CAMP POINT – Adams Electric Cooperative (AEC) General Manager Jim Thompson received the Illinois Cooperative Council’s (ICC) Outstanding Cooperative Manager Award at the AEC’s office on Monday, February 19.
For more than 30 years, efforts of the Illinois Cooperative Council have promoted a positive climate for cooperatives and helped to educate the public about the value and importance of cooperatives in our everyday lives. The council has publicized the wide range of essential goods and services cooperatives offer and the differences between cooperative and corporate business models. Each year the council presents awards in four outstanding leadership categories: Director, Manager/CEO, Educator and Friend.
Thompson was selected for the award for his commitment to excellence at AEC.
Always keeping members in mind, Thompson focuses on providing safe, reliable and affordable electric service, and on providing the co-op’s employees and staff with education necessary to provide the best possible member service.
AEC is also known for its community commitment. The cooperative has been a driving force behind the Adams County Great River Economic Development Foundation and Adams County United Way and has supported many community projects and programs through its Penny Power program.
Thompson has shown cooperation among cooperatives through the expansion of electric service internationally by providing employees and materials for overseas projects and by sending line crews and equipment to cooperatives in-state and out-of-state to help restore power during outages.
Nancy McDonald, vice president of member services at the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC), and an ICC director, says, “Under Jim Thompson’s leadership, Adams Electric Cooperative is a model cooperative. His efforts are admired by his cooperative peers.”
Based in Springfield, the AIEC provides legal, engineering, communications, safety training, legislative and other services to 29 electric cooperatives. AIEC member-cooperatives serve more than 294,433 farms, homes and businesses in 90 counties, with 56,924 miles of line. AIEC is a member of Touchstone Energy – an alliance of 750 local, consumer-owned electric utilities around the country, committed to providing superior service based on four core principles: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.
Presenting Adams Electric Cooperative General Manager Jim Thompson with the Illinois Cooperative Council’s Outstanding Manager leadership award is Nancy McDonald, ICC board director, and vice president of member services at the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives.