Embracing Change
Giving thanks and reflecting on 2024
As November begins, I’ve been reflecting on the many changes that have shaped the cooperative this year — many of which you’ll see highlighted in the next few pages. Since officially stepping into the role of CEO in mid-September, I’ve had a busy and exciting time getting up to speed with everything happening at Pioneer. In just a short period, I’ve witnessed numerous improvements aimed at benefiting both the cooperative and our community.
One of the key milestones in 2024 was the addition of a new electronics and field technician, along with five linemen trainees, who are at various levels in their training. These new employees represent the future of our workforce, and their development is important to maintaining the reliable service our members expect and depend on. With longtime employees leading them, it is reassuring to know that they’re being equipped with the skills and knowledge to keep our operations running smoothly for years to come.
Pioneer has also filled an important leadership role, with David Overman being promoted to manager of safety and construction. For the past year and a half, the safety responsibilities were divided among our director of operations and safety and two operations supervisors. David’s promotion allows Pioneer to provide an even sharper focus on safety, which has always been a top priority. His experience and commitment to this role ensure that we continue to have the highest standards for the safety of our employees and the communities we serve.
With David now leading our safety initiatives, we’re renewing our efforts to engage with local schools through tabletop safety demonstrations. Educating students about the dangers of electricity is an essential part of our commitment to safety, and we’re excited to once again be supporting our communities in this way. In early September, we brought back our First Responder Safety Demonstration for local fire departments, EMS, contractors, the state highway patrol, transportation departments, and city workers. Hosting this event allows us to engage with members of the community, strengthen relationships with first responders, and share the importance of electrical safety with those we meet out in the field in outage or emergency situations.
Our engineering and operations team brought Salyer Substation, formerly Union Substation, online to serve members in early September.
Additionally, we’ve increased our presence in the community. We’ve participated in trade school competitions, career days, Touch-a-Truck events, and local parades. At the end of September, we also had the pleasure of hosting a homeschool group at our Urbana facility, providing them with an inside look at electrical safety and what our linemen do.
We’ve also made changes to our scholarship programs. This year, we adjusted the timelines and separated the Technical/Trade Scholarship from the Children of Members Scholarship, allowing more focused attention on each. From November 1 to December 20, we’ll be accepting applications for the Technical and Trade Scholarships, aimed at students pursuing education in technical or trade programs. Starting January 1 through February 21, applications for the Children of Members Scholarship will be open for those pursuing any path of continued education. We’ve updated the rules and qualifications to make these opportunities more accessible for members’ children who are current high school seniors.
Those are just a few of the highlights from 2024. The changes we’ve made, whether in leadership, workforce, safety, community involvement, or education, are all part of our ongoing commitment to serve you better. I’m proud of how far we’ve come, and I’m excited about where we’re headed. We are so thankful for your support.
