SCOTT CITY–For the fourth year in a row, Member Services at Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc., (WEC) has received national recognition in the 2025 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 Gold Award in Best External Event for our Dine and Drive, held Sept. 30, 2024, in Great Bend in conjunction with National Drive Electric Week (NDEW).
During last year’s event at the WEC office, 200 10th St., community members enjoyed a delicious lunch while exploring renewable energy benefits in our outdoor green space, learning more about programs and services like Community Solar, and experiencing the power of driving electric first-hand thanks to three all-electric vehicles available on site for driving.
Guided by the Fifth Cooperative Principle, WEC is dedicated to creating educational opportunities for our members, and this unique event attended by approximately 150 locals gave members a chance to explore electric vehicles and renewable energy resources. Through two WEC fleet vehicles and one Tesla vehicle volunteered by a WEC employee, just over two dozen of these attendees experienced the thrill of driving a 100% electric vehicle firsthand.
Because the adoption of renewable energy and electric transportation is slow in our rural region, (with no auto dealerships in our area offering electric vehicles and only three public EV charging stations across WEC’s 4,625 miles of line), we are proud host events like our Dine and Drive to lead the way in bridging this gap and empowering our members with knowledge and access.
“Our member services team continues to raise the bar when it comes to engaging and educating our communities,” said Bruce W. Mueller, CEO and general manager. “I couldn’t be prouder of the creativity, dedication and innovation they bring to every project. This national recognition is a testament to their hard work and the values that guide us at Wheatland Electric.”
The communications team is led by Alli Conine, director of member services and corporate communications, and includes the following staff members: Samantha Garcia and Mary Hoisington, both member services and key accounts managers; Shajia Donecker, social media specialist; and Caitlin Moser, member services coordinator.
The WEC employees will be recognized at the CONNECT Conference in Kansas City, MO, a national conference for communications and marketing professionals in the cooperative electric industry in early May. Moser and Donecker will accept the award and participate in this annual professional development opportunity.
