Storytelling from utility pioneers takes the spotlight in May during the CONNECT Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Attendees will celebrate winning ideas from utility communicators in the national 2023 Spotlight on Excellence Awards program, sponsored by the Council of Rural Electric Communicators and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Congratulations to all of Pioneer’s members and friends with stories in the spotlight!

In 2022, utility communicators across the nation entered creative content in 18 categories, ranging from best feature story and member magazine to best website and best wild card. Since we love celebrating when Utility Pioneers shine, here’s a list of Spotlight winners who are members of our co-op. The full list will be published in May on cooperative.com/spotlight, but we know not everyone can view the members-only database. Where possible we share links to their award-winning ideas! 

• Butler Rural Electric Cooperative | Best Internal Publication: Between the Lines, Best Special Publication, Large: Employee Guidebook
• Choctawahtchee Electric Cooperative | Best Video: CHELCO CEO Video
• Copper Valley Electric Association | Best Event: Co-op Month Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patch, Best Video: The People Behind the Switch: A Lineman’s Story
  
• Cullman Electric Co-op | Best Use of Social Media: Social media photo strategy
  

• DEMCO | Best Photo: Fire in the Wire 
• Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi | Best Total Communication Program: Cooperative Youth Leaders  
• Escambia River Electric Co-op | Best Photo: Florida Currents June Cover
  

• Flint Energies | Best Annual Report to Members: People, Purpose, Power
  
  
• Grand Canyon State Electric Co-op Association | Best Total Communication Program: Your Voice, Your Vote – Arizona 2022 Voting Effort
  
  
• Hoosier Energy | Best Internal News Publication: Gridlines, The Power of Hoosier Energy Employees, Best Event: Electrify Indiana. Hoosier Energy Member Relations Specialists Kyle Coulson and Justin Thompson talk about the award-winning event on this episode of “The StoryConnect Podcast.”

• Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative | 2023 Edgar F. Chesnutt Award and Best Total Communication Program: Power to the Members Campaign! (Watch the video NRECA produced, and read about the award here.)
  
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• Mountain View Electric Association | Best Ad Campaign: GO ELECTRIC! Outdoor Power Equipment
• Mohave Electric Co-op | Best Total Communication Program: Rate Case, Best Series of News Stories: High Winds Cause Massive Power Outages
  
• North Central Electric Cooperative | Best Annual Report to Members: 2021 Annual Report
• Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative | Best External Publication: Northeast Connection
• Oregon Trail Electric Co-op | Best Special Publication, Small: Energy Efficiency Rebate Cards, Best Ad Campaign: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
• Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative | Best Wild Card: REA Incentive Program, Best Total Communication Program: SmartHub Signup & Awareness, Best Event: Record-setting Member Appreciation Zoo Day
  
• SEMO Electric Cooperative | Best External Publication: The Insider
  
• South Central Power | Most Innovative Use of Digital Communication: We Are South Central Power Company
• Southern Pine Electric | Best Annual Report to Members: Members Helping Members
• Umatilla Electric Co-op | Best Internal News Publication: The Current, Best Annual Report to Members: Larger than Light
  
  
• White River Valley Electric Cooperative | Best Video: Roundtable 2022 Project Wraps, Best Photo: All in a Day’s Work, Best Event: 2022 Annual Meeting, Best Annual Report to Members: 2021 Annual Report
  

Join Us in the Spotlight Café! 

The Spotlight on Excellence awards program recognizes outstanding storytelling and engagement efforts by community-owned utilities. NRECA members can see all of the award-winning ideas in Spotlight’s library of best practices. (2023 winners will be added in May.) Pioneer’s storytellers will join Utility Pioneers across the nation at NRECA’s Spotlight on Excellence Cafe during the CONNECT Conference. May 2-4, in Jacksonville, Florida. We’re scheduling podcast interviews with some of the winners. Stay tuned for inspiration!