Sheets, Hamon, Geans: named top co-op communicators.
After more than 30 years as a "franchise player" in co-op communica-tions, David Sheets has been named "most valuable player." Sheets is the 2014 recipient of the H. E. Klinefelter Award, the highest accolade bestowed by the Cooperative Communicators Assoc., recognizing a career devoted to advancing the state of co-op com-munications. As senior vice president at RushShelby Energy, Sheets directs the communications efforts of the 15,000-member electric cooperative that serves nine east-central Indiana counties.CCA's other grand awards went to Chris Hamon, CEO for White River Valley Electric Cooperative Inc. in Branson, Mo., who won the CEO Communicator of the Year Award, and to Michelle Ricard Geans, who won the Michael Graznak Award, recognizing her as one of the nation's top young (under age 35) co-op communicators. She is a communications specialist for Baldwin EMC in Summerdale, Ala.
The awards were presented during the closing ceremony of CCA's annual Co-op Communications Institute, held in Pittsburgh, Pa., in early June.
Co-op career of accomplishment
In 1982, Sheets became the first fulltime communications specialist for an electric distribution cooperative in Indiana. Three years later, he was a member of the first class to earn the Certified Rural Electric Communicator designation. In 1992, CCA presented him with the Graznak Award, recognizing him as an aspiring young communicator.
When Terry Jobe was named RushShelby's president and CEO in 2010, his first move was to name Sheets as the cooperative's senior vice president. "I wanted his experience and knowledge available to me and my board at all times," Jobe says. "I am a man of numbers who understands the value of working with a man of words."
With a seat at RushShelby Energy's senior management table, Sheets continues to elevate communications to a place of importance.
A common theme in nomination letters for Sheets was his ability to communicate an idea to a wide variety of people in a clear, concise manner. Sheets' responsibilities include media relations and communications, including coordinating the cooperative's annual meeting for 20 years. He also supervises employees responsible for member services, marketing, advertising and information technology.
As editor of the co-op's monthly member newsletter, Sheets leads a team that has been honored with numerous national communications and publications awards. His ability to mentor others "elevates him from a player to coach," award presenter Sheryl Meshke of Associated Milk Producers Inc. said.
The passion he shows for his work is equaled by contributions to his community. Dressed as a clown, he is a frequent entertainer at a children's hospital and he is beginning his 40th season as a high school sports official, working basketball, football and volleyball games, including officiating at state championship finals.
"Dave set the bar high for those of us who joined the cooperative communication business after him," says John English, retired manager of corporate relations for Noble Rural Electric Cooperative.
CEO involves all in communications
Under Chris Hamon's leaderhip, White River Valley Electric Cooperative (WRVEC) "does more than communicate effectively; it embodies the cooperative idea of involving the member-owners and making the entire co-op, literally, a part of the effort," one selection committee member said. "Elected officials, policymakers and community leaders pay attention when they know they're receiving communications not just from one person speaking for an organization, but from the large body of people that organization represents and from its members individually."
Hamon was saluted for demonstrating his commitment to communication with his board, his staff, co-op members and the communities the co-op serves through his transparency and willingness to speak out on key cooperative issues. He includes communication staff in strategic planning and encourages their professional development.
Hamon, who has been with the coop since 1985, has been willing to add staff to ensure that all forms of communication are well utilized. If a matter of national import arises in the energy industry, he promotes an active role for the co-op and instigates creation of local marketing campaigns to inform and energize the voting public, says Diana Bradford, marketing coordinator at WRVEC.
Among the communications efforts he has championed are:
* Member Alliance Program--a grassroots group that can be mobilized for action when legislative or other issues arise that require a quick response;
* Communicating through videos and commercials;
* Media Relations Day--A luncheon for the media in the co-op's five-county service area, which includes a talk by Hamon about vital issues for members and the general public.
* Member Appreciation Days--Each Friday in October, during National Co-op Month, the communications department arranges a lunch for members at one of the five WRVEC offices and takes the opportunity to visit with members about issues that may be affecting them and the cooperative.
Hamon also represents Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri on the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, which helps to provide financing to
more than 900 cooperatives. In 2009, he won the J.C. Brown CEO Communication Leadership Award from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association for "demonstrating a clear understanding of and commitment to the strategic role of communications in employee, member and community relations."
Multi-talented Graznak winner
Michelle Ricard Geans is a key player in producing Baldwin EMC's publications and is known for her abilities to design, photograph and write. She also shines when developing internal and external communications projects and campaigns.
A pivotal moment in Geans' co-op career occurred when she began wearing a pink hard hat that eventually ignited the "Pink Power" campaign in 2011, which raised funds for breast cancer research. She first donned the pink helmet when photographing and interviewing co-op linemen and other employees. Soon, at their request, all work crews were wearing the pink hard hats to raise breast cancer awareness.
Geans designed the logo for the effort, photographed campaign highlights and wrote feature stories about it for the cooperative's Alabama Living magazine. The Pink Power campaign has received both state and national recognition. Now in its fourth year, the idea is spreading throughout the country.
"Michelle is always willing to lend a hand with a cause; she's always the first to help with any cooperative or employee project," says Rebecca Shobe, manager of communications for Baldwin EMC. "She has a genuine talent for leading others and encouraging them to get involved, and always manages to add a splash of appropriate humor in the mix."
That humor has been a part of the communication strategy for Geans, who previously worked for a TV station. For example, she took the common Southern adage "Bless your heart," and turned it into a slogan for Baldwin EMC's heart walk.
"Michelle has an eye for photography that tugs at the heart," says Graznak committee member Megan McKoy-Noe. "She breaks her writing into easy-to-consume chunks a great tool in the age of shorter attention spans." Geans' work has earned multiple state and national awards, including the 2011 Cooperative Communicator of the Year for the state of Alabama.
From singing "This Little Grid of Mine" at a co-op event, to decking out the state of Alabama in pink hard hats, this Graznak winner makes life a bit brighter (and funnier) wherever she goes.
Co-op communications contest toppers
CCA's annual Co-op Communications Contest attracted 678 entries in 2014. Awards were presented at the Pittsburgh conference to winners in about a dozen categories in each of four competition areas: Writing, Photography, Campaigns/Projects and Publications.
The top award winners in each contest area included:
* Writer of the Year--Donna Abernathy, DLF Communications Services, was selected based on a portfolio of her work that included investigative and entertaining features, technical writing, co-op education articles and speech writing.
* Publication of the Year--The communications staff of Tennessee Farmers Cooperative won for a special report, "The Sum of Us." The co-op annually creates a "corporate identification" publication that has replaced its traditional annual report, but which still includes removable financial report inserts.
* Photographer of the Year--Mic Smith won for photography contributed to South Carolina Living, the statewide electric co-op association's member magazine. Smith was cited for capturing images that were consistently well lit and framed, including a difficult-to-shoot nighttime concert.
* Programs and Projects, Best of Show--Greg Brooks and Savannah Chandler of Georgia's Walton EMC won for the co-op's social media program, which scored a perfect 100. The campaign included efforts on Facebook, Twitter and "YouTube." Judges praised the "engaging voice," "clear and effective language" and the "ability to address different audiences."
USDA's Rural Cooperatives magazine won first place for editorial writing and third place for news writing. Both were won by Dan Campbell. For a full list of award winners, visit: www. communicators.coop.
Editor's note: The following is condensed and adapted from articles that originally ran in CCA News, the member newsletter of the Cooperative Communicators Assoc. The original articles were written by Sheryl Meshke of Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI), Dana Kelroy of the Cooperative Network and Nickie Sabo of AMPI.
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| Author: | Hamons, Chris |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Rural Cooperatives |
| Date: | Jul 1, 2014 |
| Words: | 1471 |
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