Learn more about previous winners of the J.C. Brown CEO Communication Leadership Award, which recognizes an electric cooperative or public power district chief executive officer/general manager who is committed to advancing communication at the cooperative and in the electric cooperative industry.
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- Created and utilizes multiple internal communication channels to share strategic vision, share information.
- Promotes transparency by sharing board actions and decisions after board meetings.
- Uses Touchstone Energy’s Balanced Performance Scorecard to align business activities to the vision, strategy of AECC to improve communication, measure performance.
- Promotes cooperative edge in creative and engaging ways.
- Authored dozens of articles and several books on cooperative difference, business model.
- Speaks nationally on energy issues.
- Leads community engagement activities and partnerships.
- Received Humanitarian Award for AECC’s community service work.
- Arkansas Business recognized AECC as “Best Places to Work” in 2016 and 2018.
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- Reinvented communications department.
- Broadened OEC communications scope.
- Developed three-year strategic communications plan, integrating OEC’s strategic planning and management processes.
- Led rebranding and redesign of
Ohio Cooperative Living to more effectively tell the co-op story.
- Increased social media and earned media presence.
- O’Loughlin’s team helped co-ops in their system create strategic communications plans.
- Convened (first) annual communications conference for OEC members to share leading practices and discuss common issues and challenges among co-op communicators.
- Supports continuous learning to more effectively communicate the co-op story.
- Created foundation to serve community.
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2017: Curtis Wynn
Roanoke Electric Cooperative
Winning Entry Form
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- Deeply involved with region.
- Promotes “Roanoke Connect.”
- Boosts local Internet availability.
- Considers all employees communicators.
- Expanded co-op’s outreach channels with apps, social media, blogs and newsletters.
- Initiated “Straight Talk” forums to promote face-to-face dialogue.
- Developed strategy map that identified core values.
- Established strategy execution team to measure goals.
- Takes steps to ensure consumer-members understand they control the co-op.
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Full List of J.C. Brown Award Winners:
2019: Duane Highley, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp., Little Rock, Ark.
2018: Patrick W. O’Loughlin, Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, Columbus, Ohio
2017: Curtis Wynn, Roanoke Electric Cooperative, Ahoskie, N.C.
2016: Kent Farmer, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Fredericksburg, Va.
2015: Doug Johnson, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp., Lenoir, N.C.
2014: Dan Blesi, Crawford Electric Cooperative, Bourbon, Mo.
2013: Michael D. Tirpak, Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Cambridge Springs, Pa.
2012: Michael Sims, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc., Oxford, Ohio
2011: E.A. “Bucky” Jakins Jr., Baldwin County EMC, Summerdale, Ala.
2010: Bob Ray, Flint EMC, Warner Robins, Ga.
2009: Chris Hamon, White River Valley Electric Cooperative, Branson, Mo.
2008: Ray Beavers, United Cooperative Services, Cleburne, Texas
2007: Jim Duncan, Sumter Electric Cooperative, Sumterville, Fla.
2006: Martin Hillert Jr., Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative, Friendship, Wis.
2005: Kyle Kuntz, Sam Houston Electric Cooperative, Livingston, Texas
2004: Brian Newton, Consolidated Electric Cooperative, Mount Gilead, Ohio[/well]
See the Awards & Recognition page to learn about other communications awards programs.
