SECO Energy is proud to announce that its corporate communications team has earned national recognition by winning Gold in the Best Social Media Post – Classification 3 (for distribution cooperatives with more than 65,000 meters) category at the 2025 Spotlight on Excellence Awards. Presented by the Council of Rural Electric Communicators and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, this prestigious award celebrates top-tier communication excellence among electric cooperatives nationwide. 

The award-winning social media post featured a powerful video message from SECO Energy Chief Executive Officer Curtis Wynn. Released in the critical hours ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall, the message urged members to prepare for the storm and highlighted SECO’s comprehensive readiness efforts. The video project, led by Director of Corporate Communications Amanda Richardson and Multimedia Supervisor Bryan Wooley, received praise for its clarity, urgency, and strong commitment to member safety. 

“We are honored to be recognized for work that directly supports and protects our members,” said Wynn, SECO Energy CEO. “Communication is just as vital as power restoration during a potential crisis, and this award validates our team’s dedication to excellence.” 

Hurricane Milton struck SECO’s 2,100-square-mile service area as a powerful Category 3 storm, leaving over 100,000 members without power. Throughout the storm and the restoration process, SECO’s communications team kept members informed with timely updates through StormCenter, social media, and SECOEnergy.com. Restoration efforts were nearly complete within days, with power safely and swiftly restored to more than 99% of affected members – even in hazardous conditions. 

The Spotlight on Excellence Awards honors the innovation and impact of cooperative communicators. Winners, like SECO Energy, exemplify best-in-class strategies across platforms and reinforce the value of effective communication, especially during emergencies.

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on X (formerly Twitter) for prize drawings, news releases, and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service territory. Manage your outage notification preferences at StormCenter. To see when SECO Energy crews/contractors are working in your area, visit our System Improvement Map. To learn more about SECO Energy as a not-for-profit cooperative, visit About SECO Energy.