An Autry Leadership Award nominee is someone who is well-known and respected across Co-op Nation and who has worked a minimum of 20 years in electric cooperative communications, including time at a strategic management level. An individual may be nominated within one year of ending service. The nominee’s cooperative must be a voting member of NRECA. The Autry Leadership Award is awarded only as merited, and a recipient may receive it only once.
Potential candidates may be nominated by any industry peer who is currently employed by an electric cooperative that is a voting member of NRECA. Current members of the CREC Executive Committee or CREC Awards & Recognition Committee chairpersons may not submit a nomination. A worthy nominee will have:
Made an extraordinary impact on and contribution to the practice of Always On communication. This individual will be well known across Co-op Nation, and not just within the marketing-communications community.
Executed a substantial body of work that demonstrates leadership and innovation in communication, member service, and community relations.
Inspired others and served as a national role model for strategic communications excellence.
To submit a candidate for consideration, complete the Nomination Form and include three letters of reference. Reference letters should not come from the nominee’s home co-op and should demonstrate the singular impact of the nominee beyond the home co-op, state or local region. Nominations will be accepted at any time and directed to members of the CREC Executive Committee and Awards & Recognition Committee Chairs, who will evaluate and score the nominee based on the three qualifications listed above. With a unanimous affirmative vote of these committees, the nomination will move to the full CREC for approval. A nominee receiving a majority vote in favor of his/her nomination will be named an Autry Leadership Award winner. Nominators will be notified as to the final status of the nomination.