Built for the Challenge: The People and Culture Behind Maine’s MOOSE Net Build
Building a fiber network across Maine isn't a job for the faint of heart.
The work takes crews along busy highways and remote roads, through challenging terrain and Maine's unpredictable weather. Conditions can change quickly, requiring crews to solve problems safely and efficiently every day.
For the people who enjoy that kind of challenge, it can also be incredibly rewarding.
When completed, Maine's MOOSE Net fiber network will bring affordable, reliable internet connectivity to some of the state's most rural and underserved communities. As a middle-mile network, MOOSE Net will serve as critical infrastructure connecting regional networks across the state.
Sertex Broadband Solutions is helping make that connection possible. According to Ryan Daggett, Operations Manager for Maine and New Hampshire, having the right people, equipment, and support behind you makes all the difference. Ryan brings 26 years of fiber deployment experience to the job.
“Working at Sertex, you're working for a top-tier contractor,” Ryan says. “They make sure you have all the tools and support you need to do the work and do it right.”
Safety and Problem-Solving Go Hand in Hand
Sertex is currently deploying fiber along the first of six MOOSE Net segments. Segment 1 runs approximately 100 miles along Route 9 between Bangor and Calais, where heavy commercial traffic, varying roadway conditions, and limited visibility in some areas require extra attention to safety.
Working around electrical infrastructure in that environment demands careful planning and constant awareness. Sertex crews follow Maine's traffic-control requirements, but some locations require additional precautions.
Ryan works closely with Maine Department of Transportation officials to develop site-specific safety strategies and address unique conditions as they arise.
“Having good relationships with MDOT is really important,” Ryan says. “We work together to assess the risks and figure things out.”
That ability to assess risks, think critically, and adapt to changing conditions is an important part of the job and a key reason experienced field professionals are valued on projects like MOOSE Net.
The Right Equipment and Support
The challenges of fiber construction are easier to manage when crews have the right equipment, and Sertex makes that a priority.
Crews work with modern, well-maintained equipment and have access to the tools, safety gear, and job-specific resources needed to perform their work safely and efficiently. When crews need additional equipment or resources, management works to provide them.
Quality equipment is more than a convenience. It helps crews work more safely, reduces physical strain, and supports quality workmanship.
“Sertex stands behind their people,” Ryan says. “We have all the tools we need to do the job and do it right.”
For Ryan, that commitment reflects something bigger than equipment alone.
“Great equipment boosts morale on the job, allows us to deliver quality and craftsmanship, and instills pride in the company. Working from a beautiful, clean vehicle communicates excellence to everyone who passes us on the road.”
A Team That Understands the Work
Equipment is only part of the equation. The people behind the crews matter just as much.
The Sertex management team brings extensive field experience to the job. Many leaders have done the same work as the crews in the field and understand that no two job sites are exactly alike.
That experience helps create a culture where employees are trusted to solve problems, adapt to changing conditions, and focus on quality while knowing support is available when they need it.
Building Something That Matters
Construction continues through much of Maine's changing seasons, requiring crews to adapt to weather, roadway conditions, and shorter winter daylight hours.
“If the plows are out, crews need to be off the roadways,” Ryan says. “We can lose a day a week to weather during the winter months.”
For crews working on MOOSE Net, adapting to those realities is simply part of the job.
What makes the work worthwhile is knowing the network being built today will serve Maine communities for years to come.
Building MOOSE Net takes skilled people who are comfortable working outdoors, operating specialized equipment, solving problems, and working as part of a team. It also requires a commitment to safety, quality, and craftsmanship.
For those who take pride in this kind of work, Sertex offers the opportunity to help build Maine’s future while building a career with a company that values its people and provides the tools, equipment, and support to do the job right.
