Wishes for a safe, happy and healthy new year to all Dairylanders and your families! Again, special thanks to our generation and power delivery coworkers who are working the holiday weekend to keep the lights, heat and football games on for the membership. | PERFORMANCE MGMT. SESSIONS | |
Strategic Priority: People First
The Dec. 20 Leadership Academy sessions outlining Goal Setting & Performance Management expectations for non-union employees were recorded and are on the Breaker for those who were unable to attend or wish to review the material.
Click here for the People Leaders session; click here for the employee session. The Leadership Academy page has been updated with the presentation.
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Sympathy is extended to Kathy Baker (Cafeteria) and her family following the death of her mother, Phyllis Galstad. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday,
Dec. 30, at Coon Valley Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held on Dec. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Seland Funeral Home (Coon Valley) and at the church on Saturday for an hour prior to services.
CORRECTION
Services for Greg Flege's (System Operations) father, Bob Flege, are being held today (vs. last week's incorrect date) at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waverly, Iowa.
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Please find details and submit your electronic application for the following positions through Workday Career:
(External/Internal)
Director, Transmission Services - Direct and provide leadership for and coordinate activities of the Transmission Services departments which include Transmission Construction and Maintenance, Vegetation Management, Field Operations and Fleet Operations. Ensure that Transmission Construction and Maintenance activities are kept current and meet Dairyland, member cooperative and regulatory needs and requirements and are performed in a safe manner. Ensure that field operations, restoration activities, vegetation management and fleet operations/maintenance activities meet Dairyland’s needs safely.
| UGLY SWEATER & SWAG WINNERS | |
Thank you to everyone who submitted photos for the 2023 Ugly Sweater & Swag Contest! The contest is personally funded by President & CEO Brent Ridge. Check out all the fun submissions on the Breaker!
Congratulations to the winners, selected by the Executive Team:
1st place: $300 Kwik Trip gift card- John Young's Team (pictured).
2nd place: $200 Kwik Trip gift card- Graphic Designer/Prepress Tech Jami Gerke.
3rd place (tie): $100 Kwik Trip gift card – Vice President & General Counsel Joyce Peppin, Sr. Executive Asst. to the CEO & Manager, Administration Courtney Cuta; Board Director, representing Heartland Power Cooperative Mark Kingland.
Children also received $25 gift cards for participating in the Ugly Sweater & Swag contest.
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MOODY'S AFFIRMS DAIRYLAND'S A3/STABLE CREDIT RATING FOR 2023 | |
Dairyland Strategic Priority: Financial & Competitive Strength
Moody’s Investors Service credit rating agency has affirmed its 2023 annual credit opinion of Dairyland with the same strong rating as 2022: A3/Stable.
In its ratings rationale, Moody’s indicated Dairyland’s credit rating reflects our predictable revenue stream from the long-term wholesale power contracts with members through 2064, strong financial position (including robust liquidity, access to RUS financing and rate recovery mechanisms that allow the timely recovery of costs) and carbon transition plan.
Dairyland’s reliance on coal generation, cost risks associated with NTEC and relatively small size were noted as challenges.
“Dairyland’s continued strong credit ratings are a testament to Dairyland’s Board, leadership and teams who stay focused on our strategic business plan and cost containment,” said Vice President & Chief Risk Officer John Young. “Financial strength is essential to sustainability and my gratitude goes to everyone who works daily to ensure our long-term success.”
Why good credit ratings are critical to financial strength
Credit ratings are opinions of the relative future credit risk of a given company. Therefore, it is critical to maintain a solid rating and a stable-to-positive outlook to assure current and future lenders of Dairyland’s creditworthiness. In addition to helping provide greater access to funds for needed projects, a solid credit rating can reduce funding costs.
The three major credit rating agencies in the United States are Moody’s Investors Service, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings, Inc.
| BEST WISHES IN RETIREMENT, JEFF! | |
Congratulations to Jeff Sexton, who is retiring on Jan. 2 as a Training and Compliance Specialist with 8 years of service to Dairyland. Jeff joined Dairyland in November 2015.
Prior to coming to Dairyland, Jeff served three years in the U.S. Army as an Air Traffic Controller. He continued his career as an Air Traffic Controller when he was hired by the FAA in 1988. Jeff retired from his role with the FAA in 2013 and spent the following two years traveling before deciding he wasn’t quite ready to be done working and was ready to be a part of something big again.
“I decided I would apply for a part-time role at Dairyland that mostly involved administrative duties. However, once the interview started, it was clear my previous experience made me a good fit for a different role supporting simulation and utilizing my background and technical expertise.“
“From there, the position continued to develop, from working with our municipal customers doing generator validated tested capacity (GVTC) testing to switch training and working with our co-ops,” said Jeff.
One of Jeff’s most memorable experiences includes designing a procedure for dispatcher performance monitoring. This accomplishment took him to Washington, D.C., where he would share the program at an EPRI Forum and provide insight to others in the industry.
“The standard of quality required for air traffic control is something that I was able to share with Dairyland and the industry to help set a new level of excellence,” explained Jeff. “It was rewarding to be able to share that experience and knowledge with this industry to help continuously improve our processes.”
When asked what is different this time around for retirement, Jeff responded “grandkids.” Jeff’s wife, Kris, retired from Dairyland’s Publication Services (now Powered Printing) department in 2021. They have two sons, Cole (Lili) and Lee (Lindsey) as well as four grandchildren, Lincoln, Elisabeth, Roland and Archer. Jeff and Kris look forward to spending time with family as well as more time at their cabin.
“Dairyland has been a tremendous experience for me,” shared Jeff. “Many of my co-workers have encouraged and led me to learn and accomplish new things. When I see Dairyland on the news – I’m grateful to have worked here and been a part of this team.”
Best wishes for a healthy and happy retirement, Jeff!
-Ellie Rundahl (Communications & Member Services)
| JO-CARROLL ENERGY REBRANDING IN JANUARY 2024 TO JCE CO-OP | |
Effective in January, Dairyland member cooperative Jo-Carroll Energy is rebranding to become JCE Co-op. The new name reflects the cooperative's history and brings one name to all the services it provides to members. The name of the co-op's internet service, Sand Prairie, also is changing to JCE Co-op Fiber.
"As the co-op has grown, we've developed a mix of new and legacy programs, products and services, some with their own identities such as Sand Prairie fiber," said the co-op's president and CEO Mike Casper. "Looking ahead to our 85th anniversary in 2024, we wanted to ensure that our identity still connects with members while supporting the strategic direction of the co-op."
Area farmers formed the co-op as Jo-Carroll Electric Cooperative in 1939 to meet the need for electricity in rural areas of Jo Daviess and Carroll counties in Illinois. Over the next eight decades, the membership grew, spurred first by agriculture and later by tourism, development of subdivisions, lake communities and second homes, larger commercial accounts and the addition of new co-op services.
One of the biggest changes for the co-op came with the acquisition of former Alliant Energy electric territory in Jo Daviess and Carroll counties and natural gas service territory in Carroll and Whiteside counties. A merger with Farmers Mutual Electric Company added more electric territory and members in Henry County.
The co-op's new logo - intertwined abstract "Cs" - represents how JCE Co-op works and connects with its members and communities. "Our new logo pays tribute to those connections," Mike noted.
Although the new name will be in use Jan. 1, 2024, Mike said members can expect to see a gradual rollout of items branded with the new name and logo to conserve budget dollars.
In January, its two websites for the co-op and Sand Prairie are merging into one new site at www.jcecoop.com. Social media pages are merging into one JCE Co-op identity, as well.
About JCE Co-op: Headquartered in Elizabeth, Ill., JCE- Co-op is a Dairyland member that has served its members since 1939. The co-op serves more than 31,700 electric, natural gas and/or broadband internet accounts in Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside and Henry counties.
| YOU FIRST: WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWS | |
December Focus: The Power of You
Positivity Challenge Winner:
Congratulations to Compliance Coordinator I Karrie Schuldt, winner of the You First seven-day positivity planner challenge! Karrie won $100 in WorkTango points for her winning participation. Watch for more fun and meaningful opportunities through You First in 2024!
Reminder: NEW EAP Program (ERC)
As of Jan. 1, 2024, our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider will transition from Gundersen Health System to ERC where you will be provided with counselors and consultants that can help you address mental health issues and create positive ripples in your life. The EAP provides short-term mental health counseling for you, your spouse, your dependents and those in your immediate household.
There is no cost or co-pay to use the program. EAP counseling is confidential and HIPAA protected. No identifying information is provided to Dairyland without your written consent.
This service offers eight sessions per condition. The top 10 reasons employees and their families use EAP: anxiety, marital/relationship, depression, family/child, grief, situational stress, job stress, anger, trauma response and alcohol. Call 1-800-222-8590 to make an appointment with a counselor. Your free and confidential EAP benefit can include telephonic, video or face-to-face counseling.
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