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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.
Read the
CREC Fact Sheet to learn more.
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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
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Scott Gates, CCC Senior Editor North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives Raleigh, NC 919-875-3062 scott.gates@ncemcs.com Statewide
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Terry Ressler Managing Director, Corporate Communications Southern Maryland Electric Co-op Hughesville, Maryland 301-274-4341 Terry.Ressler@smeco.coop Distribution
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Region 2
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Chellie Phillips CCC/MCCVP of Communications and Public Relations Coweta-Fayette EMC Palmetto, GA 30268 678-423-6826 cphillips@utility.org Distribution
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Region 3
Sara R. Peterson, CCC Corporate Communication Manager Cooperative Energy Hattiesburg, MS 601-705-6614 speterson@cooperativeenergy.com G&T
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Lorri Freeman Manager of Public Relations Singing River Electric Cooperative Lucedale, MS 601-947-4211 freeman@singingriver.com Distribution
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Danny Weston Art Director Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives Montgomery, AL 334-215-2736 ext. 214 dweston@areapower.com Statewide
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Region 4Patty Nowlin Vice President, Corporate Communications Midwest Energy & Communications Cassopolis, MI 269-445-1079 patty.nowlin@teammidwest.com Distribution
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Region 5Michael Wilson, CCC Vice President of Member and Community Relations Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative Paxton, IL 217-379-0461 mike.wilson@eiec.coop Distribution
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Hillary Cherry, CCC Director of Communications & Marketing Corn Belt Energy Corp. Bloomington, IL 309-664-9250 hillary.cherry@cornbeltenergy.com Distribution
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Region 6
Susan Larson, CCC Senior Marketing & Communications Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative Jordan, MN 952-492-8258 susanl@mvec.net Distribution
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Amy Rosier, CCC Vice President, Member and Government Relations Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, Inc. Fort Collins, CO 970-282-6422 arosier@pvrea.coop Distribution |  |
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Region 8Laura Hengstenberg, CCC Manager of External & Internal Relations Crawford Electric Cooperative Bourbon, MO 573-679-2014 l.hengstenberg@crawfordelec.com Distribution
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Mary Laurent, CCC Communications Manager Southwest Louisiana, EMC Lafayette, LA 337-896-2520 mary.laurent@slemco.com Distribution
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Brianna Wall, CCC Editorial & Events Coordinator Oklahoma Electric Cooperative Norman, Oklahoma 405-217-6708 brianna.wall@okcoop.org Distribution
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Region 9Erika Neff, CCC Communications Coordinator Kootenai Electric Cooperative Hayden, ID 208-292-3270 eneff@kec.com Distribution
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Region 10
National Organization RepresentativesNRECA Representative Anne Prince NRECA Staff Liaison Member Communications Manager Arlington, VA 703-907-5544 anne.prince@nreca.coop
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NRECA Representative Alexis Dunnum NRECA Staff Liaison Communications Coordinator Arlington, VA 703-907-5714 alexis.dunnum@nreca.coop
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Federated Representative Paula Givens Marketing Manager Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange Lenexa, KS 913-541-2949 pgivens@federatedrural.com
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CCC Program Board Representative Nell McCauley, CCC, CKAE, MIP Communications Advisor SEDC Atlanta, GA 770-414-8400 nellm@sedata.com
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CFC Representative Beth Ann Johnson Corporate Communications Manager National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) Dulles, VA 703- 467-1645 bethann.johnson@nrucfc.coop
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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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Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Representative Josh McGhee Strategic Communications Manager Arlington, VA 703-907-5986 joshua.mcghee@nreca.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%20(NCCO)"]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]
[accordion title="Always%20On"]“Always On” defines communicators’ roles and responsibilities for our dynamic, 24/7 world. The report also is meant to help co-op CEOs and communicators evaluate their organization’s current communication readiness and provide recommendations for aligning strategic communication with operational success.
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Interested in Serving on the Council of Rural Electric Communicators (CREC)?
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.
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[accordion title="Expression%20of%20Interest"]
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