Career details: Farmers Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Farmers Electric Cooperative is one of the more than one thousand rural electric cooperatives across the country, which serve the electric utility needs of rural America.

Member communications and newsletter assistant — Miki Tolle assisted the member services director (MSD) in designing and executing all cooperative and member communications activities, which included a monthly newsletter and annual report, public and media relations, annual meeting planning, youth activities, special promotions, company brochures, advertising, and promotions. Initially Tolle assisted the MSD with the monthly newsletter, but shortly the responsibilities were transferred entirely to Tolle. Those responsibilities included writing, editing, layout, and design of the newsletter and managing the relationship with the local newspaper that produced the publication. Along with the MSD, Tolle served as media contact to local newspaper and radio stations and executed on her first opportunity to organize, plan, and serve as a tour guide for a member power-plant tour. Tolle was also the key contact for the cooperative's youth activities, which included an essay contest and presentation that resulted in cooperative scholarships.