October 02, 2024

WPPI Energy recognizes, celebrates the people of public power

An Update from WPPI

More than a dozen locally owned municipal electric utilities and their staff recently received awards for leadership, community service and advocacy during the 2024 WPPI Energy Annual Meeting.

The event, titled “Gathering the People of Public Power,” saw individuals from member-owners of WPPI Energy receive awards for their work in the industry, including Black River Falls Municipal Utilities, Columbus Utilities, Eagle River Light & Water Utility, Hustisford Utilities, Juneau Utilities, Kaukauna Utilities, Lake Mills Light & Water, Mount Horeb Utilities, Oconomowoc Utilities, Oconto Falls Municipal Utilities, Sun Prairie Utilities and Waunakee Utilities.

“Each of these people drive the everyday success of their utilities,” said WPPI Energy Board Chair Jim Stawicki. “Their individual efforts coming together demonstrate how great a value municipally owned electric utilities have for everyone. Public power employees are dedicated, and this recognition reflects that.”

There were 10 recipients of the Shining Star Award, three recipients of the Richard “Dixie” Kirchoff Community Service Award, a recipient of the Jim Coutts Distinguished Service Award, a recipient of the Volunteer Power! Award and one utility which received the Utility Leadership Award.

Shining Star
The Shining Star Award recognizes managers and employees who show growth and leadership with proven dedication to strategic initiatives within the utility. These individuals have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

  • Austin Neis – Lake Mills
  • Beth Rank – Oconto Falls
  • Cade Schreiber – Hustisford
  • Cherie Dugan – Black River Falls
  • Cindy Franz – Eagle River
  • Cody Conrad – Sun Prairie
  • Haley Engel – Oconomowoc
  • Michelle Kaltenberg – Columbus
  • Sam Trace – Waunakee
  • Sandy Anderson – Black River Falls

Community Service
The Community Service Award recognizes utility managers and public officials who demonstrate the utility’s value through their active participation in the community and commitment to volunteerism.

Juneau Utility Commission President Robert “Mac” Affeld, Kaukauna Utility Commissioner Paul Van Berkel and Mount Horeb Utility Commissioner Ed Glover were recipients of the community service awards.

Distinguished Service
The Jim Coutts Distinguished Service Award recognizes an effort to build grassroots support for policies that benefit WPPI member utilities and customers. It highlights someone who has contributed to raising public awareness of locally owned utilities. It is named after former Cedarburg mayor Jim Coutts, a big supporter of public power.

The recipient is a mayor himself. Sun Prairie Mayor Paul Esser was the award recipient for his work over the years to advocate both for Sun Prairie Utilities and public power at the federal level. He remains an active member of the SPU Commission.

Utility Leadership
The Utility Leadership Award recognizes a WPPI Energy member utility that displays excellence and leadership. This utility helps to advance strategic initiatives, provides benefits to the membership and supports public power and joint action.

Cedarburg Light & Water was the 2024 recipient, chosen for a long history of being a strong proponent of joint action and getting results in a variety of areas within the industry.

Joint Action Leadership Certification
There were also 13 people who achieved their Joint Action Leadership Certification. The program offered through WPPI Energy is a two-year commitment that broadens the graduate’s knowledge in five key topics within the electric utility industry.

  • Kaukauna General Manager Michael Avanzi
  • Waupun Office and Customer Service Supervisor Jen Benson
  • New London General Manager Jason Bessette
  • Maquoketa Administrative Clerk Leesa Budde
  • Cedarburg General Manager Ben Collins
  • Sturgeon Bay Accounting and Customer Service Representative Christine Coulthurst
  • Menasha Finance Manager Kristin Hubertus
  • Waunakee Manager of Customer Service and Billing Dana Karls
  • Oconto Falls Utility Manager Greg Kuhn
  • Lodi Superintendent James Lincoln
  • Menasha Customer Service Manager Paula Maurer
  • Menasha Electric Manager Kurt Melchert
  • Reedsburg General Manager Brett Schuppner


Milestones
WPPI Energy member utilities have a proven record of service. Some have been providing municipal electricity to their communities for over a century or nearly as long. WPPI recognized those with milestone anniversaries in 2024:

  • Algoma Utilities – 120 years
  • Black River Falls Municipal Utilities – 120 years
  • Boscobel Utilities – 125 years
  • Juneau Utilities – 110 years
  • Maquoketa Municipal Electric Utility – 105 years
  • Mount Horeb Utilities – 85 years
  • New London Utilities – 120 years
  • Prairie du Sac Utilities – 110 years
  • Reedsburg Utility Commission – 130 years
  • City Utilities of Richland Center – 120 years
  • Sturgeon Bay Utilities – 120 years
  • Waupun Utilities – 130 years

 

Volunteer Power
WPPI Energy also celebrated a member of its own staff for her time spent giving to others. Senior Marketing Manager Kelanie Davis was awarded the Volunteer Power! Award. It recognizes people who demonstrate an exceptional contribution to volunteering to better their community.

Davis became the top leader of the Sun Prairie chapter of Box of Balloons this year. The organization works to ensure every child feels celebrated on their birthday. She spends her volunteer time coordinating fundraisers, community events and preparing birthday boxes for weekly deliveries.