Blue Ridge Recognizes Employees

For Immediate Release

Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383, Ext. 3213; or E-mail: Renee Whitener

Boone, North Carolina (April 28, 2008) — Employees of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation and Blue Ridge Energies, LLC, were recently recognized for their service during the company’s annual employee awards dinner and celebration at Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in Boone.

Recognized for their years of service from Watauga County were: 30 years: Kenneth Teague, Vehicle Mechanic; and Ben Hurley, Crew Leader; 20 years: Richard Butler, Line Technician A; and Brian Crutchfield, Director of Economic Development; 10 years: Wayne Reese, Construction Layout Technician; five years: Julie O’Dell-Michie, Vice President, Human Resources and Administration; Susan Jones, District Manager; and Marty Wood, Field Service Technician.

Blue Ridge Electric is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 72,000 consumers in the northwest North Carolina counties of Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, Alexander and Wilkes. Its subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, is a propane, heating fuels, and commercial gasoline provider with offices in Lenoir, Boone, West Jefferson, Sparta and Conover. Its showrooms located in Blue Ridge Electric’s district offices in Lenoir, Boone, West Jefferson, and Sparta feature gas logs, gas fireplaces, stoves and heaters.