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Brandon Nofio is a Gas Turbine Engineer I in the Plant Engineering department. Brandon was
most recently employed at Edge One as a Field Service Technician.
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Yeng Kong Lee is an Intern, Technical Support Specialist in the IT Help Desk department. Yeng
attends Western Technical College, pursing a degree in IT Support Specialist.
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Pictured: Payroll's Laurie and Lori, delivering financial excellence (and our paychecks!) year-around.
During National Payroll Week, Dairyland recognizes the invaluable experience and expertise brought by Manager, HRIS & Payroll Lori Flock and Payroll Analyst Laurie Parsons.
Thank you for detail-oriented, customer-focused work, which directly supports Dairyland and our ability to be a sustainable, reliable, wholesale energy supplier.
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Tomorrow is Dairyland's Muni Appreciation Day, being held at Drugan's Castle Mound. This annual event is a “thank you” to our municipal customers, including: managers, superintendents, board members, commissioners, mayors, council members, village presidents, village board members, utility employees and guests.
Participants will receive utility industry and project updates, along with fellowship among event attendees.
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The next all-Dairyland Riverside Chat with President & CEO Brent Ridge and the Executive Team will be held on Monday, Sept. 11, at
2 p.m. Click the link in your Outlook invitation to attend the virtual meeting.
The new Excellence Model will debut at the Riverside Chat. Launching next week, the Excellence Model will function as a comprehensive guide to understanding and achieving excellence at Dairyland.
For those who are unable to attend or would like to revisit the presentation with divisional updates and Q&A, the recorded session will be posted on the Breaker after the Chat.
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Please find details and submit your application for the following positions through Workday Career:
(Internal/External)
Fuels Analyst – Partner with the Fuels Portfolio Manager in the management of coal, natural gas, oil, environmental reagents and their associated transportation needed for Dairyland’s generation assets. Work with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to meet Dairyland’s mission to provide cost effective electricity.
Right of Way Agent I – Entry-level agent will work to learn the various disciplines of the Right-of-Way project lifecycle. Knowledge development will focus on Right-of-Way acquisitions, purchase and sale of lands and land rights, negotiation of difficult leases, development and maintenance of public relations and assist in management of existing cooperative-owned lands and rights of way.
Line Clearance Technician Trainee (Lancaster, WI) – Assist with safely clearing trees and brush in transmission line corridors.
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Dairyland is a proud sponsor of the YMCA Maple Leaf Walk/Run on Oktoberfest weekend, which benefits the Y Annual Campaign. Join Dairyland’s team at Riverside Park in La Crosse on Saturday, Sept. 30, and run or walk your choice of distance: half marathon (13.1 miles), 5-mile, 5k (3.1 miles) and the Kids Maple Mile.
The race course includes the Oktoberfest Parade route and participants will receive a treat after you finish. REGISTER before Sept. 12, to be guaranteed a t-shirt (and before the next price increase). Because of Dairyland’s sponsorship, employees registering for the race can use the code DAIRYLAND5 at check-out to receive $5 off the registration fee.
Packet pick-up will be at the Dahl Family YMCA (1140 Main St.) on Friday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on race day at Riverside Park starting at 6:30 a.m.
Dairyland’s sponsorship includes eight FREE race entries! Contact Dana Bolwerk to receive your entry code. Codes will be given away based on who responds first. (Only Dairyland employees are eligible for a free entry.)
| Mary, Mother of the Church Parish (2006 Weston St., La Crosse) will be holding a Chicken-Que on Thursday, Sept. 14, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for pick up and delivery. The price is $12 and includes a half chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, homemade beans and a roll. For pre-sale tickets and deliveries, call 518-6145. | “The lowest standard you accept is your standard.” - Dairyland President & CEO Brent Ridge | |  |
AUGUST PEOPLE POWERS AWARD WINNER |  | |
Dairyland Strategic Priority: People First
Photo: Winner Ryan Kenealy (Safety) with Elizabeth Ressie (HR) and Amanda Hoefling (General Management)
Congratulations to Manager, Corporate & Field Safety Ryan Kenealy for earning the August People Powers Award! Ryan was nominated by Director, Safety & Human Resources Elizabeth Ressie for acting with a Cooperative Purpose mindset.
Elizabeth's nomination of Ryan focused on his response to the lineworker fatality tragedy that occurred at Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative. "During an undeniably difficult and heart-wrenching situation, Ryan stepped up and provided invaluable expertise and support to Scenic Rivers," said Elizabeth in her nomination, noting that from the moment Ryan was notified, he was the "epitome of the type of leader we treasure and need at Dairyland."
Ryan made personal sacrifices to ensure his ability to support Scenic Rivers during their time of great need. Elizabeth called attention to Ryan's parallel leadership of Dairyland's Job Training & Safety work group, readying the team to deploy further aid to Scenic Rivers if necessary. As lead communicator during the Aug. 28 all-hands Safety Stand-Down, Ryan exemplified 200% safety accountability with his message. "As always, Ryan's authenticity and passion for safety was evident," said Elizabeth when referring to the Safety Stand-Down. "I've heard from many across our organization who were moved by Ryan's address and commend his leadership, dedication and commitment to safety."
Thank you, Ryan, for your passion and leadership with Dairyland's #1 priority: safety. You help us get home safely, every day.
Call to Action: Nominate for a People Powers award to support a People First culture
Recognizing positive employee performance is one of the most important actions you can take as a leader or peer. Recognition motivates and engages all of us, fostering a People First culture of appreciation.
People Power award nominations for this month are open. Click the WorkTango button on the Breaker to complete the simple and satisfying process.
Did you know? People Powers award winners earn the following for their above and beyond work performance: Breakfast with President and CEO Brent Ridge, 5,000 WorkTango points, People Power Award Certificate, apparel item, recipient pin and special recognition at Dairyland’s Annual Meeting.
| DAIRYLAND SUPPORTS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S RENEW THE BLOCK PROGRAM | |
Cooperative Principle #7: Concern for Community
Photo: Director, Environmental & Compliance Brad Foss, Dairyland retiree and Habitat for Humanity volunteer Don Huff and Director, Member Relations & CCO Deb Mirasola with the big check.
Dairyland has contributed $5,000 to Habitat for Humanity’s ReNew the Block program, which was matched by CoBank through its Sharing Success Program for a total donation of $10,000. Project leaders, Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area and NewGround, Inc., have partnered with the City of La Crosse, Coulee Region Ecoscapes LLC, Grow La Crosse, and the La Crosse School District to bring this new initiative to our community.
The ReNew the Block project will be located at Logan Middle School on La Crosse’s north side. The project will improve the neighborhood, protect the natural environment, implement hands-on outdoor learning and provide urban community members with access to nature, shared outdoor spaces and healthy food.
“Supporting local education and revitalizing neighborhoods is critical to a thriving community,” said Dairyland President and CEO Brent Ridge. “The ReNew the Block project will create a lasting impact for students and neighbors and be a catalyst for environmental and conservation learning for generations to come. As a cooperative, we are excited to see this collaboration between industry, education and environment come together.”
“The project adds stormwater mitigation and an edible schoolyard while also piloting a substantial, replicable model for increasing neighborhood livability and sustainability through shared work, one block at a time,” said Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Area Sustainability Director Amy Smith.
| NEXT WEEK: UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN KICKOFF | |
Wow! Rummage sale raised over $2k for the United Way
Thank you to the shoppers and volunteers who supported Dairyland's rummage sale, held last week at the La Crosse campus. The sale netted $2,372 to kick-start our annual fundraising campaign for the Great Rivers United Way!
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Cooperative Principle #7: Concern for Community
Dairyland's United Way campaign will start next week, stretching from Sept. 11 to Oct. 6! This year's United Way theme is Every One Counts, highlighting the reach of each contribution to the Great Rivers United Way (La Crosse area) and United Way of Greater Chippewa Valley (Eau Claire area) campaigns.
"I am proud of the generosity of our workforce," said President & CEO Brent Ridge. "The partner agencies funded by the United Way depend on the annual workplace giving campaign, which makes a real and essential difference to many. Thank you for considering a contribution again this year - every dollar you give directly improves the life of someone in need, right here at home."
Brent Featured in United Way Video: Brent has been a longtime supporter of the United Way and this year, the Great Rivers United Way requested to feature him in a campaign video. The video will be shared next week following its official release.
2023 Campaign: The Early Bird Will Get the Worm
All employees will receive a campaign overview email from Brent this week, detailing our campaign goals, incentives and activities with a direct link to the pledge form. Below is a snapshot of activities:
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NEW THIS YEAR: Pledge form submission prizes! Each week, Dairyland will have a raffle prize for all who submit their pledge form. All entries will have the opportunity to win a prize... but the earlier you submit your pledge form, the greater the opportunity for a prize.
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Monday, Sept. 11 - Official campaign kickoff
- Don’t know much about United Way or how it helps our community? Emails will be sent throughout our campaign to ensure you receive the knowledge you need to make a donation decision that is right for you.
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Tuesday, Sept. 12 – Brat Lunch for employees, grilled by Executive Team members in the Riverside Café. All proceeds will benefit the United Way campaign.
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Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. AND Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 11 a.m. – Employee United Way meeting held in the Administration Building Board Room and via Teams. A representative from the Great Rivers United Way and our Executive Team will join. Outlook invitations are being sent to employees.
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Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. – Employee United Way meeting held in the JPM Conference Room. Leadership and a representative from the Great Rivers United Way will join the meeting. Outlook invitations are being sent to employees.
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Kwik Trip Scrip Cards orders are available through November. Did you know that between 10%-15% of each gift card order benefits the United Way campaign? It's an easy way to make a difference on money you know you'll be spending at Kwik Trip sooner or later!
Questions about the campaign? Please contact Abby Ocello.
| WXOW-TV19 FEATURES SOC & RELIABILITY | |
Dairyland President & CEO Brent Ridge and Manager, System Operations Center (SOC) Eric Hammes (pictured) were interviewed last week by WXOW-TV 19 in our recently revamped SOC.
Brent and Eric spoke with the reporter about how the SOC's modernized capabilities support our Mission, grid reliability and the clean energy transition.
The interviews resulted in feature coverage which is posted on the Breaker. There are two videos from the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts (second video is more extensive). Footage of Dairyland's SOC dispatchers is included in both videos and the accompanying article.
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Photo: An SOC open house was held for Dairyland employees following project completion earlier this year.
SOC Modernization Benefits:
- Improved operator situational awareness tools to support current and future tasks
- The 1980s tile mapboard has been replaced with a multifunctional video wall
- Enhanced infrastructure to support severe weather events, with a fully functional operator support desk directly behind the real-time desk
- Improved operator ergonomics to support employee wellness during 12-hour shifts. Static desks have been replaced with sit/stand consoles
- Improved access to the SOC space via a dedicated access hallway
- Improved lighting and acoustics
| YOU FIRST: WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWS | |
Benefit Spotlight of the Month: Fitness Center Assistance
As part of your benefits package, Dairyland reimburses regular full-time employees 50% of the joining fee or participation fees for a fitness center up to $150 annually.
Now, we have even better news from your Total Rewards team - fitness center assistance will increase to $200 annually for 2024!
The how-to: Participants must submit a reimbursement form and provide receipts showing amounts paid. Reimbursements will be taxable and will be made on the employee’s paycheck. Fitness center assistance is for employees only, but reimbursement will be made for the employee portion of a family membership to a fitness center up to the maximum benefit. Participants make arrangements directly to the fitness center and pay program costs directly to the organization and then request reimbursement. Click here to complete the Fitness Center Assistance Form.
La Crosse, Onalaska and Winona YMCA: With Dairyland as a corporate member, employees receive reduced monthly fees for participation and the one-time joining fee is waived. Dairyland will contribute up to $150 annually ($200 beginning in 2024). Reduced monthly fees will be extended to the employee for single and family memberships, with the difference being directly billed to Dairyland. Click here to complete the YMCA Membership Form.
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