Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation Announces the 2014 Graduates of Emerging Leaders Institute

ELI_2014

Sept. 2, 2014. As a result of a partnership between Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation and Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI), 29 employees of Blue Ridge Electric and its subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, LLC, recently completed an eighteen-month customized “Emerging Leaders Institute.”

The group recently celebrated completion of the institute at a graduation dinner with senior staff members from Blue Ridge Electric and Blue Ridge Energies along with Ann Edwards, CCC&TI Corporate and Continuing Education instructor and facilitator for the Emerging Leaders Institute. Also attending from CCC&TI were Dr. Ken Boham, President, and Donna Beane, Department Chair for Corporate and Continuing Education.

The Institute included sessions on time management, self-assessment and personality traits, stress management, team building and dealing with change. Edwards commented that much planning and preparation go into these customized courses for local businesses.

“I met with the human resources department to listen and learn about Blue Ridge and then built a customized program to meet the needs of Blue Ridge that would promote personal growth and develop their employees to be the best they can be.”

Blue Ridge Electric Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Julie O’Dell-Michie led the graduation ceremony and praised the program and its graduates.

“We are here to recognize our employees’ achievements as well as their hard work, dedication and commitment to Blue Ridge. As participants in this learning opportunity,  you have chosen to be leaders and I am confident the future of Blue Ridge is in good hands,” remarked O’Dell-Michie. Dr. Boham also congratulated the employees, adding, “We appreciate the great partnership Blue Ridge has with CCC&TI. When companies invest in training for their employees, there is a lasting benefit for everyone involved.”

Blue Ridge offers continuous training opportunities to benefit employees and lead to better service for its members and customers.

Blue Ridge Electric is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 74,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, Avery and Alexander counties. Its subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, is a propane and heating fuels provider with offices and appliance showrooms in the district offices of Blue Ridge Electric as well as Independence, Virginia. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

2014 Graduates of the Blue Ridge Emerging Leaders Institute: 

David Blythe – Warehouse Specialist – Alleghany Office
Cookie Bradshaw – Administrative Assistant – Corporate Office
Andy Calhoun – Service Supervisor – Watauga Energies
Michael Clement – Application Support Engineer – Corporate Office
Tracy Davis – Crew Leader – Ashe Office
Scott Dula – Line Tech – Caldwell Office
Tanner Greer – System Administrator – Corporate Office
Tyler Hall – Associate Engineer – Corporate Office
Lori Harmon – System Operator – Corporate Office
Lynn Heatherly – Cost Accounting Manager – Corporate Office
Eric Helton – Line Tech – Caldwell Office
Ann Horton – Senior Member Service Representative – Caldwell Office
Kelly Huffman – Safety Manager – Corporate Office
Marianna Isaacs – Senior Land Rights Specialist – Corporate Office
Jon Jacob – Consumer Accounting Team Leader – Corporate Office
Joe Kemp – Tool and Work Equipment Specialist – Corporate Office
Mike Kincaid – Operations Manager – Ashe Office
Matthew Lawson – Line Tech – Alleghany Office
Jason Lingle – Electric Services Specialist – Corporate Office
Kevin Norris – Warehouse Specialist – Watauga Office
Dawn Owens – Heating Fuels Manager – Caldwell Energies
Tyler Reese – Senior Member Service Representative – Caldwell Office
Joel Souther – Construction Layout Technician – Alleghany Office
Lori Summerlin – Senior Member Service Representative – Corporate Office
Johnna Triplett – Senior Member Service Representative – Caldwell Office
Kim Webb – Executive Assistant – Corporate Office
Tony Wheeler – System Operator – Corporate Office
Steve Woodring – Operations Manager – Watauga Office
Jessica Woodruff – General Accountant II – Corporate Office