By Casey Hollins, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
Jocelyn Romey
Staff Communications Professional for South Dakota Rural Electric Association, Pierre, SD
Jocelyn began working for South Dakota Rural Electric Association (SDREA) in June 2016. Prior to SDREA, she worked in radio and for the USDA Farm Service Agency as a program technician.
“The most rewarding part of my job at SDREA is connecting with so many good people,” said Jocelyn. “This industry attracts talented, knowledgeable people with a solid work ethic, and it is rewarding to work with them.”
Jocelyn grew up on a cow/calf operating ranch in southwest South Dakota and is now a part-owner of the family business. In 2014 she earned her bachelor’s degree in communications focusing on public relations and is currently receiving her master’s degree in human resource management from Colorado State University. Jocelyn says she loves her family, church and work, and always looks forward to new opportunities and everyday highlights – like a good cup of coffee.
Autumn McMahon
Manager of Marketing and Member Relations for Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Norman, Okla.
Autumn has been at OEC for more than two years. She said, “The cooperative heart of service is the most rewarding part of my job. I love the opportunity to support community programs and philanthropic events to best serve our members.”
Autumn has a passion for service, particularly supporting children. She enjoys engaging in the community on various non-profit boards. She is actively involved in her church, is a 2000 graduate of Tomorrow’s Leaders, a 2011 graduate of Leadership Norman, the 2017 Norman Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Leadership Award recipient, and she holds a masters of education in adult and higher education from the University of Oklahoma.
Autumn added, “Most importantly, I am actively enjoying the adventure of parenting with my husband Korey as we discover the world through the eyes of our three-year-old daughter Rose.”
Jenny Mattson
Communications Coordinator for Great River Energy, Maple Grove, Minn.
Jenny has been at Great River Energy for three years. Jenny said, “The cooperative culture of mutual support and encouragement is irreplaceable and something I find particularly rewarding. In my day-to-day tasks, I enjoy engaging in building relationships with other cooperatives, employees and key stakeholders. You can find me active online, researching media opportunities, and creating internal campaigns—all of which I enjoy immensely.”
Prior to working at Great River Energy, Jenny worked for the Department of the Army as a writer/editor for one of their monthly magazines, as well as in the public affairs department at Fort Knox, Ky. Previous to that, she worked as a copywriter for Best Buy corporate.
Jenny graduated from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., with a double major in English and communications. She also graduated from the Public Affairs Qualifying Course at the Defense Information School. Jenny is a mom to two preschoolers, both girls ages four and five. They enjoy going to Minnesota Twins games, vacationing in Florida, cabining in northern Minnesota, and sailing on Lake Pepin.
BJ Myers
Administrative Assistant and Communications Specialist for Southeastern Indiana REMC, Osgood, Ind.
BJ began her career with Southeastern Indiana REMC in April 2002, and is swiftly approaching her 16th service anniversary with the cooperative.
She said, “The most rewarding thing about my job is that I get to play to my strengths every day. The blend of responsibilities included in my job description are enough to keep me actively engaged in my work. I am inspired daily as I complete the tasks at hand.”
BJ’s interests include singing, playing guitar and mandolin, and listening to a wide variety of musical genres. She also enjoys painting, crafting, reading, and movies (old and new). BJ is a preacher’s daughter; the oldest of four children; married to her high school sweetheart; mother of two daughters; a member of the praise team at church; an optimist; and a small town girl (love the country – not the big city).
Brandon Pomrenke
Assistant Editor for Ruralite Services, Inc. Hillsboro, Ore.
Brandon has been with Ruralite Services Inc., for three years. He said, “Not only are my co-workers great mentors and teammates, but I also get to work with great utility communicators and managers throughout the Northwest. I also feel like I learn something new every week about the energy industry.”
Like many folks in the Pacific Northwest, he enjoys just about anything that gets him outside. Brandon and his family enjoy camping, heading to the coast, and walks with their dog. He also said, “you can't go wrong with a round of golf.”
The majority of Brandon’s writing, photography and editing experience comes from time in the Army. He was a public affairs specialist for seven years, and worked with a lot of communications professionals both at home and abroad. He recently completed his master of arts in graphic design.
Cassi Gloe
Communications Production Manager and Designer for Colorado Rural Electric Association, Denver, Colo.
Cassi joined the Colorado statewide office, Colorado Rural Electric Association (CREA), in January 2016. She graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2008. She has 10 years in the printing, branding, print-production, design and project management area. Before working at CREA, Cassi worked as product development lead for a Littleton publishing company. In 2015 she received a certification in project management and most recently her CCC.
Cassi said, “’Colorado Country Life’ magazine gives me the opportunity to highlight extraordinary people and places and remind all our readers how great it is to be a co-op member. As a transplant to Colorado, I constantly learn more about our great state as I work on the magazine. And I get a chance to learn how co-op members, throughout Colorado, make living and working in Colorado so great. It is a privilege to share amazing stories with everyone across the state and beyond.”
In her free time she enjoys cooking, gardening, and home improvement projects. She also enjoys seeking adventures in the outdoors by skiing, hiking, and backpack camping.
