Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Honor Five Local Leaders

Touchstone Energy awarded five Brand Champion Awards to five deserving brand leaders.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) May 24, 2007 -- Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives last week awarded five Brand Champion Awards at their annual Connect Conference for Cooperative Marketing, Communication & Member Services Professionals. This honor shines the spotlight on dedicated employees in various job roles who have shown exceptional leadership, effectiveness, innovation and consistency while locally or regionally building the brand.

Aaron Ridenour, Manager of Marketing & Business Development, Soyland Power Cooperative, Jacksonville, Ill; Eileen Tuttle, Manager of Marketing & Communications, Union Rural Electric Cooperative, Marysville, Ohio; Ray Beavers, CEO, United Cooperatives Services, Cleburne, Texas; Claire Vigesaa, VP of Development and Energy Services for Cass County Electric Cooperative, Fargo, N.D.; and Michael Schaefer, CEO, Taylor EC, Medford, Wisc., were all recognized for their individual achievements that together drive the cooperative difference story.

Ridenour's efforts were critical to the development of the Web based selection clearinghouse Sites Across America and the Touchstone Energy Cooperative Balloon Program. Tuttle's success resulted in the co-op's continuing sponsorship of the Town Square Community Portal, which gives citizens access to a variety of information.

Beaver implemented the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) as one of the nine performance objectives tied to an annual employee performance bonus at his co-op that has improved both member and employee satisfaction. Vigesaa listened to his ND community when they approached with "an idea" that seemed out of reach and solicited support from other co-ops across the region to build the Touchstone Energy Playland, both an enjoyable and educational energy experience, in a large area mall.

Under Schaefer's leadership his smaller co-op has recruited more than 60 local merchants to participate in the Co-op Connections program supporting both the local community and the membership.

Touchstone Energy's success is attributed to individuals such as these award winners who truly live the "power of human connections."

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