Pioneer Utility Resources//D’Avanzo Communications Leadership Award Nomination
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D’Avanzo Communications Leadership Award Nomination

Who inspires you?

Our team works with hundreds of excellent communicators across the rural broadband and electric utility industries, and each year we celebrate one of those outstanding Utility Pioneers with the Dave D’Avanzo Communications Leadership Award. But we need your help!

We’re looking for someone with strong communication skills, a solid track record of industry leadership, and a heart for mentoring and community service. Help us celebrate the heroes of our industry by nominating one of your peers. The nomination form (below) asks you to share:

  1. How has this person helped others around the rural broadband and electric utility industries beyond their own organization?
  2. How does this person set a standard for storytelling excellence in their publications, with their coworkers and local community?
  3. What sets this nominee apart from others in the industry, and how do they honor the spirit of the award with a focus on giving, helping, and making other people better?

Application deadline: April 24, 2026

The D’Avanzo Award is named in honor of longtime communicator Dave D’Avanzo, who was known for always giving, helping and making other people better. During a cooperative career spanning nearly four decades, Dave worked at four utilities: Umatilla Electric Cooperative in Hermiston, Oregon; Claverack Rural Electric in Wysox, Pennsylvania; Midstate Electric Cooperative in La Pine, Oregon; and Lane Electric Cooperative in Eugene, Oregon. He earned top communicator honors for his exceptional work and dedication serving his cooperative on Ruralite magazine. Dave died in 2020 after a long battle with cancer.

We miss him.

Dave D’Avanzo
  • The winner will be selected by a committee of Pioneer staff from various departments.
  • Committee members will evaluate nominees based on communication skills, industry leadership, mentorship and community service. 
  • Self-nominations or nominations coming in after the deadline will not be considered.
  • Winner must work at a Pioneer-member utility or broadband provider in a communications or marketing role. Exceptions will be made for communicators at utilities working with Pioneer through statewide or G&T programs, such as magazines or social media programs, where the association or G&T is a Pioneer member.  
  • Winner must have at least 10 years of combined service time employed at telcos, electric utilities, broadband providers, statewide associations or industry vendors.   
  • Winner must have been employed by one of the above organizations within 12 months of the Pioneer annual meeting where the award will be given.

The name of the award changed over the years, but our excitement over celebrating Utility Pioneers stays strong. Read about past winners and see examples of their work to spark fresh ideas!

See a list of winners going back to 1994 (PDF).

Andy Johns and Lydia Walters
Pioneer’s Andy Johns presents Lydia Walters with the 2025 D’Avanzo Communications Leadership Award.

Know someone you want to nominate?

Please fill out the application below by April 24, 2026. The 2026 D’Avanzo Communications Leadership Award Winner will be announced at Pioneer’s Annual Meeting on June 26.