embership M
12 TWENTY TWENTY ONE
MATTERS
Keep the G rinch away f rom your savings
Holiday tips for saving money and energy 1. Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Don’t use more lights or lamps than you need. 2. Don’t leave any electronics, including televisions and video game systems, turned on after you’ve finished using them. 3. Instead of turning up the heat, put on a sweatshirt or sweater. At night, use an extra blanket or comforter to stay warm. 4. When going outside, make sure to shut the door behind you to keep heat in. Keep windows down and locked. It’s also a good idea to close the refrigerator door as quickly as possible, instead of standing in front of an open fridge while deciding what you want. 5. Keep doors inside the house open to let heat move freely through the house.
Want more tips?
Blue Ridge-1221.indd 21
Head to Blue Ridge Energy.com/101
11/8/21 4:04 PM
THE
Perspective Nex t generation workf orce f or Blue Ridge Energy
F D
From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson
As Blue Ridge Energy prepares for the future, we realize we have a critical role to play in building and maintaining an increasingly complex electric grid and meeting member expectations.
that we have been recognized the past several years as one of the top employers in North Carolina! This designation is based on workplace policies, business philosophy, operating systems and feedback from employees.
Crucial to that preparation is attracting and retaining an increasingly high-skilled and knowledgeable workforce to build upon the strong foundation created over the history of your cooperative.
At the heart of our succession plan is ensuring your cooperative continues serving your best interests as one of the top electric utilities in the nation for reliability, safety, customer service and value.
This challenge is real. Line technicians, engineers, information technology staff, system operators, energy specialists and more, as well as the leaders of these teams, have already begun the wave of retirements. In fact, during the next five years, over 25 percent of the Blue Ridge team is eligible to retire. That represents decades of experience, knowledge and specialized expertise that will be leaving.
As members, we hope you feel our sense of community and purpose that exists because of a strong commitment to you. Our members deserve nothing less than our very best! Employees—both seasoned and new—tell us it’s a sense of doing something vitally important for those we serve that matters most. I’m excited about the new, talented and eager employees and leaders that are joining us, and I feel very confident your cooperative is, and will be, in good hands!
The good news is your cooperative is prepared! Several years ago we began implementing a succession plan to identify, attract and retain a highly skilled and talented next generation workforce. This plan includes training, internships, growth opportunities and employee and management development, as well as nurturing the culture of service that makes Blue Ridge Energy special. Our culture is so exceptional
Blue Ridge Energy wishes you and your family a happy holiday season and a joyous new year. We look forward to continuing our service to you in 2022 and beyond.
P
Page 22
Blue Ridge-1221.indd 22
Membership MAT TERS
11/8/21 4:04 PM
Ridge hnson
First Steps: Director elections
Members have the opportunity to vote for their Board of Directors each year. To keep you informed of election governance processes that take place throughout the year, your cooperative updates you in this newsletter. Two of the first steps in the director election process include appointing a Credentials and Election (C&E) Committee and a Nominating Committee. The Board appointed these committees for one-year terms at their October meeting.
Nominating Committee: This committee of nine cooperative members reviews and nominates qualified candidates to run for all open seats on the Board of Directors in the upcoming election.
Credentials & Election Committee: Made up of members from across the cooperative’s service area, this committee ensures director elections are conducted in compliance with Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation’s Bylaws. Responsibilities include selection of an independent election administration firm, review of petition candidate qualifications, validation of all proxies and ballots, and certification of election results.
Watauga district: Kelvin Gryder and Jimmy Friley
The Board of Directors appointed the following committee members Caldwell district: Patricia Hollar
The Board appointed the following committee members: Caldwell district: Jason Carpenter, Robert Marshall, and Ron Vance
Ashe district: Melanie Miller and Shawn Horton Alleghany district: Tommy Maines and Heather Andrews Members of both committees may not be employees, agents, officers, directors, close relatives or known candidates to become directors. The makeup of the committee reflects an equal number of members from each district, plus one representative from any district.
Watauga district: Heather Martin Ashe district: Marty Norris Alleghany district: Ron Farmer and Dwayne Bright
Candidates nominated by this committee as well as candidates running by petition will be posted in each Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation district office and on the website in April. Information about all candidates will be included in director election information mailed or emailed to all members in May. Information will also be provided in Carolina Country magazine sent to all members.
Please visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com for more info
Page 23
Blue Ridge-1221.indd 23
11/8/21 4:04 PM
Scheer retires, Rountree and Blevins promoted Grey Scheer, director of community relations and 22-year employee of Blue Ridge Energy, is retiring in January. His passion for members has been evident in the strengthening of structures and processes of several key cooperative programs such as the Member Advisory Committees and Community Leaders Council, as well as developing and managing new programs like the Blue Ridge Energy Members Foundation, Leadership Track, and “Heart of” free EKG programs for student athletes. Scheer has also overseen the cooperative’s Bright Ideas teacher grants program and scholarships for students, as well as electric safety education and the annual meeting. Grey’s demonstrated commitment to developing future leaders within our communities along with his dedication to member advocacy has made Blue Ridge a best in class cooperative. Scheer graduated from Appalachian State University with a BSBA in marketing and management and lives in Lenoir with his daughter, Ginny. Announced as the new director of community relations is Tasha Rountree, who served as Ashe district manager for the past three years. In that role, she oversaw customer
service as well as district operations. Rountree and her team helped the cooperative earn one of the top spots in the country for satisfaction. She is a member of Watauga Opportunities Board, Ashe County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Business and Community Development Board, and Leadership Ashe Committee. She is a graduate of Leadership Ashe and the Watauga Leadership Challenge. Rountree graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in business administration in accounting. She resides in West Jefferson with her husband Josh, and son, Henry. Selected as the new Ashe district manager is April Blevins, an Ashe County native, graduate of Beaver Creek High School and Appalachian State University with a degree in interior design and a minor in marketing. April serves as the clerk for Bristol Baptist Church and is on the Business and Community Development Board. She is currently participating in the Leadership Ashe program through the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce. She lives in Lansing with her husband Billy and has three children: Alexis, Trent and Tyler, who are in college.
Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson EDITOR Renée R. Whitener PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Jacob Puckett
Membership MAT TERS
Blue Ridge-1221.indd 24
DISTRICT OFFICES Caldwell Watauga Ashe Alleghany Wilkes PowerLine*
TOLL FREE (828) 754-9071 (828) 264-8894 (336) 846-7138 (336) 372-4646 (800) 451-5474 (800) 448-2383
(800) 451-5474
OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday Kiosks available
(PowerLine* is an automated account information and outage reporting system)
11/8/21 4:04 PM