From Grain to Gigabit: How Comcast Business Powers Penny Newman’s Digital Transformation

Written by Lauren Lawley Head for the Sacramento Business Journal.

Two years after Alexander Graham Bell received the first telephone patent in 1876, Adolph Kutner and Samuel Goldstein opened a business in Fresno serving the area’s wheat and barley farmers. Nearly 150 years and countless technological changes later, Penny Newman Grain Co. has expanded into many areas of the food and agricultural supply chain, becoming a leading merchant in the industry.

A Legacy of Innovation

IT Manager Aaron Van Curen has been networking the company’s offices since 2000, when Penny Newman set up its first internet-based virtual private network for its office in Florida. Since then, he has led the company through multiple technology implementations to improve its connectivity and ensure seamless operations across its locations.

One of the biggest changes, he said, came in 2017 when he was able to bring Comcast Business fiber to Penny Newman’s main office and data center. The upgrade was a game-changer for the company’s IT infrastructure.

“Prior to switching, I probably spent 10 to 15% of my time on the phone with telephone companies trying to get service restored, either at our main office or one of the offices around the country,” Van Curen said. “At the time, I was a one-man IT operation. When they got our fiber service in, it solved my problems in Fresno.”

The improved connectivity not only reduced downtime but also allowed Van Curen to focus on more strategic IT initiatives. Since then, Penny Newman has added Comcast Business services to its locations at the Port of Stockton and in Hanford, where the company operates a mill and retail feed store. Those three locations now have Comcast’s ethernet network service, or ENS, which is a high-performance network that allows a business to connect to its metro area networks and wide area networks as if they were on the same local network.

“Our point-of-sale system at the store is run out of the Fresno office. So good connectivity down there is critical for us,” Van Curen said. “My life has been easier ever since.”

Strategic Growth

Next up: Penny Newman will be among the first businesses in Elk Grove to add Comcast ENS. Comcast recently expanded its services to a business district off State Route 99 in Elk Grove. The area is home to 97 businesses that will have access to both coax and fiber internet connections, giving businesses a lot of flexibility.

“They can get the price and performance level that fits their needs, and they can upgrade as their business changes over time,” said Comcast Sales Engineering Senior Director David Pitt. “It also allows for a hybrid solution. For example, they can use the dedicated fiber for mission-critical applications and our coax service for general internet access.”

In addition to data networking, businesses in Elk Grove will have access to the full suite of Comcast Business services, including advanced cybersecurity, voice, software-defined wide area network technology, cloud services and business TV. These services are designed to meet the evolving needs of businesses.

For Penny Newman, the Elk Grove expansion is strategic. It is a small facility, but secure, reliable connectivity is critical, as it is home to one of the company’s commodity traders, who is also an owner. The partnership with Comcast Business will ensure it has the infrastructure to support its growth in a competitive industry.

“It is critical to the business,” Van Curen said. “We are in the business of commodities trading, which is a real-time undertaking.”

Economic Impact

Elk Grove Councilmember Rod Brewer sees this expansion as a benefit for the city.

“Ensuring we support our city’s small businesses with the tools they need to succeed is a top priority,” Brewer said. “I’m proud to partner with Comcast to bring reliable, high-speed internet to nearly 100 businesses in a key industrial park in my district. Investment in connectivity strengthens the local economy, supports entrepreneurs, creates jobs and continues to position Elk Grove as a place where businesses and our community can grow and thrive.”

The Elk Grove network expansion is just one of many Comcast has underway in Northern California. Comcast is investing in its network in Sacramento and expanding in West Sacramento, Woodland and Dixon. Residents and businesses in seven counties, including Butte, Sutter and Colusa, also will benefit from Comcast’s Network, which provides secure high-speed broadband. This expansion will provide reliable service to the Colusa Indian Community Council (CICC.)

These expansions are part of Comcast’s broader strategy to bridge connectivity gaps and support businesses in both urban and rural areas. “We base our expansions on a business-centric approach and a commitment to consistently connecting communities,” Pitt said.

As Penny Newman continues to grow, its partnership with Comcast Business ensures it stays ahead in a fast-moving industry.

Learn how your business can benefit from next-generation connectivity at business.comcast.com.