SCOTT CITY – For the second year in a row, the member services team at Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc. has received national recognition in the 2023 Spotlight on Excellence Awards program, sponsored by the Council of Rural Electric Communicators (CREC) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). 

WEC’s member services team received a Silver Award in the Best Annual Report to Members for our 2021 Annual Report: “Driving Energy for Life.” The 2021 annual report (published April 27, 2022) featured WEC’s efforts to promote and educate our membership about electric vehicles and infrastructure, but also highlighted new services including the purchase and financing of backup generators and electrician services. 

“I am extremely proud of our member services team and the invaluable work they do each day for our co-op members,” said Bruce W. Mueller, CEO and general manager. “Their efforts deliver exceptional results, have a lasting impact and are critical to serving our community. Because of their strong communication efforts, we can further the cooperative mission to promote and support the communities we serve.” 

The member services team is led by Alli Conine, director of member services and corporate communications, and also includes the following team members: Kayanna Hammeke and Mary Hoisington, both member services and key accounts managers; Shajia Donecker, social media specialist; and Heather Rufenacht, member services coordinator. 

The Member Services Team was recognized during the CONNECT Conference in Jacksonville, Florida, a national conference for communications and marketing professionals in the cooperative electric industry earlier this May. Hammeke attended to accept the award and participate in this annual professional development opportunity. 

The annual Spotlight on Excellence Awards program recognizes the best communication and marketing efforts by electric cooperatives and related organizations nationwide. More than 650 entries were submitted across 18 different categories, including writing, graphic design, digital communications, campaign development and more. Faculty members from the University of Missouri Columbia, as well as noted professionals in the fields of marketing and digital communications and newspapers judged the entries.