Blue Ridge Bestows Elite Honors on Employees

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

Boone, North Carolina, (November 23, 2005) – It was a night for “the stars” at Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation and Blue Ridge Energies as four employees were honored recently with the company’s top awards during the annual employee service and special awards celebration held at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in Boone.

“This is the highest honor a Blue Ridge employee can receive—the winners are nominated and selected by their peers—their co-workers,” said Chief Executive Officer Doug Johnson, referencing the four special recognition awards given for spirit, community service, and overall operational excellence. “The Blue Ridge crystal awards are a part of our effort to recognize the valuable contributions our employees make every day to serve the member-owners and customers of Blue Ridge Electric and Blue Ridge Energies,” he added.

Winner of the Touchstone Commitment to Community Award:

The winner of the Touchstone Commitment to Community Award was Ronnie Jewell, manager of safety and training for Blue Ridge Electric. This award is given annually to the employee who best demonstrates Touchstone Energy and Blue Ridge values for outstanding leadership in local communities. Award winners demonstrate a “servant’s heart and attitude” and have a reputation for honesty, integrity, and for building morale and team spirit among co-workers as well as within their community.

Jewell volunteers much of his time with various safety organizations in the community and in addition to his work with Blue Ridge assists other electric cooperatives in achieving their safety goals. He spends some of his lunch hours helping handicapped children. However, he is best known for his years of commitment and work with the Gideon’s organization. Last year, Jewell spent two weeks of his vacation time at his own expense to travel to South America to do outreach work with the Gideon’s. One co-worker said Jewell considered his community to be “world wide” and that he is a person of integrity who sets an example by the way he lives his life.

In honor of his recognition, Jewell received a hand formed lead crystal sculpture on an engraved brushed metal base and a cash award.

Winner of the Blue Ridge Spirit Award:

Donna Benge, customer service center representative, was the recipient of the Blue Ridge Spirit Award.

The Spirit Award is given to the employee who best demonstrates the heart and soul of the Blue Ridge companies and the mission of service they were founded upon. Exemplifying “service to people as the greatest work in life” is a key attribute of this award winner.

Benge is described as an employee who makes every interaction with members an “extraordinary experience.” Co-workers said her knowledge of the company is excelled only by her sincere care for the members and customers of Blue Ridge Electric and Blue Ridge Energies. Her peers also said Benge keeps them focused on the company’s very important customer service goals and is always willing to assist in any way necessary to provide great customer service. Co-workers say she never misses an opportunity to let others know she’s thinking of them. Her love of people extends to volunteering with Forgiven Ministries, an outreach prison ministry to foster relations between men and women inmates and their children.

In honor of her recognition, Benge received a hand formed Steuben “Star Stream” crystal sculpture on an engraved black marble base and a cash award.

Touchstone Overall Excellence Awards:

Two Touchstone Overall Excellence Awards are designed to give special recognition to two employees—one from Blue Ridge Electric and one from Blue Ridge Energies—who demonstrate exceptional customer service and operational expertise. The recipients of this award are selected for meeting stringent criteria including responding to consumer needs, finding new and innovative ways of meeting consumer and co-worker needs, and helping build employee, member and customer relationships.

The winner of the Blue Ridge Electric Touchstone Overall Excellence Award is Judy Bryant, consumer accounting coordinator. Bryant, who is known as the capital credits specialist”, has a long history with Blue Ridge Electric and the work of her department touches all of the 68,000 consumers served by the cooperative.

Bryant’s teammates say she is always a “ray of light”. She is known for working tirelessly as well as for her in-depth experience and willingness to hunt down an answer to find better ways to serve Blue Ridge members. Her co-workers say she is a person who does her research and goes out of her way to make sure everyone she deals with is satisfied. She is known as the “utmost professional” by those around her.

Bryant’s coworkers also credit her for stepping up to become a leader for their area several years ago when an untimely illness took away the department’s manager. They say Bryant became the “go to” person and was the “glue that held them together.”

In recognition of her award, Bryant was presented an engraved “Celestial” crystal award as well as a cash gift.

Ridge Energies Touchstone Overall Excellence Award

The winner of the Blue Ridge Energies Touchstone Overall Excellence Award is Mike Bledsoe, a lead service technician for Blue Ridge Energies in Ashe County.

Bledsoe is recognized by co-workers for his operational excellence and commitment to serving customers. He is noted for having made significant contributions to the growth and service efforts of Blue Ridge Energies. Bledsoe is skilled in many different areas of operation, and colleagues say he has been invaluable in helping achieve goals while also delivering an extraordinarily high level of customer service.

Bledsoe is also appreciated for his focus on being a team player. He is known to come to work each day with a positive attitude, even in the middle of winter when customer demand is at its highest and work days the longest for heating fuel companies like Blue Ridge Energies. He is credited for keeping the team motivated even when times are tough, and for taking the lead in whatever he does.

Bledsoe received an engraved “Celestial” crystal award and a cash gift.

Blue Ridge Electric is a not-for-profit electric cooperative serving some 68,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes and Alexander counties. Its subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, provides propane and heating fuels from offices in Lenoir, Boone, West Jefferson, Sparta, Newland, and Hickory. Showrooms featuring gas logs, stoves, fireplaces and heaters are located in each of the four Blue Ridge Electric district offices.