CEO’s Message – January 2025

Fulfilling Our Purpose

Finding your purpose can really change your life and those around you. At our recent Employee Day, as we listened to inspiring stories from speakers like Walt Merrell and Tony Wood, this idea of aligning our actions with our purpose really came to life.

1 of the highlights was hearing from Walt, who talked about overcoming personal challenges including struggles with education, family hardships, and facing a terminal diagnosis. He impressed upon us that while it’s easy to get caught up in the routines of daily life, it’s important to stay passionate about our purpose and invest our time wisely, especially with our families and communities. Instead of just going through the motions, we can strive to make a real difference every day, which is an attitude we value at Wiregrass Electric. And though we may not be perfect, it’s important to keep in mind our purpose — both individually and as a team working toward the important goal of keeping your lights on and your costs as low as possible.

Walt also shared how he connected with his daughters through outdoor adventures, an area outside of his wheelhouse. It made me think about our own journey here at the co-op, how we started in the Wiregrass community in 1939 and where we’re headed in this new era of modern technology. We’re all navigating challenges and changes, but it’s through these experiences that we can persevere, build connections, find purpose and become stronger than ever before.

I also want to express my gratitude to Tony from True Freedom Ministries. Hearing about his journey from addiction to helping others find freedom is always moving. His dedication to fighting the good fight and investing time wisely in family and personal growth aligns closely with the values we hold dear. Through faith and dedication, he’s helped countless individuals overcome addiction and rebuild their lives. Thanks to community support, including yours through Operation Round Up Foundation grants, he built Freedom House, a ministry dedicated to helping people in recovery. A recent $20,000 grant from Operation Round Up assisted with constructing a second building dedicated to helping women.

Hearing about the lives changed through the ORU Foundation — a program funded by your generosity — was pretty remarkable. Since 2015, Operation Round Up has returned over $1,400,000 to our communities, supporting causes and helping those in need.

These testimonies reminded me of the importance of finding fulfillment in what we do. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routines. But let’s not forget why we’re here and the difference we’re making in our communities and our families. Whatever our role, we have a purpose.

Speaking of making a difference, I’m excited to share more about our new partnership with Alabama ONE Credit Union. This partnership is a step forward for us. By having Alabama ONE Credit Union offices in our Samson and Dothan operations, we’re saving money and enhancing the services we offer you, our members.

In closing, I want to encourage everyone to carry forward the lessons from our Employee Day. Let’s fight the good fight, invest our time wisely, and finish the race we’ve been called to run. If we can do this, I’m confident we can continue to achieve great things.