What is the definition of building relationships?

By Scott Westlund

Since I started to work for this membership in 2011, Rick Knick made it quite clear that the recipe for success was to build relationships with anyone possible.

Taking this information very seriously, I spent many years building that “force” of people who make things happen across this service territory.

Success is built on the ability to communicate what a co-op is and what they represent.

Just such relationships have been built with members across this region including our important tribal members.

From the start, their cul- ture has fascinated me. In fact, I did a term paper on the History of the Sioux and Assiniboine tribes for a college course. Most of the material in the paper was based on face-to-face interviews with folks who know these tribal members.

Great relationship and one that continues to this day.

In past acquaintances you will find ways to help one another as the pureness of the relationship continues to grow. Schools react when you come to see them, programs within the community know that this cooperative stands ready to help when there is a need, and people/members know that we are here to help when they need it. There were several times where I would take a member to town so they could get groceries, pay their gas bills, or help in any way we could..

In essence this cooperative becomes part of our members lives. From collections to community support, we drive to be a part of everyone’s lives.

On the collections front we have Tasha running this program. She is very good at finding out what is going on in the members’ lives and making adjustments internally to help them out. In essence, she has become a part of their lives.

This is the cooperative spirit, this is what makes a cooperative special, this is why the memberships created their cooperatives.

It’s all about relationships and creating them.

I am reminded of a story that happened recently about helping a fellow utility in the region move one of their projects forward. MDU had been trying for several years to get a hold of the right people to start and finish a transmission project North of Poplar. Not knowing who to call, we helped out by leaning on the folks we have built relationships with. When everyone came to the room together, the project started to move forward.

It is these precious relationships that turn the

Scott Westland, CEO/General Manager of Sheridan Electric

wheels in Northeast Montana. It is these precious relationships that make things happen in this area, and it is the willingness to do the hard things in order to achieve the simple things.