Blue Ridge Electric Prsents Highest Retiree Award
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383, Ext. 3213; Pager: 1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (May 15, 2007) – Ashe County resident Jim Taylor was recently awarded the Honored Cooperator Award, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation’s highest honor given to a retired employee, during the cooperative’s employee service awards banquet.
In presenting Taylor with an engraved mantle clock to commemorate the honor, Julie O’Dell-Michie, vice president of human resources and administration said, “Jim most definitely deserves this place of honor and I’m proud to recognize him as our 2007 Honored Cooperator.”
Taylor, who retired as district manager of the Ashe district office, was described as an inspiration to many young employees coming up through ranks during his tenure at Blue Ridge Electric.
Co-workers described Taylor as “a good ambassador with our members…someone who always looked at things from ‘both sides of the desk’.” They credit him for understanding the value of community involvement for the purpose of improving the quality of life in the community where he lived.
In his retirement, Taylor has continued his involvement in community activities, serving on the Ashe Memorial Hospital Foundation Board and as chairman of the American Red Cross Blood Drives in Ashe County. At Zion United Methodist Church, Taylor is known as the “Big Fish” as he makes sure the summer monthly fish fries are successful fundraisers for his church.
The Honored Cooperator Award distinguishes select retired employees who have contributed in an outstanding way to the development and operation of the cooperative. Recipients exemplify cooperative principles including commitment to community, innovation, accountability in delivering customer service, and integrity throughout their lives. Each year, a committee of employees and former employees select the Honored Cooperator out of a pool of nominations submitted by current and former employees.
Blue Ridge Electric Membership Cooperation is a not-for-profit electric cooperative serving some 70,000 member-owners in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany counties as well as portions of Alexander and Wilkes counties.
