DECEM BER
2018
SECONEWS DUNCAN’S DI G EST
Move over Santa Claus – SECO Energy employees are here to fill the sleigh with toys collected for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. As a Marine myself, Toys for Tots is particularly special to me. Our employees have also embraced Toys for Tots because they know the organization is delivering Christmas
Jim Duncan, CEO
The collected toys remain right here in our local communities to be distributed to local children. Hundreds of employees and members displayed their Christmas spirit by dropping a toy or two into the Toys for Tots collection box. The number of new bikes donated by our employees this year is definitely a record-setter. For thousands of children, the donated toys are the only gifts waiting for them under the Christmas tree. 470022 morning happiness to children in our local communities. Toys for Tots plays Santa for thousands of less-fortunate children. Toy donation boxes were made available in all Member Service Centers through early December for employees and members alike to donate new, unwrapped toys to this worthy cause.
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“HIDDEN” ACCOUNT NUMBERS Don’t forget to look for the last six digits of your account number in this month’s SECO News. You can email us at customerservice@secoenergy.com or call if your number appears. Six winners will be drawn at random from all submissions. Winners receive a $25 restaurant gift card. 173702 501012 173702
2 LIGHTFINDER
Meet SECO Champions Kathy and Kurt – two examples of our 400+ SECO Champion employees. Kathy and 400010 Kurt are dedicated to providing exceptional service to members, co-workers and communities.
KATHY POSSO MEMBER SERVICES SUPERVISOR
LENGTH OF SERVICE: 4 YEARS
“WE’RE HERE FOR MEMBERS.” Member Services Supervisor Kathy Posso is a SECO Champion who is a friendly face assisting members in our Sumterville Member Service Center. In 2005, Kathy’s family moved to Central Florida, and she joined the SECO team in 2014. In 2017 during Hurricane Irma restoration, Kathy was especially humbled by members’ stories of devastation after the storm. Kathy’s passion is helping members. She recalls a time when a member who recently lost a spouse was grateful when she took extra time to help him read and understand the bill and complete a payment. Kathy and her husband are leaders at their church. Kathy’s family is proud that she works for SECO Energy, a cooperative that believes in putting members first and also appreciates and recognizes its employees.
KURT CAMPBELL R&D TECHNICIAN
LENGTH OF SERVICE: 14 YEARS
“MY FAMILY IS PROUD.” SECO Champion Kurt Campbell is an R&D Technician working throughout Sumter, Lake and Citrus Counties performing meter work to ensure accurate account billing. During Hurricane Irma restoration in 2017, Kurt worked with the warehouse team transporting supplies to crews restoring power in the field. Kurt interacts with members every day and is grateful that he was on-hand during several emergency situations. Kurt comforted a member whose husband suffered a stroke while waiting for emergency personnel, and has helped numerous members with vehicle trouble. Kurt was born and raised in Sumter County and lives with his family in Coleman. Kurt says his family is glad to know that he is part of the effort to restore power to SECO members after a hurricane or major storm.
Continued from page 1 I believe Charles Schulz of Peanuts fame said it best, “Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” Many of our employees and members do a little extra for others by contributing to Toys for Tots every year. I thank you all for your generosity and willingness to give. From the SECO family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
JIM DUNCAN, Chief Executive Officer
045603
SECO Energy employees are truly blessed with a giving spirit. Our 2019 United Way Pledge Drive was an overwhelming success. Employees pledged over $66,000 to United Way – a $13,000 or 25 percent increase from last year. The pledges will make a big difference in the lives of those in need in our service territory. SECO’s 400+ employees live in or near the counties we serve, and employees are able to choose the county where their donated dollars will benefit.
Citrus County
$6,656
Lake County
$15,591
Marion County
$19,790
Sumter County
$20,598
Other Counties
$3,484
Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties are the four counties in our service area with the highest member count. The majority of our employees live and work in these four counties as well. 397700 United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good. Education, income and health are the United Way’s key focuses. Visit UnitedWay.org online to find a local branch, register to volunteer or to donate.
Donate your extra pennies to help your fellow SECO Energy members in need or to support worthy causes right here in our service territory. Enroll in Pennies from Heaven to have your monthly bill automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar. The donated pennies provide financial assistance through the Angel Fund. Angel Funds are used to provide bill payment assistance to members, help those in dire and unique circumstances or support other causes in the counties we serve. Requests for Angel Fund assistance are administered through several local Visit SECOEnergy.com > Your Co-op > agencies by calling 2-1-1. Pennies from Heaven to enroll today.
LENDING A HAND IN NORTH FLORIDA TRI-COUNTY . TALQUIN . GULF COAST
On October 10, 2018, Category 4 Hurricane Michael blazed a deadly path through North Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Destructive and deadly, Michael left 400,000 Floridians without power for weeks. 272502 The day after Hurricane Michael, a team of SECO employees voluntarily packed their bags, leaving their families to help our cooperative neighbors’ restoration efforts.
to
assist
Gulf
Initially, the module traveled to Tri-County Electric in Madison before trekking to Talquin Electric Cooperative near Tallahassee. Additional line techs and warehouse personnel joined the module, and some returned home while additional employees accompanied the group as it traveled Coast Electric in Wewahitchka.
SECO is very proud of our employees’ willingness to assist our cooperative neighbors. 53 SECO employees (named below) worked an almost fourweek restoration effort assisting three cooperatives in restoring power to thousands. YOU ARE HEROES! 208011
TRAVELING MODULES Chris Reynolds
Rick Walsh
Kyle Stephenson
Kyle Rich
Kenneth Budd
Kent Sprague
Richard Freyser
Roy Fort
Frank Ray
Rodney Lipps
Derek Eveleth
Mark Cummings
Kenny Davis
Matt Akins
Mark Locklear
Brandon Blackmon
Wayne Taylor
Terrill Cuyler
Kenny Merritt
Jimmy Bedgood
Byon Smiddy
Paul Gannon
Gary Zachary
Bill Durham
Darren Adkins
Adan Ybarra
Robby Pruett
Tommy Lakin
Jeff Jowers
David Boone
Eric Fort
Logan Delk
Robert Scott
Cody Chandler
David Olszanski
Troy Clough
Gary Lamb
Michael Gonzalez
Vic Singer
Cory McNeal
Robert Recanzone
Mark McIntosh
Justin Little
Vic Keesling
Brian Jefferson
Ryan Hendrix
Logan Land
Andy Andrews
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Bubba Cole
Jerry D. Hatfield
Richard J. Belles
President District 9
District 3
Richard Dennison
Ray Vick
Vice President District 4
District 5
Bill James
Earl Muffett
Secretary-Treasurer District 8
District 6
Scott D. Boyatt
Joseph E. Kusiak
District 1
District 7
Dillard B. Boyatt
Will Smith Jimmy Johns Austin Ferguson Brian Bailey
The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, December 17, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. in the Corporate Offices at 330 South US HWY 301 in Sumterville. A Trustees’ meeting will also be held on Monday, January 19, 2019. 24/7 Job Hotline: (855) 483-2673 www.secoenergyjobs.com Report an Outage: (800) 732-6141 www.secostormcenter.com
District 2 SECO Energy.com SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.