Some people do more than lead. They lift everyone up. That’s how one person describes 30-year communications veteran Lydia Walters, vice president of communications at the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi. She is Pioneer Utility Resources’ 2025 D’Avanzo Communications Leadership Award winner. “We’re proud to honor Lydia’s lifelong dedication to mentorship, community service and leadership,” Pioneer […]
What You’ll Learn Art shows, lobby displays, social content and more—Theresa Phillips shares how Lassen MUD works with consumers to showcase their community on the magazine cover and in a much-coveted custom calendar each year! Calendar Contest Tips Engage your members or employees with a locally driven theme, such as employee pets, scenic landmarks and […]
What You’ll Learn Whether they’re blasting off to space to explore planets or solving mysteries across departments, one Oregon utility hosts an exciting career adventure every spring. Utility Pioneer Sarah Johnson shares how Clatskanie PUD turns Take Your Kids to Work Day into a memorable adventure for employees’ families. Resources mentioned in this episode: Junior […]
Marketing “pirates” from across the country converged on St. Augustine, Florida, for StoryConnect 2025, Pioneer’s unique story-swapping experience. Miss the adventure? Get top takeaways from attendees and tactics from our highest-rated sessions.
What You’ll Learn How do you get consumers invested in focus groups? Rebrand them as influencers! Anna Politano shares how people are reacting to Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives‘ Co-op Influencers Program. Guest Speaker Anna Politano Show Notes Transcripts have been lightly edited for clarity and readability. Intro: A production of Pioneer Utility Resources. StoryConnect, […]
What You’ll Learn In Kansas, one utility is handing out branded cash to use at local businesses during festivals. Hear Erma Ratliff share the idea behind Kanokla Cash to see if the idea could help you cash in on community growth, too! Guest Speaker Erma Ratliff Show Notes Transcripts are lightly edited for clarity and […]
We love lineworkers all year long, but each spring offers a special day to focus on the men and women who connect our lives. Since Congress designated April 18, 2013, as National Lineman Appreciation Day, utilities across the nation take time to #ThankaLineworker. You can find a bit of the profession’s history (and a nice infographic) […]
What do ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and other artificial intelligence tools mean for your job? Discover four ways Utility Pioneers are using A.I. to streamline content creation, learn about the power of prompts, and brainstorm how to be smart when leveraging A.I. to meet utility goals. Webinar recorded by the Northwest Public Power Association on Feb. […]
Tired of digging for treasure without a map? Join the crew at StoryConnect, where rural telco and electric utility communicators trade ideas, get digital treasure maps and strengthen writing, photography and storytelling skills. Never been? Here are three ways the conference supports your storytelling skills and strengthens your peer network, too.
AI agents debuted in late 2024, moving what’s possible from casual conversations to action. At the same time, text-to-video generators and custom avatars make it easier than ever before to tell personalized stories to consumers. Get the latest AI trends and ideas to put into practice for your utility in 2025.
What You’ll Learn When you have multiplebroadband competitors pulling potential subscribers away, how do you set your story apart? Hear how Georgia’s Tri-CoGo turned powering food trucks, fireworks shows and parks and recreation spaces into a way to build brand awareness in its community. Guest Speaker Greg Mullis Show Notes Transcripts have been lightly edited […]
Ready, Set, Cooperate! As a communications co-op, Pioneer has resources and ideas ready to help you tell your story during the United Nations’ 2025 International Year of Cooperatives, including: Making Co-ops Part of Your Story: A Practical Guide for Communicators (PDF) Presentation: Why Co-ops are Cool Feature story: Co-ops = Community Leadership column: Building a […]
