Archive for category: Community

Partin becomes the first Tennessean in 30 years to hold the office of NRECA board president

Today, during the closing session of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s PowerXchange meeting in Atlanta, Mike Partin, president and CEO of Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative in South Pittsburg, received the gavel to began his two-year term as the President of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association board of directors.

“We couldn’t be more proud of Mike,” Michael Jordan, SVEC board chairman, said. “His dedication to not only the members of Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative but those across the nation is inspiring.”

“I am honored to have been elected by my peers to serve as the President,” Partin said. “This is an exciting time for electric cooperatives as we seek innovative ways to meet surging electricity demand and deliver reliable and affordable power to our communities.”

As president, Partin will travel around the country to different statewide organizations to discuss the agenda America’s electric cooperatives have in store, but most importantly, he will be listening to what members, policy makers and stakeholders have to say. “I want to listen to what the folks are saying, because the issues in Idaho are not the same issues that members have in Georgia,” Partin says. “It’s not a cookie-cutter approach for us, with 900 members around the country. Part of what my mission will be is to listen with understanding to the members that depend on us and try to give them the help and the information they need from the national association.”

TECA joined TVA, TVPPA, Quanta, United Utility Supply and Vantage Point to host a reception in Partin’s honor during this week’s PowerXchange.

“Mike Partin is a dedicated leader who has consistently demonstrated his commitment to electric cooperatives and the communities they serve,” said Mike Knotts, CEO, Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “His election as NRECA board president is a testament to his vision, expertise, and unwavering advocacy for co-ops across the country. As the first Tennessean to hold this position in 30 years, he will represent our state and our members with excellence. We are proud of Mike and look forward to his leadership on the national stage.”

This month marks the first edition of the newly designed The Tennessee Magazine. After more than a decade with the same look, the communications team at the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association has chosen to do a redesign of the beloved publication. Almost a year’s worth of thought, planning and research from a small team of writers, editors and designers has led to an incredible design.

“Our last design served us well for more than 12 years, but it’s time for a refresh,” says Chris Kirk, editor of The Tennessee Magazine. “The magazine staff put in lots of extra work in the year-plus we’ve spent on this undertaking. Their input, ideas and perspectives were invaluable to the process.”

From scrutinizing fonts, to tweaking logos to examining column layouts to even strategizing what the magazine means to electric cooperatives and co-op members, no stone – or page that is – has been left unturned when it comes to this new design with the help of Delevante Creative. When the magazine arrives in your mailbox, you will notice the new The Tennessee Magazine logo right off the bat. When you turn the pages, you will instantly see the focus is on delivering a clean design that is easy to read and showcases the stunning photography that accompanies the articles.

“Most important though, the publication is still centered on the same philosophy: important news from your electric cooperative as well as all the really cool stuff that makes Tennessee a great place to live, work and play,” Kirk says. “I’m so proud of the finished product that we’re unveiling in the March issue.”

Tennessee electric cooperatives power the state. Co-ops provide for three million Tennesseans -that’s 72% of the state’s landmass and 41% of the state’s population. That power wouldn’t be possible though without the employees, lineworkers and board members across the 23 cooperatives. Keith Phillips is one of the people behind that power.

Phillips is a native of Monterey and serves on the board of directors for Volunteer Energy Cooperative.

“It is a great honor and privilege that the members have trusted and elected me to serve as a director with VEC,” Phillips says.

Phillips has been married to his wife, Tammy, for 36 years and they have two daughters and two grandsons. Aside from his work within the co-op, Phillips has some unique pastimes.

His father passed away when he was just six years old, but his mother remarried two years later to Doc Goff, who soon became an important part of Phillips’ life. Goff owned D.M. Goff Funeral Home Inc. and Phillips spent a large portion of his childhood there. He enjoyed the upbringing and way of work so much, that as soon as he graduated high school, he pursued a degree in mortuary science. Since 1979, he has operated and maintained all the responsibilities of the funeral home.

“I consider it a gift to help and serve people,” Phillips says

On top of his daily funeral home duties, Phillips also reads the daily weather around 7 a.m. for the National Weather Service. He measures precipitation, daily temperature and any unusual weather events and has done so for the past 30 years.

“Monterey will many times have snow when no other counties around have any,” Phillips says about the distinctive weather he reports on.

In the past, Phillips has held many roles in the community like Volunteer Fireman, past master for the Monterey Masonic Lodge and youth director at the Monterey United Methodist Church. Now he is the superintendent of the Welch Memorial Cemetery and a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the Upper Cumberland Funeral Directors Association and the Monterey Lions Club.

“I find it rewarding to be able to give back to the community that God has so richly blessed me with,” Phillips says.

After more than a decade with the same look, The Tennessee Magazine team has chosen to do a redesign of the publication. Almost a year’s worth of thought, planning and effort has led to an incredible design that co-ops and readers are sure to love with the help of Delevante Creative. Before the redesign debuts next month though, the magazine team hosted a redesign workshop for local section editors.

“It is an exciting time in the history of The Tennessee Magazine as we implement this redesign, and our co-op section editors play integral roles in this process,” Chris Kirk, editor of The Tennessee Magazine, says. “We were glad to welcome them to our office to hear their feedback and offer training for effectively using their magazine pages to interact with their consumer-owners.”

Representatives from 15 co-ops gathered at the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s Conference Center Wednesday, Jan. 15, and Thursday, Jan. 16, for the workshop. The section editors learned why the magazine matters by looking at the latest numbers from the 2024 Readership Study. Then the editors experienced a behind the scenes look at the process that went into redesigning the magazine. After lunch, a panel was held with Mike Delevante and Donna Abernathy to learn best practices on how to make the most out of local sections through design and writing. The day concluded with a presentation about resources available and a roundtable where co-ops were able to share ideas and issues.

“It was so nice getting to see everyone and being able to connect with old friends and make new ones. The workshop was such a fun time, especially the round-table style sessions with TECA’s team, Donna Abernathy, and Mike Delevante and his team,” Memori DePriest, marketing coordinator at Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative, says. “I’m so excited for the new changes with the magazine and getting to dive into our own pages.”

Thursday’s schedule included a session with Abernathy on how to write for clarity and purpose. The workshop wrapped up with the Delevante Creative team walking section editors through how to use the new design tools in their pages.

The newly designed The Tennessee Magazine will be in mailboxes the first of March.

JACKSON – Union University is pleased to announce that Amanda Bean of Morristown, Tenn. is the recipient of the school’s second $10,000 Washington Youth Tour Creative Writing Competition scholarship.

“These are the future leaders that we want at Union,” Robbie Graves, Union University’s assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions, says. “We believe that delegates to the Washington Youth Tour develop skills that will help them succeed here at Union and beyond. We are glad to partner with the state’s electric co-ops to provide scholarships to these young people. We particularly congratulate Amanda Bean on her outstanding achievements. She is an exceptional young lady.”

Bean, a student from the Holston Electric Cooperative service territory had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. as a part of the 2024 Washington Youth Tour to learn more about leadership, history and public policy.

“At Holston Electric Cooperative, we are proud to support and participate in programs like the Washington Youth Tour, which not only exposes our students to the workings of our government but also help shape the future of our community,” Jimmy Sandlin, HEC’s general manager, says. “This scholarship is not only a significant achievement for Amanda. This is a direct result of the collaboration between TECA, cooperatives like ours and Union University, all working together to create opportunities for local students. Programs like the Washington Youth Tour are part of our ongoing commitment to invest in the next generation of leaders. By supporting educational initiatives like these, Holston Electric Cooperative helps create a brighter future for our students and our community as a whole.”

Bean, along with 6,000 other high school students from across the state, have participated in the Electric Cooperative Creative Writing and Scholarship Competition since its start in the 1960s.

“The Washington Youth Tour has opened so many doors for me,” Bean says. “I never expected to create lasting relationships or to win scholarship money.  Winning the $10,000 per year scholarship for Union University through the WYT has been absolutely amazing and will help make college more affordable. This trip has taught me there are so many benefits when I step out of my comfort zone. I encourage everyone to write the essay!”

The scholarship is part of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s partnership with both Carson Newman and Union University. Union University has also awarded four $4,000 Washington Youth Tour scholarship winners: Allison Hoesel of Middle Tennessee Electric, Alexis Hale of Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation, David Jones of Appalachian Electric Cooperative and Clark French of Forked Deer Electric Cooperative.

Caney Fork Electric Cooperative has “decked the halls” and “brought some corn for popping” this month as it hosted Christmas Open House events. Every year the cooperative puts forth the effort to connect with members during the holiday season. Members across the service area can visit all four decorated locations in Smithville, Sparta, Spencer and McMinnville. Not only are members able to see the offices and faces behind the scenes, but they also have the opportunity to give canned foods and receive cookbooks in return.

“After the pandemic, we decided to turn it into a giving and receiving event since so many were struggling,” Angel Wood, CFEC’s communications coordinator says. “We knew our employees and members were up for the challenge.”

The challenge also helped bring attendance numbers back up. The idea of the open house was spurred from meetings that took place in the 1940s and 1950s.

“The concept was a throwback to when co-ops had home economists that would demonstrate the latest in electric appliances,” John Chisam, CFEC’s director of member services, says.

Duck River Electric Membership Corporation was doing something similar at the time and both the former director of member services and marketing coordinator at CFEC decided to bring something similar back home. The event kicked off in 1991 and was originally called “Holiday Festive Foods”. Recipes have been involved ever since.

As years went on, attendance declined at the event as the older generation stayed home at night and younger ones used their phones to find recipes. The size of the event has been scaled down to afternoons at the office rather than an evening party, and now members have a purpose – to help those in need.

“So far, the numbers at each office for attendance have held steady for this new concept,” Chisam says. “We are still giving out about 2,500 or so books each year.”

The cookbook is special this year as it encompasses the theme of “Nostalgic Noel”, including recipes from throughout the history of The Tennessee Magazine.

“We pulled and compiled all of these recipes, with the help of the TECA staff, and we truly hope our members will love reflecting on a simpler time,” Wood says. “Many of our members have the full collection of cookbooks and think they are worth more than gold.”

The Electric Research Manufacturing Cooperative Inc. (ERMCO) is expanding in West Tennessee.

The project aims to boost transformer manufacturing capacity at the Dyersburg plant through three separate phases which will create 400 new jobs. It’s an effort to help the nation – including Tennessee’s electric co-ops – meet critical infrastructure needs while bringing new jobs to the region. The plan is supported by $54.1 million in tax credit financing from five lenders and will include the establishment of an employee training center.

“Electric cooperatives across the state depend on a steady supply of transformers and other equipment to maintain the electric grid,” Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association, said. “ERMCO’s announcement is exciting not only for improved supply chain, but also for the economic development and growth of the region.”

It is a sentiment shared by the team at ERMCO as well. “We’re helping to ensure a reliable and resilient electrical grid,” Adam Kruzich, the company’s CFO, said in a statement. “We’re proud to contribute to the economic growth of Dyersburg and play a vital role in building a sustainable energy future for the United States.”

ERMCO’s initiative is part of a growing trend, with multiple industrial players investing to address a power sector in need of more transformers. ERMCO is part of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc. and is North America’s largest manufacturer of oil-filled distribution transformers. The company currently employs around 2,000 people, produces more than 9,500 transformers per week and has been in business in West Tennessee for more than 50 years.

Hurricane Helene made landfall along the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday, Sept. 26. With winds reaching 140 miles per hour late that evening, the damage was catastrophic. The storm continued north weakening to a post tropical cyclone over Tennessee the next day, stalling over the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina and dumping upwards of 30 inches of rain on some communities. The storm created severe flooding, hundreds of fatalities and billions of dollars in property damage across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Despite the extensive damage created by Hurricane Helene, electric co-ops are doing what they do best – helping their own.

“Tennessee co-ops are rolling up their sleeves and helping when it’s needed most, both with our own here in the state and with sister co-ops in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina,” said Mike Knotts, CEO of TECA. “We could not be more proud of the lineworkers who are making this happen.”

Some of the hardest hit co-ops in the Volunteer State were Powell Valley Electric Cooperative in New Tazewell and Mountain Electric Cooperative in Mountain City.

Powell Valley Electric Cooperative had 735 individual outages following the storm, 95 broken poles and more than 11,000 consumers without power, but with the help of the co-op family, all power has been restored. The co-op received mutual aid from co-ops, contractors and tree trimmers.

“Fortunately, nearly 40 linemen from our sister cooperatives in Virginia—Northern Neck, NOVEC, Choptank, and Mecklenburg—answered the call, working alongside our crews to restore service. The coordinated efforts between the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives were key in quickly finding help for us, ensuring that we received the necessary support to speed up the restoration process,” said Brad Coppock, PVEC’s general manager. “The principle of cooperation among cooperatives truly shines during times like these, and PVEC is deeply grateful for the assistance from both TECA and our fellow co-ops in Virginia and Maryland.”

Reconstruction efforts continue into the second week at Mountain Electric Cooperative. After the storm, 25,000 consumers–well over half of the co-op’s system–were without power.

“Hurricane Helene impacted Mountain Electric Cooperative with severe damage to our electrical grid,” said Rodney Metcalf, general manager of MEC. “There were thousands of trees, poles and electrical lines damaged. The grid in several areas will need to be completely rebuilt. Many of our employees have sustained damage to their own homes and are unable to do any repairs because they are working to serve others in the community above themselves. Please keep our community and our employees in your prayers for safety.”

MEC’s outage numbers are down to around 2,000, and lineworkers from MEC, joined by crews from Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative and Fayetteville Public Utilities, continue working 15 hour days to assist those in need. With the help of its community, FPU was able to send nearly 75,000 pounds of supplies to those impacted by the hurricane and plan to send another load in the coming days.

“TECA is always ready to answer the call for mutual aid,” said Todd Blocker, TECA’s vice president of member services and coordinator for mutual aid in the state. “Hurricane Helene certainly caused devastation and destruction for some of Tennessee’s electric cooperatives, but it has been encouraging to see other co-ops from across the state rush to assist.”