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$36,000 in Scholarships Available from SECO Energy

SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees has once again approved $36,000 in 2019 scholarships to support local students looking to fulfill their quest for a higher education. SECO has provided over $500,000 in scholarships to area students during the program’s 20-year tenure.

 

The Cooperative will award up to 12 local high school students a $3,000 scholarship toward their education at an accredited college, university or vocational/technical school located in Florida. To be considered, applicants must live in a home served by SECO and must graduate in the 2019 school year (May/June). Awardees must be enrolled full time by the end of 2019 to receive the scholarship disbursement.

 

Scholarship awards are based on scholastic achievements, community service and financial need as well as an interest in pursuing a career in the energy field. An independent group of educators from within SECO’s service area evaluates all applicants and determines the winners.

 

CEO Jim Duncan encourages area high school seniors to apply stating, “We are happy to continue SECO’s scholarship program in 2019. SECO embraces educational initiatives, especially ones that may lead to future energy industry careers. In addition to scholarships, SECO has formed a partnership with Dunnellon High School assisting students in its Power Generation Academy. We talk to students of all ages about careers at SECO when attending career fairs.”

 

Duncan added, “Our communities are full of bright, talented young men and women who are looking for stable employment close to their hometowns with benefits and competitive compensation. We hope that our scholarship winners will choose to apply for a position at SECO as they begin their career.”

 

Scholarship applications are available beginning January 2 at SECO’s Member Service Centers or on our Scholarship page. Students can also pick up an application at their local high school guidance counselors’ offices.

 

Mail completed applications to: SECO Energy Attn: Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 301, Sumterville, FL 33585-0301. SECO must receive the completed application by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 29. Winners will be notified by phone or letter on or before April 26. The awards banquet is scheduled for May 20, 2019.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit our Community page to learn more about SECO’s corporate citizenship and other community outreach initiatives.

SECO Energy Employees Pledge $66,000 to United Way

SECO Energy employees generously donated over $66,000 to local United Way agencies for the employee-led 2019 United Way Pledge Drive. Employee generosity increased dramatically this year with a $13,000 or 25 percent increase over the 2018 pledge amount.

 

SECO’s 400+ employees live in or near the seven counties served by the cooperative, which delivers reliable, affordable power to over 200,000 Central Florida families and businesses. During the pledge drive, employees who contribute are able to choose the county where their donated dollars will benefit.

 

The bulk of SECO members reside in Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties and the majority of SECO employees live and work in these counties as well. In Citrus County, employees pledged $6,656; in Lake County, employees pledged $15,591; in Marion County, employees pledged $19,790; in Sumter County, employees pledged $20,598; and other regional counties received $3,484.

 

United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities to advance the common good. Education, income and health are the United Way’s key focuses. Visit United Way to find a local branch, volunteer or donate.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “During this Christmas season, let us all pledge to give back within our local communities. SECO employees are blessed with a giving spirit. Their increased pledges represent substantial individual generosity toward the collective goal of assisting others who are less fortunate. Our employees’ pledges will make a difference in the lives of those in need across our service territory.”

 

Deputy Director of Civic, Charitable and Government Affairs Kathy Judkins manages SECO’s giving programs, and is a board member of a local United Way agency. Judkins stated, “I know first-hand that every donation provides solutions to health and human services in our community. It is all of us giving collectively to a local cause that unites us.”

 

SECO members can donate their extra pennies to help fellow members in need or to support local, worthy causes – by enrolling in SECO’s Pennies from Heaven program. Once enrolled, members’ bills are automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar. The donated pennies provide 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 agencies by calling 2-1-1.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit our Community page online to learn more about SECO’s corporate citizenship and other community outreach initiatives.

SECO Energy Employees Gather Donations for Toys for Tots

SECO Energy employees helped to fill Santa’s sleigh with toys collected for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. SECO’s five Member Service Center locations are available as public drop off locations.

 

Toys for Tots plays Santa for thousands of less-fortunate children. Toys for Tots is a world-wide organization, but the toys collected locally are distributed to children within the area. Hundreds of local children will benefit from the generosity of SECO employees and members alike when they wake up to toys under the Christmas tree donated through Toys for Tots.

 

This year, SECO employees donated an unprecedented number of new bikes for local children. SECO members have also added to the donations by dropping off toys at their local SECO Member Service Center. SECO has Toys for Tots donation boxes available in its Eustis, Groveland, Inverness, Ocala and Sumterville locations.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “The Marine Corps Toys for Tots program is a worthwhile organization in our community. As a Marine myself, Toys for Tots is particularly special to me. SECO employees have also embraced Toys for Tots because they know the organization is delivering Christmas morning happiness to children in our local communities.”

 

Duncan added, “Stop by a local SECO office and donate a new, unwrapped toy or two to Toys for Tots. The donated toys remain local. This Christmas season, join the SECO family in supporting Toys for Tots.”

 

Toys for Tots donation boxes are available at SECO Member Service Centers through early December. Find a SECO location in Eustis, Groveland, Inverness, Ocala or Sumterville online.

 

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit our Community page online to learn more about SECO’s corporate citizenship and other community outreach initiatives.

SECO Energy Donates Cell Phones to Troops for the Holidays

SECO Energy and Florida Senator Dennis Baxley worked together to ensure overseas active-duty servicemen and women receive 355 new and gently-used cell phones. This worthy cause will help service members call home from overseas at no charge this holiday season.

 

In 2004, two teenagers, Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, decided troops should be able to call their families from overseas for free; thus “Cell Phones For Soldiers” was born. Cell Phones For Soldiers is a national nonprofit relying on generous cash contributions and donations of gently used cell phones to provide free communication services for active-duty service members. Since 2004, the Cell Phones For Soldiers organization has received more than 15 million cell phones and has acquired more than 300 million minutes of free talk time through fund donations equating to more than 5 million calling cards donated to servicemen and women.

 

“From time to time, SECO Energy upgrades its computers, cell phones, and other electronic equipment. Rather than utilizing the traditional recycling process, SECO has elected to donate those items to schools and charitable organizations within its seven-county service territory in the spirit of patriotism and community service,” said Jim Duncan, CEO.

 

Duncan added, “Today, it is our honor to contribute these new and gently-used cell phones to the troops of this great nation through an organization that is near and dear to Florida State Senator Dennis Baxley’s heart. These phones will enable our servicemen and women to communicate with their families while being so far away from home.”

 

Senator Baxley stated, “Thank you to SECO, a fantastic community partner, for working with us to redistribute technology to nonprofits and the needy. This is what makes the community work.” Hiers-Baxley Funeral & Cremation Life Event Center located at 3975 Wedgewood Lane in The Villages is just one of more than 4,000 public cell phone collection locations across the nation for Cell Phones For Soldiers. Visit the Cell Phones for Soldiers website to find a donation location in your area.

 

Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit our Community page to learn more about SECO’s corporate citizenship and other community outreach initiatives.

SECO Energy and Dunnellon High School Partner for Energy Careers

SECO Energy and Dunnellon High School in Marion County are working together as Power Partners to develop local students’ interests in energy careers.

 

Dunnellon High School’s Power Generation Academy helps prepare students for the thousands of high-skilled, high-tech, in-demand jobs in the power and energy industry. Upon program completion, students will receive a National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certification in Power Generation Maintenance as an Industrial Maintenance Technician.

 

To celebrate this Power Partnership, SECO Energy’s Kenny Rodrigue, Manager of Substation and Transmission, and Rina Rivera, Senior Human Resources Generalist, delivered SECO sponsored Power Partner t-shirts, gloves, safety glasses and scrap aluminum for welding. Rodrigue spoke with the students about the utility industry and careers at SECO. Rodrigue and Rivera also discussed the education path required to best prepare students for the energy industry, along with technical knowledge and skills needed for future employment.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO believes supporting students and schools in local communities is a worthwhile investment. Annually SECO awards $36,000 in scholarships to 12 graduating seniors who live in a home served by the cooperative. In Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties, SECO recently contributed $15,500 to the counties’ public education foundations benefitting students and teachers.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Our partnership with Dunnellon High School’s Power Generation Academy is an exciting opportunity for local students and SECO. The students enrolled in the program are introduced to careers in the utility industry and local utility leadership. For SECO, we lend a hand in cultivating the future work force and possibly offer future employment or internship opportunities at SECO.”

 

Duncan added, “Our local utility offers a variety of career opportunities for students who want to work in a stable environment with competitive compensation while remaining close to family and friends.”

 

Applications for SECO’s 2019 Scholarship Program will be available starting January 2, 2019. Find program criteria and a printable application online on our Scholarship page. Applications are also available through school guidance counselors.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.  Visit our Community page online to learn more about SECO’s corporate citizenship and other community outreach initiatives.

SECO Energy District 7 Members Elect New Trustee Joseph E. Kusiak

On Thursday, October 25, members who attended SECO Energy’s District 7 Special Meeting voted to elect Joseph E. Kusiak to represent their District and the members at large on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. The Special Meeting was held in the District to fill the Board vacancy after former Trustee Rob Henion resigned in August.

 

Originally from Massachusetts, Mr. Kusiak and his wife, Carmen, became SECO members after moving from Bronson to Dunnellon in 2002. Mr. Kusiak is an attorney, who has over 30 years of military experience – in the Army and the Air Force. Mr. Kusiak holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Math from American International College, and a Juris Doctor Degree in Law from New England School of Law.

 

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for and owned by its members. SECO members elect their fellow members to SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the Board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to monitor the financial status of the cooperative while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the members at large.

 

Members in District 7 gathered at the Rainbow Lakes Estates Community Center in Dunnellon to elect a new District 7 Trustee to serve the remainder of Mr. Henion’s three-year term. In September, Reverend Harold N. Damon from Ocala and Mr. Joseph E. Kusiak from Dunnellon both submitted a letter of intent to run, and expressed their willingness to represent the members of District 7.

 

Kusiak stated, “District 7 members, thank you for your votes and for trusting me to act as your District 7 representative on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees. I am looking forward to what I believe will be a new, interesting experience as a SECO Trustee. My wife and I enjoy attending SECO’s Annual Meeting, the employees do a great job and I am excited to lend the SECO team a hand through my Board service.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “I congratulate Mr. Kusiak on his successful election and I also want to thank Reverend Damon for his willingness to serve as well. With the Board’s guidance, SECO has enjoyed a decade of improved reliability, highest member satisfaction ratings, a high growth rate and strong financial results. Mr. Kusiak is a welcome addition to the Board, and I look forward to working with him and our current Board members.”

 

Visit Your Co-op page online for photos and brief bios of the Trustees along with an interactive District map. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Sends Fresh Aid to Panhandle for Hurricane Michael Restoration

SECO Energy has organized a fresh module of employees to travel to Florida’s Panhandle to assist in power restoration.

 

Hurricane Michael was a powerful Category 4 hurricane with 155 mile per hour winds when it made landfall near Mexico Beach on Wednesday, October 10. At landfall, Hurricane Michael was stronger than the infamous Hurricanes Katrina and Andrew. Almost three weeks after the hurricane ravaged North Florida’s gulf coast, thousands of Floridians remain without power. Over those three weeks, teams of SECO employees and contractors have assisted Tri-County and Talquin Electric Cooperatives with their restoration efforts. Many of those employees are preparing to return home and a new group of employees departed for a utility still in need.

 

A module of SECO first class line technicians, a superintendent, a crew supervisor, a mechanic and a reliability engineer departed from the SECO Energy headquarters campus early this morning to join the Hurricane Michael restoration effort at Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative headquartered in Wewahitchka. Gulf Coast’s headquarters is located only 22 miles north east of Mexico Beach. Gulf Coast serves 20,000 members in six North Florida counties, approximately 6,500 or thirty-two percent of its members remain without power.

 

The module who left this morning is the third module of SECO employees sent to the area. On October 11, the day after Hurricane Michael’s landfall, twenty-one SECO employees traveled first to Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Madison to help restore Tri-County’s electric system. Once released, SECO employees joined the restoration effort at Talquin Electric Cooperative headquartered in Quincy. After additional employees joined in the effort, thirty-four SECO employees have been working in Talquin’s territory for over a week.

 

Talquin’s restoration effort is almost complete and the co-op has begun releasing out-of-area crews. Of the employees working on Talquin’s system, twenty-two will return home later today, and four will join the SECO module who left SECO’s headquarters this morning to restore power to Gulf Coast members. The majority of SECO’s overhead and tree trimming contract crews remain in the hurricane ravaged area.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “The restoration effort after Hurricane Michael has been a long, time-consuming process. As a cooperative, SECO believes in helping its neighbors and answering the call when our fellow utilities need assistance. SECO and its employees are honored to be in a position to lend our resources and help where we can.”

 

Duncan added, “Working with energized lines is inherently dangerous, and power restoration after a major hurricane is even more dangerous. In Florida, 35 deaths have been attributed to Hurricane Michael including three of our fellow line personnel who were killed while working in Chipley. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these linemen. I pray for the safety of our crews and contractors who are working in the area, and for all who are working to rebuild after Hurricane Michael.”

 

Vice President of Operations John LaSelva stated, “Once again, SECO employees are willing to leave their families to work with neighboring utilities to help restore power. When we asked for volunteers, SECO employees didn’t hesitate. They understand how important an everyday necessity like electricity is to these families. Three weeks without electricity is a long time. I am proud of our employees and pray for their safety.”

 

SECO Traveling Module Team Members:

 

• Roy Fort
• Kenny Davis
• Terrill Cuyler
• Paul Gannon
• Adan Ybarra
• David Boone
• Cody Chandler
• Michael Gonzalez
• Logan Land
• Kyle Stephenson
• Justin Little
• Kyle Rich
• Frank Ray
• Matt Akins
• Will Smith
• Jimmy Johns
• Austin Ferguson
• Brian Bailey
• Jimmy Bedgood
• Andy Andrews
• Bill Durham
• Vic Singer
• Mark Cummings
• Wayne Taylor
• Byon Smiddy
• Darren Adkins
• Jeff Jowers
• Robert Scott
• Gary Lamb
• Mark McIntosh
• Vic Keesling
• Brian Jefferson
• Chris Reynolds

 

SECO Energy provides online resources to help families prepare for tropical storms and hurricanes. Visit our Storm Preparation page online to view an emergency checklist, generator safety information and storm preparation tips. Bookmark SECO’s StormCenter outage map on your smartphone and tablets to easily access the outage reporting platform. Enroll to receive outage communications via voice, text or email. StormCenter is available online.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit the Your Co-op page online to learn more about SECO’s corporate citizenship and other community outreach initiatives.

SECO Energy Trustee Scott Boyatt Earns Board Leadership Certificate

SECO Energy Board District 1 Trustee Scott Boyatt has been recognized for earning his Board Leadership Certificate through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

 

According to the NRECA, the Board Leadership Certificate is a series of courses that focus on specific industry and governance issues that directly impact electric cooperatives. Participants learn more about risk management, power supply, parliamentary procedure, technology and policy development. The Board Leadership Certificate is designed to prepare directors and trustees of electric cooperatives to navigate the issues and challenges facing electric co-ops today and in the future.

 

A SECO member since 2004, Boyatt lives in Clermont and has represented the District 1 members on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees for five years. Boyatt was first elected to SECO’s Board in 2013.

 

Trustee Boyatt stated, “The NRECA’s Director Certificate Programs provide a solid foundation of skills that are helpful in serving SECO members on SECO’s Board of Trustees. Continuing my education through the NRECA provides meaningful skills that enhance my ability to serve members’ interests. I am thankful for the opportunity to expand my knowledge of the utility industry and to put those skills into practice while representing members in District 1 and SECO’s membership at large through my years of Board service.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan praised Trustee Boyatt’s commitment to enhancing his education to benefit SECO members. Duncan stated, “I am proud of Trustee Boyatt for taking the next step in his Trustee education by engaging in the NRECA’s Board education program. I commend Mr. Boyatt’s willingness to serve SECO members as the District 1 Trustee and salute his commitment to our members.”

 

Photos and brief bios of the Trustees along with an interactive District map are available online. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Crews Aid in Hurricane Michael Restoration

SECO Energy organized a module of SECO employees to travel to the Florida Panhandle to aid in power restoration after Hurricane Michael’s 155 mph winds, torrential rains, and immense storm surges ravaged the area. SECO also released contract crews who are also traveling Thursday morning to the damaged areas to aid in restoration.

 

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida, on Wednesday afternoon as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with 155 mile per hour winds. The hurricane moved swiftly east through Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina before being downgraded to a tropical storm around midnight Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands of consumers are without power in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. Michael is responsible for at least two deaths in Florida.

 

A module of SECO first class line technicians, a superintendent, a crew supervisor, a mechanic and a project engineer departed from the SECO Energy headquarters compound early Thursday morning to assist in power restoration at Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Madison, Florida. Tri-County serves members in Dixie, Jefferson, Madison and Taylor Counties along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

 

Wednesday evening, SECO released a portion of its contractor work force to aid in restoration as well. Crews from overhead line contractor Pike are traveling to West Florida Electric Cooperative in Graceville, Florida.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Cooperative members in North Florida desperately need assistance. Cooperation among Cooperatives is one of the seven Cooperative Principles, and SECO and its employees are honored to be called upon to aid in power restoration. The cooperative bond is strong, and we believe in working together to help our members’ lives return to normal.”

 

Duncan added, “My thoughts and prayers are offered for all who were devastated by Hurricane Michael and for the safety of our crews and contractors who are traveling to assist.”

 

Vice President of Operations John LaSelva stated, “A Category 4 hurricane like Hurricane Michael wreaks havoc on homes, businesses and electric systems that consumers rely on. The news coverage clearly shows that the hurricane’s destruction was catastrophic. SECO employees were quick to volunteer and answer the call for aid. After Hurricane Irma’s destruction in SECO’s territory last year when so many crews came to assist us, SECO employees believe they have a duty to help our neighboring cooperatives and their members. It was a proud moment this morning seeing our employees off and praying for their safety.”

 

SECO Traveling Module Team Members:

 

• Bubba Cole
• Kenneth Budd
• Rodney Lipps
• Mark Locklear
• Kenny Merritt
• Gary Zachary
• Robby Pruett
• Eric Fort
• David Olszanski
• Cory McNeal
• Kent Sprague
• Derek Eveleth
• Brandon Blackmon
• Tommy Lakin
• Logan Delk
• Troy Clough
• Robert Recanzone
• Ryan Hendrix
• Rick Walsh
• Rich Freyser

 

SECO Energy provides online resources to help families prepare for tropical storms and hurricanes. View an emergency checklist, generator safety information and storm preparation tips online. Bookmark SECO’s StormCenter outage map on your smartphone and tablets to easily access the outage reporting platform. Enroll to receive outage communications via voice, text or email. StormCenter is available online at SECOEnergy.com>StormCenter.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit our Community page online to learn more about SECO’s corporate citizenship and other community outreach initiatives.