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Electric cooperatives and their various teams have a reputation for working behind the scenes and without much fanfare to power and support the communities they serve.

The spirit behind our biennial Co-op Rising Stars cover story is a deliberate break with that tradition, shining a bright spotlight on the growing cadre of smart, dedicated, energetic professionals who are stepping up, leaning in and bringing fresh leadership to co-ops across the country. These are the employees who are helping co-ops navigate the industry's broad ongoing transitions, reimagine member engagement and carry forward the values of cooperation into a new era.

This marks our third class of Co-op Rising Stars (following the 2021 and 2023 classes), and nominations once again poured in—more than 160 in total—from all corners of co-op country. A panel of NRECA judges carefully reviewed each submission and had the unenviable task of selecting 20 standouts.

This year, the NRECA Education, Training and Events department sweetened the pot, offering a complimentary training course in the Cooperative Career Essentials Program or the Supervisor and Manager Development Program to three randomly selected Rising Stars.

As you get to know this year's honorees, we think you'll see what we and their co-op colleague so clearly see: a group of creative, grounded, hardworking team players who are already making a difference in their communities and whose passion and commitment will shape the co-op program's future.

We're proud to present the 2025 class of RE Magazine Co-op Rising Stars.

As a marketing major at Indiana State University, Faith Wheeler had big plans to move to a large city and work at a fashion company after college. But a summer internship in member services at Shelby Electric Cooperative “completely changed everything for me," she says.

Today, she lives and works in Shelbyville, Illinois, population 4,560, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

“I fell in love with the cooperative way, Shelby Electric and the people here."

Entering her final semester of college, she accepted the position of member services specialist as a part-time employee. Upon graduating and becoming full-time, she made the position her own by going beyond the media and marketing aspects of the job.

“It didn't take long to see that she was going to become an asset to the whole cooperative," says Kevin Bernson, the co-op's vice president of media and public relations.

When Wheeler's not assisting with the co-op's social media accounts or working on her next “Faith’s Roadtrip” article for the member newsletter, she's the main point of contact for the co-op's residential solar program, administers classroom visits and is heavily involved with the Shelby County Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities class.

Wheeler has also been the coordinator of the CoBank Sharing Success matching grant program since 2023. “It's awesome to be able to give money to people who need help," she says.

“She not only cares about the areas she works in but also how others work to see if there's anything she can offer to help make their jobs better," Bernson says.

Forming community connections and relationships with members drives Wheeler to go above and beyond at work.

“I can't imagine not being here and not working with these people and doing what I do," she says. “It's crazy how life works out sometimes."

You can't keep Brittany Shadix down.

As a high school senior near Carrollton, Shadix wasn't selected for Washington Youth Tour. However, she was persistent in her pursuit to continue learning and was offered a student worker position for Carroll EMC.

That summer job—answering switchboard calls and taking drive-thru payments—along with studying mass communications at the University of West Georgia, laid the groundwork for her future success at the co-op. “I really appreciated being treated as an adult," she says. “They gave us a lot of responsibility and trusted that I was going to do what I was supposed to do."

During college, Shadix was a communications assistant, and she was promoted to specialist after graduation. A year into that job, her supervisor, Kelly Jimenez, went on maternity leave. During that time, Shadix stepped up to support the communications department by helping manage key projects and keeping operations running smoothly. She played a central role in coordinating the cooperative's agriculture events—including the 300-student FFA Day at the Carrollton headquarters—shepherded a website redesign and created ads and content for various communication channels.

Thanks to her strong performance, Shadix now oversees those ag events. Recently, she co-led a multidepartment focus group on internal communications and presented findings to senior staff. She also just completed the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy, an eight-month program.

“Brittany is always up for a challenge," says Jimenez, Carroll EMC's communications director. “Everyone at the co-op knows they can count on her to get things done and done well. She's an all-in employee."

As a lifelong co-op member—she remembers a “touch-a-truck" event from first grade—Shadix says the co-op's trust in her has been “an honor. I not only serve our members but also our employees. When I do my job well, I make everyone else's job easier."

“I don't know that I can do anything not 100%," says Sarah White. “I think there's a lot of satisfaction and growth when you push yourself to as far as you can go."

White created Associated Electric's first monitoring and diagnostics program, which “takes data from our power plants and then uses it to determine if equipment is healthy, needs work done or whether we need to make operational changes that are more efficient."

The co-op's growing M&D team analyzes the reams of data generated by equipment sensors and through software and algorithms to compare current and baseline operations. Discrepancies between current and baseline readings are sent to technicians for follow-up.

Catching problems early requires intensive collaboration across the G&T and with industry groups.

“Her forward-thinking approach and eye for process development has enabled early detection and resolution of equipment issues," saving the organization between $1 million and $2 million, says Landon Pollard, AECI's senior manager of asset management.

White wasn't always involved on the data side of things. In 2020, she began as an environmental and thermal generation intern and participated in a business case feasibility analysis of an M&D program.

AECI proceeded, and she became its first M&D engineer. Since then, the program has grown in hires and influence. She's “a subject matter expert in modeling, statistical analysis and data analytics," Pollard says.

A community volunteer, century-ride cyclist and musician with her own blues and rock band, White says personal reasons also push her to succeed. “My grandparents are co-op members, and I use that to assess whether I'm doing enough for them or someone else's grandparents," she says. “Did I do as much as I could have?"

Brian Burnett helps co-ops protect themselves from cybercriminals, but many years before that he was protecting the citizens of Greensboro, North Carolina, as a police officer and digital forensic investigator in various units, including fraud, financial crimes and homicide.

“It gave me a really good investigative skillset, and I still have contacts across the cyber arena at the FBI, Secret Service and other agencies," he says.

A former information security manager at a global health and pharmaceutical firm and IT auditor, Burnett also has a deep cyber background. However, his people skills have won him accolades as North Carolina Electric Cooperatives' first director of cybersecurity.

Even while still new to the co-op world, Burnett realized that employees juggle multiple responsibilities, and that while their IT personnel understood cybersecurity principles, they were less familiar with matching up a full-scale program against business needs. His IT cybersecurity advisory group provides a “safe space" for co-ops to share information and discuss challenges and gaps in their programs. No executive or senior leaders are present.

“I don't tell them how to manage or operate their cybersecurity programs, but I provide support services to help fill gaps," he says.

Burnett also meets weekly with co-op executives on trends, threat analysis and risk management.

Through his leadership, “we are a stronger, more secure organization," says Joe Brannan, executive vice president and CEO of the statewide association and North Carolina EMC. “Brian's innovative approach will continue to serve us into the future as the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve."

C-suite support, Burnett says, motivates him to succeed.

“It makes me want to do that much more, because I'm seeing the improvements," he says. “I look forward to getting up in the morning, working and getting things done."

Weston Mueller feels as at ease presenting papers before a national audience on geospatial data, analytics and operational insights as he does working his family's Black Angus ranch in Wyoming and Montana.

The fourth-generation rancher excels at combining data, analytics and operational insights to improve operations—efforts that have won PRECorp national recognition. Earlier this year, he presented a paper at the IEEE Rural Electric Power Conference on a custom model he developed that leverages GPS and road speed data to analyze grid response times that other utilities can replicate.

Before that, he helped the co-op advance to the second round of the Department of Energy's HeroX “Digitizing Utilities Prize" for a project using AMI data to develop a machine-driven alert system for grid problems.

“Weston has fundamentally improved how PRECorp manages, interprets and leverages data to serve its members. His ability to translate complex data into actionable insights has directly benefited operations, engineering and member services," says Rowdy Downey, Mueller's supervisor and senior manager of IT services.

Another data-based project with real-life application was Mueller's AI-driven analysis of AMI voltage data that identified potential issues early, improving system reliability and reducing wildfire risks. His proactive work in data validation and modeling has increased the accuracy of field data, ultimately supporting safer, more efficient grid operations.

Mueller's mission is to widen colleagues' access to data for better decision-making.

“The amount of talent at a co-op has always been very high, but unfortunately, access to data and tools to leverage data to make decisions is bottlenecked," Mueller says. “From when I started to where we are now, we focused on that bottleneck and made that data more free-flowing. We now have the ability for everyone to utilize analytics and data for their programs."

Years ago, Dillon Johnson was a machine operator at a plastics factory in the greater Indianapolis area. An unfulfilling job, “it was just kind of something to do in between jobs and support my family," he says. But then a friend, who happened to be a lineworker at Johnson County REMC, told him the co-op was looking for a staking engineer and he'd be a great fit.

Johnson's friend—now-operations manager Dustin Wisehart—was right. Johnson interviewed and got the job, and his star has been on the rise ever since. He's learned the industry by packing his calendar with trainings, including Hoosier Energy's three-year energy apprenticeship and Indiana Electric Cooperatives' Rural Electric Leaders in Training Exchange, a two-year professional program. This fall, he will start classes at Indiana Tech for a bachelor's degree in construction management.

“Since I started here, I've basically been in some sort of school," says Johnson, who's about to earn level II status soon. “I don't ever want to stop learning or stop trying to attain more knowledge."

As a level one staking engineer, Johnson explains new installations to current and potential members, which can require lengthy, technical explanations of permits and regulations. His patience and empathy have earned him several repeat referrals.

“He can talk to anyone, and he always works with our members to find a good solution that works for them," says his supervisor, Caleb Drake.

An inaugural member of the co-op's business improvement committee, Johnson sees himself as a future co-op manager. A father and husband—and a coach of baseball, wrestling and soccer—he hopes to make his family proud.

“To have an effective career at a co-op, you have to be willing to work with everybody in the building," he says.

Natalie Bradley has been on Flint Energies' radar since 2019, when she did community development work for downtown Oglethorpe, Georgia, and then for the state's department of community affairs.

“You really need to come work for us," she recalls a former CEO telling her during a meeting.

And when she and her husband relocated to the area for his new job, Bradley—a professional watercolorist who also trained wedding planners—interviewed for a community relations specialist opening, with the caveat that “I could get my hands dirty" by working directly with communities.

After a few months on the job, Bradley got a new rural youth program off the ground, called EMPOWER, a regional leadership program for youth now in its third year. She also started a podcast called Front Porch Chats on co-op news and life in central and southwest Georgia.

“She's not afraid to take charge, whether it's revamping an existing program or creating something new, and her actions and enthusiasm inspire others to follow her example," says Marian McLemore, Flint Energies' vice president of cooperative communications.

Bradley's deep connections with rural communities, boundless energy and creativity have given her the tools to succeed. A love for the area also motivates her.

“I've seen this area go through some really difficult times, and it's exciting to see what we can accomplish in a short amount of time."

“Working here has definitely been a major boon to me and not anything I ever expected or planned for," says Alex Dal Santo, a former tuxedo shop salesman, substitute teacher and newspaper proofreader. “A lot of times, it's not what you know, it's who you know."

Dal Santo's “in" at Texas Electric Cooperatives was Texas Co-op Power editor Chris Burrows, whom he met through friends shortly after relocating from Illinois.

“I'd heard of a cooperative as an idea of an economic model for business, but that's all I knew," says Dal Santo.

Hired as a communications specialist, Dal Santo learned on the job, sometimes under fire. During last year's Youth Tour, he was scheduled to chaperone but at the last minute stepped in as staff photographer and videographer.

“I had never done videography but I'm tech savvy and can figure out that stuff," he says.

He learned enough on the fly to gain enough confidence and skill to shoot Youth Tour footage that eventually helped the statewide earn a Spotlight on Excellence Award.

In three years, Dal Santo has acquired other skills beyond editorial tasks. A Touchstone Energy® Cooperative specialist for the state's members, he manages a team of four communications specialists. It's as a leader that “the thoughtful mentor" in Dal Santo shines, Burrows says.

“Alex gets the best out of his employees and encourages them to find fulfillment in their roles through tasks and pathways that especially suit their interests and skills."

“My kids always tell their friends, 'My dad keeps the lights on,'" André Kaiser says.

But Kaiser doesn't climb poles or ride in bucket trucks. Instead, the attorney manages hundreds of contracts that United Power needs to keep its complex operations running smoothly.

“People don't realize the variety of contracts needed to make a utility operate," says Kaiser, who's been promoted three times since 2018. “Every day is a unique challenge. I thrive on it."

One of Kaiser's proudest moments was building a management system for the co-op's contracts. The system uses a naming convention and robust metadata to help employees can find contracts quickly. It also automatically flags expiring and auto-renewing contracts and notifies project managers.

“We have almost 3,000 files … contract-related agreements, non-disclosure agreements, memoranda of understanding, you name it," he says. “They've all been uploaded into this system, and I can get to any one of them with just a few clicks."

Kaiser's accomplishments include spearheading the co-op's transition to a new insurance carrier that includes wildfire coverage and lowers its annual premiums by $2 million. Semiannual check-ins with each department “ensure employees know he's a resource for any issue," says his supervisor, Robin Meidhof, United Power's senior vice president and chief legal officer.

“André has an unmatched ability to take a problem, evaluate the issue and provide his colleagues with several options and the pros and cons, all backed by the appropriate amount of research from sources such as state/federal statutes or case law," Meidhof says.

Born with a visual impairment, Kaiser says his parents' encouragement gave him the determination to succeed.

“I've had to come up with a lot of creative ways to accomplish tasks and solve problems that most people probably never have to think about," he says. “That's dovetailed into who I am—a hard worker who seeks creative solutions to problems."

If someone at Beltrami Electric Cooperative is looking for a helping, knowledgeable staff member, Ayla Kranz is their person. “I don't want to let my coworkers down," she says. “If I can make that big difference in one person's day, that's huge."

As a former receptionist, cashier and member services rep, Kranz demonstrated she could “effortlessly connect with colleagues, co-op members and community leaders alike," says Bob Gregg, her supervisor and business development manager.

“That's what I loved about it," Kranz says of her previous roles. “But now it's just gaining more knowledge and understanding the bigger things. If our members succeed, we succeed."

While she no longer answers phones or handles billing problems—but still helps out when she can—Kranz still connects with members. She launched the co-op's first member focus group, and her EV car shows have been big draws. As a certified key accounts executive, she and supervisor Bob Gregg regularly conduct “business spotlight" visits to commercial and industrial members.

“We talk to them about the programs we have, get to know them and their needs and ask whether they're growing and how can we partner with them and make sure they know we're their contacts they can rely on," Kranz says.

Whether she's talking to someone in energy services about a member's concern about heat pump installation or representing the co-op as a Bemidji Chamber of Commerce ambassador, Kranz has become an essential liaison between the co-op and community.

“Through her dedication to relationship building, she enhances the cooperative's presence in the community and ensures that members feel heard, valued and supported," Gregg says.

Kranz's passion for service, dedication and commitment to learning have made her a standout employee.

“If we had the opportunity to replicate her enthusiasm and work ethic, we'd gladly welcome a dozen more just like her," says Angela Lyseng, a communications specialist at the co-op.

Chelsea Wright began her career at REC as a member service representative handling inbound phone calls and emails assisting members with establishing new residential service, resolving billing concerns, reporting service outages and addressing a wide range of other customer service inquiries.

Her can-do attitude, positive demeanor, keen attention to detail and strong sense of responsibility quickly gained the attention of senior leaders who invited her to support them in administrative assistant roles. As demand grew and more data centers pursued service interest within the co-op's territory, Wright was promoted to her current position, where she now supports new large and unusual load projects throughout the multiyear contractual and financial process of procurement, design, engineering and construction.

“Her name immediately came to mind" when Rappahannock Electric Cooperative senior leaders began to organize a team to handle the wave of inquiries from prospective members wanting the co-op to serve their data centers, says Tracey Steiner, REC's chief engagement and consumer officer.

Wright takes pride in being part of an organization that comes together during the inevitable crunch times of project requirements.

“The ability to rally the troops and for everybody to come to the table, make decisions and keep the projects moving along makes the projects successful," she says.

While working full-time at REC, Wright earned her bachelor's degree in business administration leadership and is a full-time student pursuing a master's degree in executive leadership. Previously, she completed the co-op's Leadership Engagement and Performance Program.

In her spare time, Wright enjoys spending time with family and running. Earlier this year, Wright completed her first full marathon in Maui, Hawaii, as a tribute to her grandparents who ran the same race in the 1970s.

Making it a family milestone, her husband and son also participated, each proudly finishing the half marathon.

Although she's considering running another marathon in the future, she offers this lighthearted advice: “Don't train for a marathon while pursuing a master's degree, working full-time, and being a wife and mom!"

Hollywood often portrays cybersecurity professionals as introverted sleuths hunched over a desk working at a computer to prevent cyberattacks.

But at Delaware Electric Cooperative, colleagues credit Information Security Manager Ben Galvacky's skill of building relationships for transforming the co-op's cybersecurity program into a comprehensive risk management strategy.

“A successful cybersecurity program relies not only on robust technical defenses but also on strong interpersonal connections—and Ben excels at both," says Kyle Bouika, vice president of technology at DEC. Through an “approachable and inclusive" style, Galvacky “understands that having a working relationship with every employee is essential to keeping DEC secure."

From day one, Galvacky has dedicated himself to understanding the co-op's structure and people. “Being new to the co-op space, I had to learn a lot about different departments, everything from dispatch to engineering to managing operations, even our safety and security department. I got involved in a lot of meetings and a lot of conversations," he says.

Galvacky focuses on a holistic approach to implement “right-size" solutions to reduce risk.

“The co-op world is a little different than a regular business," he says. “We're not out here buying the most expensive and flashy solutions. We want to invest appropriately and give the highest return to our members."

Galvacky gets satisfaction from keeping the co-op safe from bad actors but also enjoys lending his expertise to others—whether in his elected role as vice chair of NRECA's Cybersecurity Member Advisory Group, serving in NRECA's IT Mentoring program, overseeing interns at his co-op or serving on his local community college advisory board.

“Through his strong technical expertise and professional competence, Ben has not only advanced cybersecurity within the co-op community but has also played a vital role in strengthening the nation's overall cyber posture," says NRECA Principal for Cybersecurity Solutions Ryan Newlon. “His solution-oriented mindset and servant leadership have consistently brought meaningful value to the co-op community, making a lasting positive impact."

“Helping and supporting others to advance, develop and succeed; if we can inspire somebody or help make a positive difference for the common good ... you can't place a value on that," Galvacky says.

Fresh out of the U.S. Army and looking for a trade career years ago, Cody Wallace drove past the Ada County, Idaho, campus of Northwest Lineman College, where he spotted students climbing poles and working on line equipment.

“I thought, 'Wow, that looks really cool, I wonder what those guys are doing?' I did some research, and that's how I decided I wanted to get into this industry," says Wallace.

He attended the college in 2020 and then moved back home to central Oregon, where he started at Midstate Electric Cooperative as a groundman. A year later, he was promoted to apprentice meter technician and recently finished three years of night classes at Northwest Technical Training's meter tech program.

And having passed the school's exam, he's now a full-fledged journeyman meter tech. Wallace thrives on his chosen career's variety and enjoys its technical aspects.

“Ninety percent of my job is math and proving how electricity is metered," he says. “It's not like water or gas where you can see literally see it flow. It's all invisible and you have to calculate it."

But Wallace isn't all about right triangle rules and Pythagorean theorems.

“I've always been about service and helping other people who don't necessarily have the means to put themselves in a good position," he says.

That servant's heart led him to volunteer through NRECA International for a two-week stint in Guatemala, where he and others wired 30 homes, a school and a church for electricity. He's also involved with the Honor Flight Network for America's veterans.

“Cody ensures the co-op is not just seen but felt in the community, as a caring and active partner," says Midstate EC CEO and GM James Anderson. “Cody's work ethic, humility and dedication to our mission have raised the bar for everyone around him."

“I was the kid in school who found passion in anything," says Allie Bennett.

An agricultural education major in college, she was required to take soil science, a class dreaded by students.

“Everyone said, 'Nobody passes this class, and it's so boring.' I said, 'Challenge accepted'.

She got an A.

Bennett has applied that same drive and determination to the cooperative network, first at Macon Electric Cooperative and now at Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative.

“She leads with service, strategy and heart," says Douglas Aeilts, CEO and general manager of the Palmyra-based G&T.

“When people ask me about my job, my answer is whatever initiatives our member co-ops are working in the realm of economic development and member services," Bennett says.

That “realm" is wide and varied. One day, she might be managing their loan applications with the Department of Agriculture's Rural Economic Development program. The next day, she could be flying a drone for a co-op video. And the next week, she might meet with government officials to secure critical support for a co-op or community priority.

One of those priorities was a collaborative effort with Lancaster-based Tri-County Electric Cooperative and the Northeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission that launched a revolving loan fund for workforce housing. Her contributions to the project—which is increasing the stock of desperately needed housing in the area—earned recognition from U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt.

And Bennett's not just busy at work. In addition to coaching her daughters' ball games, she's on the boards of nine local regional and national organizations that advocate for co-ops. The former high school ag teacher also earned her Doctor of Business Administration degree from Walden University after defending her dissertation on demand-side management techniques.

“Allie is not only helping communities grow—she's helping the entire cooperative network thrive," Aeilts says.

Marty Walsh started at People's Energy in the early months of 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Since then, he's been instrumental in raising the importance of energy and energy services in economic development by sowing the seeds of collaboration with community partners.

“As projects become more energy-intensive, partners see our involvement as very positive, that as a utility we will be able to support them as they grow, even as we talk about capacity constraints," he says.

At the same time, he's placed economic development higher on the organizational radar “by bridging gaps throughout the company with his excellent communication and inclusion skills," says Chye Stecher, system engineer and mapping supervisor.

“Community and economic development timelines can be pretty long and striking a balance of when it's time to start acting from an infrastructure standpoint—knowing that a project may or not come to fruition—can be difficult," Walsh says.

With Walsh at the helm, the co-op has found that balance on projects in communities like Stewartville, Minnesota, where the co-op has served an industrial park for about two decades but which has generated new interest.

Walsh “is helping us achieve our vision of being a respected business partner with our communities," says Gwen Stevens, the co-op's vice president of cooperative relations. “He's done a spectacular job of collaborating across departments to ensure staff are aware of potential projects that could affect our system, and the new projects run smoothly."

Walsh is as excited about co-ops—he's also board chair of Cooperative Development Services Inc.—as he is about the outdoors. He's helped raise about $500,000 to help build the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail, a proposed 125-mile backpacking trail that he hopes will draw “new people who will come to appreciate the area in a new way."

Clark County REMC hired Jessica Kaufer to support members with questions about solar and other forms of renewable energy. But on her first day, CEO Jason Clemmons asked her to be the lead writer for a federal AMI grant, a challenge far outside her original job description.

“It was definitely a trial by fire," recalls Kaufer, whose background was previously working with doctors and surgeons. “But I was determined to exceed expectations. I saw it as an opportunity to learn the co-op from the inside out, not just learning how things worked, but why they mattered."

Kaufer delved into the co-op's history, learning about its strategic goals and future plans. And while the co-op didn't receive the grant, she says the experience, while intense, was priceless.

“I had to rely on colleagues I had just met to gather the information I needed to write the grant," she says. “But that truly showed me what makes a co-op different. Working at a co-op is unlike any other job I've had. There's a spirit of collaboration and support that makes coming to work every day something I genuinely look forward to, I absolutely love it here."

From there, Kaufer's role quickly expanded. Initially hired as an emerging technology specialist focused on member education, she expanded her scope to key accounts and took the lead on handling data center and large-scale project inquiries. To boost her knowledge, she earned her NRECA Key Accounts certification and joined the economic development committee at the local chamber of commerce.

Kaufer has also enhanced the cooperative's outreach efforts by expanding its seminar offerings, launching member engagement panel discussions to foster strong connections and communication. Her efforts have gained recognition beyond state lines. She was recently invited to speak at the statewide MMSC in Illinois, where she presented strategies for developing and maintaining key account relationships. Additionally, she was selected to serve on a NRECA panel focusing on managing data center inquiries.

“The energy industry is changing faster than ever, and co-ops like ours must adapt quickly to meet the changing needs of our members. Jessica's versatility, initiative, and willingness to take on complex challenges have helped our co-op not just keep up, but in many cases lead the way," says Jason Clemmons, CEO.

In her two years at Clark County REMC, Kaufer has gone from co-op novice to articulate ambassador. “Her dedication and ability to take on a new wide range of responsibilities have undoubtedly positioned the co-op as a more forward-thinking, member-focused organization, improving both its internal operations and its impact on the community," says Jennifer Merriman, the co-op's human resources and benefits coordinator.

Page Velasco has yet to turn 30, but she already manages a staff of 25 at Ozarks Electric Cooperative.

After leaving her dental assistant job to work at the co-op, she was promoted four times. Today, she's the member relations supervisor in charge of the co-op's call center and four lobbies.

In that role, Velasco must ensure a constant and accurate flow of communication to reps across multiple offices with different work arrangements—not an easy feat especially during major weather events when things change rapidly.

During multiple storms that caused over 35,000 outages, she, along with her manager, coordinated overnight shifts to manage call volume, support the representatives and maintain communication with dispatch as needed.

“I've been a rep, so anything that I would've wanted to know or need to know to better assist our membership, I always try to get that out to them as soon as possible," she says. “Communication in our department has definitely improved."

Velasco exudes a sense of peace, even on a Teams call. That “calm, can-do attitude keeps everything smoothly," says Gari Olszewski, member relations manager. “She leads by example, maintaining composure under pressure, providing clear direction, and holding herself and others to the highest standards."

To learn all she can about the co-op, Velasco shadows upper-level managers and continues to work on her professional development. She wants the same for her staff, too.

“The call center and lobbies are seen as steppingstones to get into the co-op, so we're constantly hiring, and people are constantly growing," she says. “That's what I push for. If they want to be somewhere else in the co-op, how can I help them get there?"

Will Thomas is a veteran who served four deployments to the Middle East from 2001 to 2011, when he retired as an Army staff sergeant.

The experience “instilled in him a strong sense of commitment, leadership and adaptability—qualities that he consistently applies to his work at United Power to drive success in all that he does," says Trista Fugate, senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

A former wind technician and mechanical engineer, Thomas is a key member of the team advancing United Power's Distribution System Operator Action Plan, which integrates behind-the-meter solar, battery storage and power purchase agreements onto the grid.

Advocates say these “hyperlocal" resources will help deliver a cleaner, more reliable and resilient energy system.

“We're really moving ahead with that plan," Thomas says. “The focus is to make the best use of the DER assets within our distribution system."

Another high point came when Thomas stepped up to manage two microgrid grants, one federally funded and one through a state program, after the original project lead departed. Both projects were awarded and are now actively in progress, including a microgrid at a water treatment plant that Thomas continues to manage.

Thomas says his role checks all the boxes for both career and personal fulfillment. A car enthusiast, he’s especially excited about the potential for EVs as grid resources. His time in Iraq underscored how access to stable electricity can dramatically improve lives.

The memory of fallen colleagues remains a powerful motivator. “It would be the greatest disrespect if I did not pursue everything I possibly could to not only make myself the best person I could, but also to leave a positive impact in the world.”

Walk into the workspace Co-Mo's Patrick Wood shares with his counterpart, Gene McCoy, and it looks like “a comic book shop and a 12-year-old boy's bedroom that exploded," Wood says.

The Marvel Comics and Stars Wars figures and posters—Wood is a huge fan—are more than décor. They're a representation of Patrick's approach to communication: bold, relevant and deeply human.

“Patrick is a one-of-a-kind talent," says Corey ten Bensel, vice president of engagement and business services.

Wood's superpower is “to anticipate needs before they're spoken aloud—and then take action," ten Bensel says.

To shake up the co-op's engagement strategy, Wood created Connect with Co-Mo, a series of topical sessions with members. A session on TV streaming held just after the co-op announced the end of its TV service drew hundreds.

“It's transparency at its finest," Wood says. “We're here to answer questions, and, while they might not always leave happy, hopefully they'll at least have a better understanding of whatever the topic was."

Wood's contributions also include spearheading a comprehensive branding effort to reflect the co-op's booming fiber service and designing an employee recognition program.

Wood is known outside the Co-Mo community as the author and illustrator of two popular children's book on electric co-ops: “Cat & Duck and the Electric Cooperative" and “A Lineman's Day with Lineman Larry," the latter of which is modeled after the Flat Stanley books. Another Cat & Duck book on electric safety is planned for this fall.

“I call it a communications bank shot," he says, because the book is designed for young children, but it also successfully reaches schools and parents.

“I truly enjoy being creative," he says. “And more than any other position that I've had, strangely enough, the cooperative space has been where I've really been allowed to flourish and pursue those creative tendencies and opportunities in a way that's entertaining yet achieves the co-ops' goals."

Isabelle Larimer is the youngest Rising Star, but she displays a maturity for someone with far more professional experience.

“I get that a lot," she says with a laugh.

In January, Larimer took on the workload of three customer service reps when one left and another took unexpected medical leave from LaGrange County REMC. As the co-op's only CSR for several months, she handled members' requests.

“I had to adapt very quickly so that I would not let my coworkers or members down," she says.

“She never let the pressure get to her," says Torrie Strong, a member of the co-op's marketing team.

And when the co-op hired a new CSR, Larimer progressed into a leadership role as trainer, again unfamiliar territory for her. “I'm still learning myself even up to this day," she says. “But I've shifted my mindset to, 'You're unable to grow if you're stuck in your comfort zone.'"

That philosophy got her through the hectic early days of the co-op's fiber optic rollout. She oversaw the process of setting up new fiber accounts and combining them with electric accounts.

Larimer's farming family is one of some 5,000 fiber subscribers. While the business operations for the century-old seed farm got Wi-Fi, the family's home did not. Before, “it was hot spots galore out here," says Larimer, a tillage rig operator on the farm.

And now?

“It's remarkable! I'm grateful to be a small part of the team that brought fiber optic internet to my hometown's rural areas," she says.