Communication from the top down.

Chris Hamon, PE, chief executive officer of White River Valley Electric Cooperative in Branson, MO, is the 2009 recipient of the J.C. Brown CEO Communication Leadership Award conferred by the electric cooperative industry's Spotlight on Excellence Awards program. The award memorializes the late J.C. Brown and his unwavering dedication to the importance of communication as a vital link connecting electric cooperatives with each other and with their consumer-owners, and to advancing the cooperative business model. The nominees for this award demonstrate through their actions a clear understanding of, and commitment to, the strategic role of communications in employee, member and community relations.

The judging panel in this competition is comprised of communications professionals representing the electric cooperative industry as well as recognized experts from outside the industry. All possess senior-level experience. The judges this year noted that under this CEO's leadership his cooperative achieved especially impressive results with its communications programs. They cited his demonstrated commitment to supporting the communications staff and continuing education for all cooperative staff.

Some of the particular strengths of the communications program at White River Valley are the inclusion of communications issues at the top level of the cooperative's strategic planning process; the development and implementation of an integrated marketing and communications plan; the embracing of new communications technologies such as social media and other electronic tools; and the use of a variety of survey and feedback tools to assess the effectiveness of the cooperatives member communication efforts.

Mr. Hamon's commitment to the importance of communication was evident in the addition two new communications positions for the cooperative--a marketing coordinator and a key accounts manager--as well as all employee meetings designed to keep all staff informed on critical industry issues. White River Valley also demonstrates the importance of measuring the effectiveness of communications strategies, employing a number of evaluation tools and revisiting the programs goals on an ongoing basis.

Evidence of the success of communications program stewarded by Mr. Hamon includes a number of awards and some impressive benchmarks. Under his direction and with his support for the Our Energy Our Future campaign, more than 85,000 e-mails have been sent to Congress on behalf of the cooperative's members double the number of members served. Special events and communication projects implemented at White River Valley at Mr. Hamon's request include:

* Media Relations Luncheon

* Member Appreciation Days

* Energy and Education Pro-Am

* Hooked on Energy Fishing Tournament

* Business After Hours sessions

* Touchstone Energy Customer Service Training

* A new web site for the cooperative

* Key Accounts Newsletter

* Home Energy Efficiency Makeover

The Home Energy Efficiency Makeover was a simple idea that has been shared with other cooperatives and replicated across the country. White River Valley selected a deserving cooperative family and went to work completely upgrading insulation, appliances, HVAS, lighting, etc. to improve efficiency. The project was filmed and used to educate the rest of the membership. Two 30-minute episodes of the project aired on local affiliates of a national television station and were made available in DVD format to members and other cooperatives. To date, more than 55 cooperatives have requested and received copies of the DVD.

Capping the year, Mr. Hamon was named a recipient of the 2008 Missourian Award. This prestigious award is an acknowledgement of the most accomplished citizens who have made an outstanding contribution to their state or nation. His belief that communication is a vital key to achieving organizational goals was evident throughout the nomination submission for the 2009 J.C. Brown Communication Leadership Award.

White River Valley Electric Cooperative At a Glance

Formed in February 1939, White River Valley Electric Cooperative (WRVEC) has been serving the surrounding communities since the 1930s. However, it wasn't until 1941 that the first 195-mile section of electric line was energized to serve 264 members. WRVEC's service area has grown to cover 2,400 square miles in five Missouri counties. Today the cooperative has over 48,000 services in place and nearly 5,000 miles of energized line. WRVEC employs 161 individuals.

Susan M. Johnson, Editor, Management Quarterly, NRECA

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