The Executive Experience

My name is Cord Hughes and I am an apprentice III lineman for United Cooperative Services. Recently, I was given the opportunity to serve as  the co-op’s Assistant CEO of the Week.

If you would have told me five years ago that I, being a quiet country boy from Stephenville, would be handling 14,000 volts and chosen to serve as United’s CEO for the week, I would have called you crazy. However, that’s what I found myself doing, and it was a great to be assistant CEO for the week meeting with different departments and seeing what they go through daily.

I got to spend time with Cameron Smallwood, the real CEO, and see a small percentage of all he does for the company. The co-op is a great place to work! I asked Cameron if he ever thought he would be CEO and his reply was, “No.” He started out as an engineer and worked his way up because of the great opportunities that are present within the company.

I was able to sit in on a board meeting,and it was very clear that our goal is to always provide the most affordable energy, reliable service and best power to our members. I was also able to sit with upper management from different departments. After sitting with everyone, I have concluded that every department is attached to each other. For instance, things from engineering will affect operations and things from operations will affect billing. Therefore, we are all links in a chain that work together through trust, communication, and dedication. I was able to see firsthand how strong this chain within the company truly is.

Communication with our members is critical so that our members know what is going on in these uncertain times we are living in. Part of the foundation of our company is that the members will know the good, the bad and the ugly where the co-op is concerned. Our hope is that our members trust our open communication. The co-op employees truly desire to help people and make a positive impact. This day and age that we are in sometimes brings difficulty with trusting people and companies, but within the co-op you can trust the employees and the company. When our members’ power goes out and those yellow flashing lights come down the road (regardless of storm, snow or ice), they should know that they can trust that power will be restored in as timely a manner as possible. We are there to help during these inconvenient times.

I know a hot topic as of late has been the new internet service. United Internet Services Manager Chris White informed me that we are building out the network for optimal reliability on a daily basis. Building a trustworthy service from the ground up always takes time, but know that this service is constantly moving forward and his team is dedicated to providing excellent care to their members as well.

All in all, my week as assistant CEO was very informative. I wish more people could have this same experience to see how every department is linked together. Each individual department, whether seen or not, truly works for the membership because without the membership, we would not be here. It is everyone’s goal, from upper management to the new guy, to help make the co-op be successful and trustworthy.

Luke 17:24: “For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes.”