On August 30 at the 2021 Annual Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado, Hometown Connections announced award winners in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the organization and to community-owned utilities.
“Throughout this past year, each of these award winners supported the mission of Hometown Connections by helping deliver products and services that enable public power systems to improve their operational performance and service to their communities,” said Tim Blodgett, President & CEO. “We thank each for their commitment to Hometown Connections and our efforts to ensure the long-term success of community-owned utilities.”
Marketing Affiliate of the Year
A marketing affiliate for 18 years, Energy Northwest shares with its members information about the products and services offered by Hometown Connections. In addition, Energy Northwest is playing a pivotal role in developing innovative cybersecurity services to be delivered by Hometown Connections to community-owned utilities nationwide.
Left to Right:
Tim Blodgett, President & CEO, Hometown Connections
Jared Knode, Energy & Professional Services Manager, Energy Northwest
Randy Howard, General Manager, Northern California Power Agency; HCI Chair
Sales Affiliate of the Year
The Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA), a marketing affiliate for 22 years and winner of the Sales Affiliate of the Year award for the second time, is a co-owner of Hometown Connections and in 2020/2021 facilitated the delivery of Hometown’s management consulting and leadership training to MPUA members. In addition, MPUA worked diligently to share information about Hometown’s products and services through its membership magazine and other communications resources.
Left to Right:
Tim Blodgett, President & CEO, Hometown Connections
Kevin Fulks, Manager of IT, Missouri Public Utility Alliance
Randy Howard, General Manager, Northern California Power Agency; HCI Chair
Partner of the Year—A Joint Award
Apogee Interactive, Hometown’s customer engagement partner, launched in 2020 a group program for the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA). Currently, 18 of OMPA’s member utilities have deployed for their residential customers Apogee’s web-based tools for analyzing home energy use and calculators for evaluating purchases of such items as electric vehicles, upgraded lighting, and electric heat pumps.
The market research partner of Hometown Connections for six years and a previous recipient of the Partner of the Year Award,
GreatBlue Research delivered to community-owned utilities in 2020/2021 customer surveys and focus group services that meet the unique requirements of the public power sector, including a low-cost, 20 question, off-the-shelf digital survey that covers a multitude of hot-button issues ready to deliver to utility customers.
Left to Right:
Randy Howard, General Manager, Northern California Power Agency; HCI Chair
Stephanie Knight, Key Account Manager, Apogee Interactive
Tim Blodgett, President & CEO, Hometown Connections
Executive Consultant of the Year
Phyllis Currie received the Walter R. McGrath Executive Consultant of the Year Award for the second time. A highly accomplished and acclaimed industry leader, Ms. Currie is recognized this year for her delivery of strategic planning and other management consulting services to community-owned utilities in California, as well as for spearheading Hometown’s effort to develop a Work and Asset Management/Mobile Workforce solution.
Left to Right:
Tim Blodgett, President & CEO, Hometown Connections
Phyllis Currie, Executive Consultant, Hometown Connections
Randy Howard, General Manager, Northern California Power Agency; HCI Chair
Years of Service Awards
For every five years of service, Hometown Connections recognizes the vendor partners, joint action agencies, and associations that support community-owned utilities by delivering industry-leading solutions through the Hometown network.
Affiliates
Left to Right:
Randy Howard, General Manager, Northern California Power Agency; HCI Chair
Harry Phillips, Director of Marketing,
American Municipal Power—20 Years
Ryan Piersol, Media Specialist,
Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority—5 Years
Dale Odom, Supervisor, Business Development,
ElectriCities of North Carolina—15 Years
Tina Bridges, Hosted Solutions Manager,
Electric Cities of Georgia—20 Years|
Cindy Smallwood, Member Solutions Specialist, Electric Cities of Georgia
Tim Blodgett, President & CEO, Hometown Connections
Partners
Left to right:
Pat Corrigan, Consultant,
Katama Technologies, Inc.—5 Years
Greg Johnson, President, Katama Technologies, Inc.
George Adkins, Managing Director, Power Generation Division,
Marsh USA—5 Years
Ryan Weber, Vice President, Marsh USA
Lanie Mycoff, Managing Director,
Mycoff Fry Partners, LLC—10 Years
Carl Mycoff, Managing Director, Mycoff Fry Partners, LLC
Mark Beauchamp, President,
Utility Financial Solutions, LLC—10 Years
Jillian Jurczyk, Financial Analyst, Utility Financial Solutions, LLC
Randy Howard, General Manager, Northern California Power Agency; HCI Chair
About Hometown Connections, Inc.
Hometown Connections, Inc. is a national, non-profit utility services organization serving community-owned utilities. A single source for many utility products and services, our team of consultants and vendor partners provide affordable and high-quality solutions to help community utilities transform business operations, planning, employee engagement, the customer experience, and much more. Supporting operational and service excellence, all of our services and deliverables are scalable based on the size and objectives of the utility.
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