Meet Michelle Bourdette

Delivering help where help is needed — that’s what customer service is all about. It’s also part of the job Michelle finds most rewarding. What about it is so fulfilling to her? Knowing she’s doing something that’s making a difference in the lives of customers.

As of this October, Michelle has been part of the Empire Access team for 13 years. She’s seen us grow and worked with many customers along the way. When she first started, it wasn’t unusual to find something in common with the person on the other end of the line and use that to go deeper than a typical customer conversation.

“I spoke to a lady once whose father lived in the 596 area, and she lived in downtown Gettysburg. I spend a lot of time there, and as it turned out, I knew exactly where she was located! She seemed excited to talk to someone else who knew the town as much as she did!”

Today, the calls come in from a wider area than they did before, but that hasn’t stood in the way of the care and dedication Michelle delivers to every person she talks to. She even has a few regulars that have become more like acquaintances than customers throughout their interactions — if their calls aren’t sent to her directly, they’ll ask for her by name.

Good service leads to good relationships, and Michelle is a great example of what the “Empire Experience” is all about. Whether it’s sorting out a billing issue or walking a customer through the process of resetting the connection on their TV, she goes to great lengths to deliver the sort of care and attention that people expect from their friends and neighbors.

That spirit is exactly why we’re proud to have Michelle on our team.

Recent Articles

Navigating the Internet Highway: A Comparison of Dial-up, Cable, and Fiber Optic Internet

A close-up image reveals a computer screen with the word "connected" in a pixelated design, reminiscent of Jane's digital artistry. The cursor arrow points at it, indicating a successful network connection. Below, the toolbar displays "Favorites" and "Tools," enhancing the screen's functionality.

In today’s digitally driven world, the internet has become a part of our daily lives. From streaming entertainment to remote work, the quality and speed of our connection can significantly impact our online experience. With various options available, such as dial-up, cable, and fiber optic internet, it’s essential to understand the differences between them to […]

A Better Connection Starts at the Local Level

A diverse group of people smiling and posing for a selfie at an outdoor gathering, celebrating their connection. They are seated around a table with food and drinks, while festive string lights twinkle in the background.

It’s no secret — reliable internet connection is a necessity. Whether you’re working remotely, unwinding after a long week with an all-day streaming marathon, competing in a massively online gaming session, or connecting with loved ones over a video call, seamless online experiences start with the right internet service. With so many options, it can […]

Be Aware of Phone Scams: A Message from Empire Access

A person in a blue shirt holds a smartphone against a dark background, surrounded by red warning symbols and exclamation marks—hinting at an urgent phone scam alert on their device.

We wanted to take a moment to address an important issue that has recently come to our attention. Phone scams are targeting our customers. One of our customers received a suspicious call claiming to be from Empire Access. The customer reported that the caller, who had a foreign accent, stated that they needed to perform […]

Award-Winning Internet Service Provider

Empire Access continues to win accolades for our unwavering commitment to excellence.

When Empire came into my neighborhood, I decided to give them a shot. So grateful I did. Besides the LIGHTNING fast speeds, my favorite thing about Empire is their incredible customer service … can’t say enough good things about Empire Access. I’ve loved every day I’ve been able to use their internet services…

- Steve A.

I have to say that everyone that I have dealt with at Empire has been top notch… At times, I felt like we were their only customer. As far as the Fiber is concerned, it gives us reliability that we have not had — ever — and the speed that we desperately lacked…

- Joe C., Hunt Hollow Ski Club, Naples, NY
Hunt Hollow Ski Club, Naples, NY

I would just like to add that I am very happy that I changed providers! It’s so nice to get a real person who can answer my picky little questions right away without having to wait, thank you for everything.

- Sidney P., Hornell, NY
Young Woman Smiling

Fiber connectivity is amazing, and so are the folks who brought it to my house and keep it running smoothly. As always, especially when I have the luxury of not thinking about it at all, you have my thanks.

- Jason T., Big Flats, NY
Happy Fiber Customer

They got everything running in no time and were super helpful in setting up my home and answering questions. I truly appreciate the great service.

- Eric M., Corning, NY
Smiling Man

We are very thankful to Empire Access for selecting our area to be our service provider for fiber optic high speed internet and phone service. We are very happy with the speed they provide along with the unlimited data. My husband and myself were very impressed with everyone that we dealt with…

- Veda M., Elmira, NY
Happy Fiber Customer

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