February is here, and as always, it brings plenty of sunshine, great weather, and the highly anticipated NEXT Conference! This year, we’re coming to you from Bonita Springs, Florida. Where the focus is all about business development and technology.

And who better to break it all down than two incredible leaders in the field? Joining us on this episode are Devin Sonnenfelt, Senior Business Development Specialist at White River Valley Electric Cooperative, and Nikki Pfannenstiel, Manager of Economic Development at Sunflower Electric Economic. They’ll share their expertise and insights on the latest business developments shaping the cooperative world and how these innovations are making a real impact in their communities.

Don't miss this exciting conversation filled with valuable takeaways for co-ops looking to grow and innovate!

Hosted and produced by Jana Adams, Executive Director, Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives. Edited by Rafael Fernandez, Creative Producer.

Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! 🎉 As we wrap up an incredible year for Touchstone Energy, especially in our research programs, we’re kicking off the new year with a bang! Joining us is Angelika Hoelger, Research Manager at Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives.

In this episode, Angelika takes us through the amazing accomplishments of 2024 and gives us an exciting glimpse into what’s ahead for 2025. We’ll also dive into how these research programs help co-ops get a true pulse on their member-owners’ perspectives while uncovering opportunities to connect, learn, and share strategies with other cooperatives facing similar challenges.

Don’t miss this insightful and inspiring conversation to start your year off right!

Hosted and produced by Jana Adams, Executive Director, Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives. Edited by Rafael Fernandez, Creative Producer.

Join us for our final podcast of the year as we wrap up our series on high-performing cooperatives! This time, we’re diving into the world of broadband and the co-ops leading the charge in bringing this essential service to their members. Who better to share their insights than this month’s guests: Marty Haught, Assistant General Manager/COO of United Cooperative Services, and Tom Stackhouse, President/CEO of Central Alabama Electric Cooperative. Both have earned customer satisfaction scores in the 90s and adding rural broadband has been valuable to their members.

We’ll explore how the broadband industry can sometimes feel like the Wild West, but how something as truly listening to your members can set you apart from the competition. Don’t miss this engaging and informative episode!

Hosted and produced by Jana Adams, Executive Director, Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives. Edited by Rafael Fernandez, Creative Producer.

Join us for this week’s episode, where we reveal the secret ingredient to boosting member engagement. Hear from two cooperatives, both scoring in the 90s on the ACSI survey: Tim Street President & General Manager of Logan County Electric Cooperative and Alli Conine, Director of Member Services and Corporate Communications with Wheatland Electric Cooperative. They share their top tips for member satisfaction and how they celebrate it with employees.

We also dive into the importance of engaging younger members at community events and annual meetings. Don’t miss out on this insightful episode and discover strategies to connect with the next generation and keep your cooperative thriving!

Hosted and produced by Jana Adams, Executive Director, Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives. Edited by Rafael Fernandez, Creative Producer.

🎶 "Everybody's talking 'bout the 90s..." 🎶 No, we’re not bringing back flannel shirts or boy bands, but we are bringing you something even better! We’re diving into two electric cooperatives that have been consistently hitting top scores in customer satisfaction, landing in the 90s. This week, we welcome Steve Rhodes, CEO of CHELCO in Florida, and Blake House, VP/Marketing and Member Services of Sawnee EMC in Georgia. In just seven minutes, they’ll provide valuable insights.

We’ll also explore how, while you can’t always say 'yes' to every request, finding common ground with member-owners by carefully analyzing survey results makes all the difference. Don’t miss out on these practical tips for boosting member engagement and satisfaction!"

Hosted and produced by Jana Adams, Executive Director, Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives. Edited by Rafael Fernandez, Creative Producer.

We are wrapping up our leadership series on core values with John Hewa, President & CEO of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. In this episode, John guides us through innovations at his co-op on reliability, data management and expanding affiliates to meet member needs.

We’ll also explore how innovation is not only about embracing new ideas but also adapting it to the traditional ways in which cooperatives operate. Don’t miss this insightful discussion!

Hosted and produced by Jana Adams, Executive Director, Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives. Edited by Rafael Fernandez, Creative Producer.

Join us for another inspiring conversation as we delve into one of today's hottest topics: Innovation. We're thrilled to have Douglas Remboldt, CEO of NISC, a leader in the field and collaborator with Touchstone Energy sharing his insights. Douglas shares valuable tips on the importance of the connection between technology tools and the value it brings to the member.

We also discuss the importance of leveraging current offerings and how to evolve to be relevant to new audiences.

Don't miss this enlightening episode hosted and produced by Jana Adams, Executive Director, Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives. Edited by Rafael Fernandez, Creative Producer.

Join us for this podcast episode where we explore how our core values empower us to shine during the toughest times. We are honored to have Cameron Smallwood, General Manager and CEO of United Cooperative Services, share his co-op’s efforts in rebuilding their financial stability following one of their greatest challenges a few winters ago. Discover how transparency and unwavering integrity can build trust and reliability among your membership during adversity.

Tune in to this engaging podcast hosted and produced by Jana Adams, Executive Director, Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives and edited by Rafael Fernandez, Digital Producer.