Employee Spotlight
This month, we're shifting our focus from our dedicated lineworkers to the vital team members who keep things running smoothly behind the scenes! It's a pleasure to introduce you to Kathy Johnson, who has been a dedicated member of our office team since 1978.
Kathy describes herself as a "city girl" who was new to the area and had never even heard of the REA when she first started. As fate would have it, a snowstorm caused the cancellation of her scheduled bank interview. Still seeking employment, she visited the local job service office and learned about an opening at the "REA." Unsure what it was or where the office was, she went for an interview and was hired as the receptionist for what she thought would be a temporary, three-year position. Little did she know, she would become an indispensable part of our cooperative, having spent her entire Nobles Cooperative Electric career within our Worthington office location, a relatively new building when she joined us (the building was constructed in 1976)!
Kathy is in her 47th year working for the cooperative!
Kathy has witnessed remarkable transformations, serving under four general managers and consistently adapting to the evolving landscape of our cooperative. She vividly recalls the billing process taking a staggering four and a half days – a stark contrast to the mere one and a half hours it takes today! Back then, processing the mail and meticulously sorting through the hand-read meter readings for posting was an all-day affair, with everything recorded manually organized by location numbers.
In those early days, meter readings were also painstakingly hand-entered into one large, temperamental computer that was sensitive to temperature fluctuations and even had its own dedicated heating and cooling system in the room! Once the data was entered, it would be printed into a ledger program. However, the system was so delicate that even briefly getting too close to other electronics or the phone system could erase the entire ledger, requiring hours of tedious re-entry!
Up until around the 2010's, some members were responsible for submitting their own meter readings – a system that led to some creative (and sometimes inaccurate) methods, from simple guesswork and children's readings to using binoculars during inclement weather. To ensure accuracy, the team would conduct an annual line survey to reconcile member-submitted readings with actual usage and manually update the "demand" settings on certain meters each month.
The biggest change to billing was the installation of automatic meters, and now, even more processes are automated with member having thier account information via a app. We can even detect power outages in some areas before a member calls us!
Out of the blue, Kathy landed her first promotion! One of the billing clerk's she worked with had a whirlwind weekend—leaving work on Friday, getting married, and then resigning on Monday— which created an unexpected opening. Kathy was moved from her receptionist role to replace the billing clerk, while embracing more responsibility, a position that later evolved into the title of member services representative.
Over the years, our services expanded beyond just billing to include offering members valuable rebates, emergency alert systems, water heaters, and generators. “The way we interact with our members has also drastically changed. It used to be that members would attend one annual meeting to stay informed about the cooperative. Now, information is readily available on our website, social media channels, and through our app, leading to less face-to-face interaction,” says Kathy. However, she emphasized that there is still a significant amount of time spent assisting members, and we are always here to help!
Kathy has also been a steady presence through four major storms, helping the team coordinate vital support for the mutual aid line crews who came to our assistance. She remembers manning the phones, arranging meals, securing housing, and even taking care of their laundry – a true testament to her dedication.
Reflecting on her long tenure, Kathy remarked that "the fantastic people I've had the pleasure of working alongside have truly been one of the highlights. It's wonderful how well everyone collaborates and shares that common desire to support our members.”
Personally, Kathy's move to the area was a serendipitous "accident" when she met her husband, Dan. They later moved to Worthington for his business. Together, they built a life, raised two children, and now enjoy three grandchildren. In her spare time, Kathy enjoys the creativity of scrapbooking and the relaxation of a round of golf.
Beyond her daily responsibilities, Kathy serves as our invaluable cooperative historian! Show her an old photograph, and she can almost always share the story behind it, connecting us to our rich past. Thank you, Kathy, for your dedication to all of us.