Steve Payne

Steve Payne President

We are particularly greatful to our associates Steve Payne, General Partner of Advanced Digital Cable and Press Jones, N8UG, The Wireman, Inc. for their contribution to final refinements of BURY-FLEXTM and other superb cables.

"My wife went to Shooting Creek, as did a lot of our employees," says President Steve Payne, who was also born and raised in the Hayesville area.

Payne bought the building at auction and, with capital from investors, founded Advanced Digital Cable in 1997.The company's products are used by cable television, computer networks, video security cameras, traffic signals, irrigation controls and even sprinkler systems.

"And sprinklers are a booming business with the weather patterns like they've been," Payne adds.

Advanced Digital Cable shipped more than $1 million worth of cable and wire in its first eight months.In 1999, the company shipped $9.4 million and, in 2000 $14 million.Employment grew from eight workers during the first few months to 60 by the end of 2001.

Payne credits the work force of the Hayesville area for Advanced Digital Cable's success.

"We've had extremely good employees with can-do attitudes.You don't have to force anybody to do anything," he says."And we're trying to make it a win-win situation, with good benefits and incentive bonuses for good production."

Another reason for Payne's success, he says, is the Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Cooperative, not only for its competitive power rates but also its economic development assistance.Blue Ridge representatives have helped Payne through North Carolina grant programs and tax credits and connected him with TVA representatives for a low-cost economic development loan to finance expansion.

"That's been a real boost for us," Payne says.

Advanced Digital Cable's facility was 13,000 square feet when the business was launched and is 41,000 square feet now.15,000 more square feet are on the drawing board.

- A driving force of the Waupaca Foundry deal was TVA's power system.

"My wife went to Shooting Creek, as did a lot of our employees," says President Steve Payne, who was also born and raised in the Hayesville area.

Payne bought the building at auction and, with capital from investors, founded Advanced Digital Cable in 1997.The company's products are used by cable television, computer networks, video security cameras, traffic signals, irrigation controls and even sprinkler systems.

"And sprinklers are a booming business with the weather patterns like they've been," Payne adds.

Advanced Digital Cable shipped more than $1 million worth of cable and wire in its first eight months.In 1999, the company shipped $9.4 million and, in 2000 $14 million.Employment grew from eight workers during the first few months to 60 by the end of 2001.

Payne credits the work force of the Hayesville area for Advanced Digital Cable's success.

"We've had extremely good employees with can-do attitudes.You don't have to force anybody to do anything," he says."And we're trying to make it a win-win situation, with good benefits and incentive bonuses for good production."

Another reason for Payne's success, he says, is the Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Cooperative, not only for its competitive power rates but also its economic development assistance.Blue Ridge representatives have helped Payne through North Carolina grant programs and tax credits and connected him with TVA representatives for a low-cost economic development loan to finance expansion.

"That's been a real boost for us," Payne says.

Advanced Digital Cable's facility was 13,000 square feet when the business was launched and is 41,000 square feet now.15,000 more square feet are on the drawing board.

- A driving force of the Waupaca Foundry deal was TVA's power system.

"My wife went to Shooting Creek, as did a lot of our employees," says President Steve Payne, who was also born and raised in the Hayesville area.

Payne bought the building at auction and, with capital from investors, founded Advanced Digital Cable in 1997.The company's products are used by cable television, computer networks, video security cameras, traffic signals, irrigation controls and even sprinkler systems.

"And sprinklers are a booming business with the weather patterns like they've been," Payne adds.

Advanced Digital Cable shipped more than $1 million worth of cable and wire in its first eight months.In 1998, the company shipped $5.4 million and, in 1999, $9.4 million.The target for 2000 is $14 million, and Payne has his sights set on $18 million for 2001.Employment is growing from eight workers during the first few months to an anticipated payroll of 60 by mid-2001.

Payne credits the work force of the Hayesville area for Advanced Digital Cable's success.

"We've had extremely good employees with can-do attitudes.You don't have to force anybody to do anything," he says."And we're trying to make it a win-win situation, with good benefits and incentive bonuses for good production."

Another reason for Payne's success, he says, is the Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Cooperative, not only for its competitive power rates but also its economic development assistance.Blue Ridge representatives have helped Payne through North Carolina grant programs and tax credits and connected him with TVA representatives for a low-cost economic development loan to finance expansion.

"That's been a real boost for us," Payne says.

Advanced Digital Cable's facility was 13,000 square feet when the business was launched and is 32,000 square feet now.A 9,000-square-foot expansion is under contract and 15,000 more square feet are on the drawing board.