Most organizations in the Midwest don't have a dedicated cybersecurity team — and that's not a failure; it's just the reality. But that doesn't mean they're on their own. 

In this episode, Andy and Brandi sit down with Jim Edman, Cybersecurity Coordinator for CISA's Region 8, to talk about the free, taxpayer-funded resources available to cities, counties, schools, and small businesses — and why so few of them are actually being used.

From backup restore testing to business email compromise to cyber insurance, Jim brings a grounded, practical perspective on what organizations should be doing, what they're missing, and h...

The 2026 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report just dropped — and in this bonus episode, Andy and Brandi sit down with Dean Sheley, Senior Security Architect and Consultant at High Point Networks, to unpack what's in it and what it means for your organization.

Dean brings nearly 30 years of cybersecurity experience across global financial institutions, higher education, and the SMB sector. He's a CISSP, holds a Master's in Information Security and Assurance from Dakota State University, and previously served as CISO for the South Dakota Board of Regents, overseeing cybersecurity across six South Dakota public universities.

0:00 - In...

What does it take to make cybersecurity feel like it's for everyone? Dr. Ashley Podhradsky has spent her career answering that question. 

In this episode, Andy and Brandi sit down with the Vice President for Research and Economic Development & Co-Founder of CybHER at Dakota State University to talk about building the next generation of cyber professionals, why curiosity matters more than math scores, and what parents and business leaders alike need to know about the technology shaping daily life.

Dr. Podhradsky is a professor of digital forensics, co-founder of CybHER, and one of 120 women honored a...

After Episode 6 sparked a bigger conversation, Aaron Zylla came back to finish it. 

In this bonus, Andy, Brandi, and Aaron dig into one of the most charged topics in physical security — where does protection end and surveillance begin? 

0:00 - Welcome back & why we're here 

2:14 - Liberty vs. privacy: the Benjamin Franklin framing 

4:30 - Mass-scale AI surveillance: myth or reality?

 7:45 - What "no expectation of privacy in public" actually means 

11:20 - Privacy masking: how it works and why it matters 

15:08 - Business owners, communiti...

Surprise drop! We're giving you an extra episode this month because this conversation is too important to sit on. 

VMware didn't just change — it changed fast, and more than once. Since Broadcom's acquisition, organizations have watched licensing costs climb and options narrow, often without much warning. In this episode, Sales Engineer Brian Bensen walks through what happened, why there's no simple replacement, and how to think through your virtualization strategy before you're up against a deadline.

Brian Bensen is a Sales Engineer at High Point Networks with expertise in on-premise and clo...

Most organizations think physical security means hanging a camera and calling it a day. 

Aaron Zylla, Senior Physical Security Engineer at High Point Networks, says that's the most dangerous assumption you can make. In this episode, Aaron breaks down what a real physical security strategy actually looks like, why it matters far beyond your building's front door, and how the right systems are actively making communities safer right now.

✨ In this episode: 

→ Why "physical access is total access" 

→ The three Ds of physical security: detect, delay, and deny 

If you're not evolving, you're falling behind. Brandon Conkins, Director of SMART Services at High Point Networks, makes the case for why comfort and complacency are among the biggest risks facing IT leaders and organizations today.

Drawing from a viral street interview with Snowflake's CRO and the content of one of the world's fastest-growing business media channels, Brandon unpacks the vendor hype cycle, the psychology behind why people resist change, and what it actually means to get comfortable getting uncomfortable — in IT and in life.

✨ In this episode:

→ Why Snowflake's CRO said h...

Fear-based cybersecurity training uses the same tactics as cybercriminals. And it's not working.

Lynn Soeth, Service Manager of Security Services and Sales Engineering at High Point Networks, has been leading security teams since 2017 with a distinctly human-first approach. In this episode, she breaks down what it actually looks like to build a security culture people want to participate in — not one they dread.

From the Little Mermaid as a metaphor for layered security, to a real-world email spoof that nearly cost HPN 60 laptops, to practical tips for making cybersecurity month something your team looks forward to...

Understanding the threat is only half the equation. In Part 2, we shift from awareness to action.

Shawn Mendel — Director of Professional Services and Incident Response Manager at High Point Networks — walks through what response and recovery actually look like once a breach is underway, how AI is being weaponized by threat actors, and the five areas every organization should focus on to reduce their risk before an incident ever happens.

This episode closes with practical personal cyber hygiene advice anyone can act on today — no technical background required.

In this episode:

→...

Cyber incidents don't start with panic. They start with patterns.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Shawn Mendel — Director of Professional Services and Incident Response Manager at High Point Networks — breaks down the modern threat landscape driving today's incidents. With nearly 30 years of experience, 15 as an engineer, and a reputation for calm, clear-headed leadership under pressure, Shawn brings the data and the real-world perspective leaders need before the crisis call ever comes.

In this episode:

→ The three most common attack vectors cybercriminals use today

→ Why 43% of incidents are ransomware — and what t...

Every piece of technology has a story behind it. Not the specs. Not the features. The why.

In our first episode, hosts Andy Middlemiss and Brandi Mentele share the story behind Get to the Point — how an idea born inside High Point Networks turned into a podcast built around one simple mission: technology is more interesting when you understand what it actually does for people.

From a wireless network that helped a university attract and retain students, to a Real Time Crime Center in Pueblo, Colorado that helped save lives and find missing kids faster — this...

IT is complicated. This podcast isn't. 

Get to the Point is where real IT experts have real conversations, cutting through the noise to give business leaders, IT professionals, and curious minds the clarity they *actually* need.

Hosted by Andy Middlemiss and Brandi Mentele, each episode digs into the deeper "why" behind the technology that runs your business. We’re here to make it all feel less overwhelming and more...human.

No fluff. No vendor pitches. Just honest talk about what's working, what isn't, and what's coming next.

Season 1 kicks off Apr...