We’d like to offer a warm welcome to the following cooperative communicators. These dedicated professionals earned the CCC designation following the October 2019 exam at Co-op University.

Krista Bouchey, Communication Specialist
Orcas Power & Light Co-op, Eastsound, Wash.

“I like how my job is always different and offers creative problem-solving. I also work with really great people,” said Krista.

Krista has been a Communications Specialist at Orcas Power & Light since May 2017.

In her free time, Krista loves hiking around the beautiful island community that she calls home and hanging out with her daughter and her dog.

Krista has a bachelor's degree and worked as a community leader in the non-profit sector. She believes her connections and reputation in their community made her the right fit for her job at the co-op.

She likes to experiment with different technologies and ways to reach people. Her favorite experiment was when they were trying out Facebook Live and it ended up streaming before they were ready. Luckily, there is a way to quickly delete those videos if you don't want them on Facebook.

Heather Juzenas, Communications Manager
Licking Rural Electrification, Newark, Ohio

Heather started as Communications Manager at The Energy Cooperative in April 2017. After 10 years of work experience at an investor owned utility, she was thrilled to have the opportunity to work for her hometown cooperative.

“I enjoy sharing the cooperative story with our members and educating them about the work we do,” said Heather.

She has an undergraduate degree in education, which serves as the foundation for how she shares information with co-op members. Heather also has an MBA, which she says has shaped her knowledge of business strategy, marketing and public relations. She is thrilled to add the CCC designation to her resume!

When Heather’s not working, she spends time with her husband and their two children. They enjoy exploring their community, traveling and all things Disney.

Charly Markwart, Manager of Communications
HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Co-op, Inc., Portland, Mich.

Charly began her career with HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative in April 2017 as a Communications Specialist and was recently promoted to Manager of Communications.

She has always been passionate about communications. She majored in communications with an emphasis in print journalism at Bluefield College in Virginia and began her career as a staff reporter and columnist at a newspaper in Princeton, W.Va. After moving back to her home state of Michigan in 2011, she continued working in the communications
field and eventually found her way to the cooperative family.

“My favorite part of working for the co-op is that I get to continue pursuing my passion for storytelling, communicating, designing and creating, and now I get to do it for a great cause. I truly believe in the mission of electric cooperatives,” says Charly. “I love coming to work every day to communicate with our members about issues that
matter to them, whether it be safety tips, energy-saving measures to help them save money on their electric bill or a plethora of other important messages we get to share with them. I feel like we have a great relationship with our members and communicating with them is always rewarding.”

She has a bachelor’s degree in communications and 10 years of experience in the field. Her most recent job before coming to the cooperative was as a communications coordinator for an
investor-owned electric utility in Michigan, a position that gave her valuable experience in the electric industry and gave her great perspective on the co-op difference.

“Things are run so differently here than at the IOU, all for the good of our members, and I am so proud to be a part of that,” said Charly.

In her free time, she is passionate about music. She is an Americana singer-songwriter. She released her first CD in 2017 and is currently working on another one.

“I am amazed at how much valuable information I gained from the process (of earning the CCC designation). Several times a week, I find myself applying knowledge I obtained studying for the CCC test in my day-to-day duties. I am so happy that I pursued my CCC, and excited to begin taking advantage of the resources and networking opportunities that come along with it,” said Charly.

Jacquelyn Muennink, Communication Specialist
Medina Electric Co-op, Inc., Hondo, Texas

Jacquelyn has been a Communications Specialist at Medina Electric Co-op since 2014.

“I love being able to create connections and experiences in the co-op world — with my coworkers, our members and the communities we serve,” said Jacquelyn.

Jacquelyn has a degree in communications from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her previous work experience includes a water utility and a homebuilder when “smart” technology really started booming in the new-home industry.

“I mostly thank my many mentors and friends along the way who have always encouraged me to do things (and jobs) that are fun, purposeful and make me happy,” said Jacquelyn.

In her free time, Jacquelyn enjoys spending time with her family and doing a variety of outdoor activities in Texas. On occasion, she also enjoys sneaking to the “big city” for some good sushi and a kid-free Target run with a stop at Starbucks.