To enhance their leadership skills, learn best practices for community engagement, and develop techniques to market their community for economic growth, Tonya Jones, Katrina Revell, and Todd Rundle of Sumter EMC recently completed the inaugural Co-ops Lead program.
Developed by Georgia EMC, the statewide trade association for Georgia’s 41 electric membership cooperatives, Co-ops Lead was designed to equip participants with the necessary tools and knowledge to become effective leaders within their electric co-ops and local communities during three class sessions. The first session, Leadership Development Day, allowed participants to learn about their strengths using the CliftonStrengths talent assessment tool. During the second session, Community Development Day, participants learned best practices for civic engagement and community-wide planning. The third session, Economic Development Day, focused on the basics of economic development, recent development trends and the important role EMCs play in developing their communities.
“Electric co-ops that offer community involvement opportunities and contribute to local causes have a competitive edge regarding employee recruitment and retention, as well as economic development,” said Dennis Chastain, president/CEO of Georgia EMC. “Programs like Co-ops Lead help ensure cooperatives have a pipeline of employees who understand the fundamentals and importance of community development to grow successful communities for many years to come.”
In addition to the curriculum, the Co-ops Lead program allowed participants to network with fellow EMC leaders from other cooperatives in Georgia. They discussed and shared solutions for common community issues and identified mutually beneficial ways cooperatives can collaborate with their local communities. This year’s program graduated 20 participants from 11 electric cooperatives across Georgia. At their graduation ceremony in May, each participant presented how they plan to build on the knowledge they gained in Co-ops Lead in their EMC and community.
“The Co-Ops Leads program was an invaluable experience that provided me with important leadership skills and a deeper understanding of how to effectively engage with and support our local community,” said Katrina Revell, Member Services Manager at Sumter EMC. “The training equipped me with practical tools for driving economic development initiatives and ensuring our cooperative continues to be a positive force for growth in the region we serve.”
Equipped with tools and insights from the Co-ops Lead curriculum, these employees have the foundation to drive economic growth and foster sustainable development within their community.