The Council of Rural Electric Communicators (CREC) is comprised of electric co-op communicators from throughout the industry, including representatives from distribution cooperatives, generation and transmission cooperatives, statewide associations, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange and the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC). NRECA provides administrative support for the CREC.

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[accordion title="CREC%20Members"]Region 1

Charles McAlpin, CCC Manager, Communication and Member Services Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative Calais, ME 207-454-7555, ext. 124 cmcalpin@emec.com Distribution
Scott Gates, CCC Senior Editor North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives Raleigh, NC 919-875-3062 scott.gates@ncemcs.com Statewide
Terry Ressler Managing Director, Corporate Communications Southern Maryland Electric Co-op Hughesville, Maryland 301-274-4341 Terry.Ressler@smeco.coop Distribution
REGION 2
Chellie Phillips CCC/MCCVP of Communications and Public Relations Coweta-Fayette EMC Palmetto, GA 30268 678-423-6826 cphillips@utility.org

Region 3

Sara R. Peterson, CCC Corporate Communication Manager Cooperative Energy Hattiesburg, MS 601-705-6614 speterson@cooperativeenergy.com G&T
Lorri Freeman Manager of Public Relations Singing River Electric Cooperative Lucedale, MS 601-947-4211 freeman@singingriver.com Distribution

Region 4

Patty Nowlin Vice President, Corporate Communications Midwest Energy & Communications Cassopolis, MI 269-445-1079 patty.nowlin@teammidwest.com Distribution

Region 5

Michael Wilson, CCC Vice President of Member and Community Relations Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative Paxton, IL 217-379-0461 mike.wilson@eiec.coop Distribution
Hillary Cherry, CCC Director of Communications & Marketing Corn Belt Energy Corp. Bloomington, IL 309-664-9250 hillary.cherry@cornbeltenergy.com Distribution

Region 6

Mike Birkeland Director of Member Services & Community Relations Lake Country Power Kettle River, MN 218-485-2244 mbirkeland@lakecountrypower.com Distribution

Region 8

Laura Hengstenberg, CCC Manager of External & Internal Relations Crawford Electric Cooperative Bourbon, MO 573-679-2014 l.hengstenberg@crawfordelec.com Distribution
Mary Laurent, CCC Communications Manager Southwest Louisiana, EMC Lafayette, LA 337-896-2520 mary.laurent@slemco.com Distribution
Brianna Wall, CCC Editorial & Events Coordinator Oklahoma Electric Cooperative Norman, Oklahoma 405-217-6708 brianna.wall@okcoop.org Distribution

Region 9

Erika Neff, CCC Communications Coordinator Kootenai Electric Cooperative Hayden, ID 208-292-3270 eneff@kec.com Distribution

National Organization Representatives

NRECA Representative Anne Prince NRECA Staff Liaison Member Communications Manager Arlington, VA 703-907-5544 anne.prince@nreca.coop
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Representative Ainsley Gutshall Program Manager of Communications Arlington, VA 703-907-5633 ainsley.gutshall@nreca.coop
Federated Representative Paula Givens Marketing Manager Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange Lenexa, KS 913-541-2949 pgivens@federatedrural.com
CCC Chair, CCC Program Board Representative Anna Politano, CCC Editor, Oklahoma Living Magazine Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives Oklahoma City, OK 405-607-0167
CFC Representative Perry A. Stambaugh Director of Member Communications & Editor, CFC Solutions News Bulletin National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) Dulles, VA 703- 467-1653 Perry.stambaugh@nrucfc.coop
NRTC Representative Chris Martin Vice President, Member and Industry Relations National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative Herndon, VA 703- 787-7288 cmartin@nrtc.coop

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[accordion title="Spotlight%20on%20Excellence"]Each year, the Spotlight on Excellence program recognizes a body of outstanding work produced by electric co-op communication and marketing professionals throughout the nation. Judges for the Spotlight competition come from the faculties of prestigious universities along with accomplished professionals from the public relations, marketing and digital realms. Communication and marketing staff compete in five separate classes, and winners are recognized at the annual CONNECT Conference. Winning entries are displayed in the Spotlight Café at CONNECT and are housed online at cooperative.com.[/accordion] 

[accordion title="The%20J.C.%20Brown%20Award%20CEO%20Communication%20Leadership%20Award"]The J.C. Brown CEO Communication Leadership Award recognizes outstanding CEO/GM leadership in advancing the role of communication at his or her electric co-op, public power district, statewide association or generation and transmission co-op. The J.C. Brown Award is part of the Spotlight on Excellence program and is judged independently and presented at the NRECA CEO Leadership Conference. [/accordion] 

[accordion title="The%20LaBerge%20Award%20for%20Excellence%20in%20Strategic%20Communication"]The LaBerge Award for Excellence in Strategic Communication recognizes an electric cooperative communicator with demonstrated excellence, influence and impact in co-op communications, both as a practitioner and contributor across Co-op Nation. The award was established in 2018 in memory of Justin Erick LaBerge, who served as the Senior Leadership Communications Manager for NRECA.[/accordion] 

[accordion title="The%20Autry%20Award%20for%20'Always%20On'%20Communication"]The Autry Leadership Award for "Always On" Communication is a "lifetime achievement" recognition acknowledging an electric cooperative communicator who has made extraordinary impact and contribution to the practice of "Always On" communication. The award was established in 2017 in honor of Jimmy Autry, who retired in 2017 after a distinguished and impactful career as an electric cooperative communicator. [/accordion] 

[accordion title="New%20Co-op%20Communicators%20Orientation"]The New Co-op Communicators Orientation, offered in the fall and spring, is designed for communications, marketing and member services staff that are new to cooperatives or the communications field.
This three day orientation educates co-op communicators about the following:

• The cooperative business model and values
• Issues facing the electric industry and electric cooperatives
• The wide variety of valuable resources available to communicators through their national service and business organizations
  

Beyond the learning opportunities, participants benefit by getting to know other cooperative communicators in a small-group setting where they network, discuss common issues, and build professional relationships to draw on in the future. [/accordion]

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The CREC is composed of at least nine distribution cooperative representatives and at least one member from a statewide and one from a G&T. The CREC also strives to maintain at least one representative from each of NRECA’s 10 geographic regions. Through resignations and retirements, the CREC can usually expect to fill 2-3 vacancies per year.

Co-op communicator vacancies on the Council of Rural Electric Communicators are filled by a vote of the CREC from nominations made by a standing committee on nominations. The nominations committee seeks experienced communicators from a diversity of electric co-ops, regions, and communication backgrounds. Nominees must be employees of NRECA-member electric utilities. CREC members from affiliated organizations, such as NRECA, Touchstone Energy, CFC, Federated, the CCC Board of Directors, and NRTC are appointed separately by those organizations. CREC members may serve for a maximum of three consecutive three-year terms.

To be considered for CREC membership, you should complete and submit the information form linked below. Nominations are accepted at any time. The CREC Nominating Committee will review all applications and will present, for consideration by the full CREC, all qualified applicants from regions in which there is an open CREC position.