Get to know your Co-op: Welcome to HR, where CoServ’s culture starts

By Nicholas Sakelaris | October 29, 2024

Photo: CoServ HR Team – (front row, L to R): Amy Mallet, Recruiting Specialist; Kim Woodson, Manager of Training & Employee Communications; Courtney Stevens, Training & Development Specialist; Patti Viering, Benefits Manager; Libby James, Senior Vice President - Corporate Services; Eric Maray, Training & Development Specialist; Christine Travis, Training Coordinator; (middle row, L to R): Kristine Penny, HR Compliance & Leave Specialist; Kathy Gray, Administrative Receptionist, Veronica Lira, Employee Relations Specialist; Paola Vizcaino, Employee Experience Specialist; Trish Macias, Benefits Administrator; Lesa Departer, HRIS Specialist; (back row, L to R): Brooke Fouts, Talent Sourcing Specialist; Shanna McClung, Culture Specialist; Lisa Jones, Employee Communications Specialist. Photo by KEN OLTMANN
Photo: CoServ HR Team – (front row, L to R): Amy Mallet, Recruiting Specialist; Kim Woodson, Manager of Training & Employee Communications; Courtney Stevens, Training & Development Specialist; Patti Viering, Benefits Manager; Libby James, Senior Vice President - Corporate Services; Eric Maray, Training & Development Specialist; Christine Travis, Training Coordinator; (middle row, L to R): Kristine Penny, HR Compliance & Leave Specialist; Kathy Gray, Administrative Receptionist, Veronica Lira, Employee Relations Specialist; Paola Vizcaino, Employee Experience Specialist; Trish Macias, Benefits Administrator; Lesa Departer, HRIS Specialist; (back row, L to R): Brooke Fouts, Talent Sourcing Specialist; Shanna McClung, Culture Specialist; Lisa Jones, Employee Communications Specialist. Photo by KEN OLTMANN

THINK BACK to an interaction you had with a CoServ Employee.

Maybe it was a Customer Care Specialist on the phone. A lineman upgrading power lines along the road. A project manager coordinating the installation of a new transformer. Or a Community Engagement Employee awarding a CoServ Charitable Foundation grant to
a local nonprofit.

These Employees, no matter the department, whether they are new hires or seasoned veterans,
work hard every day to provide excellent service to our electric Members, gas Customers and the communities we serve.

CoServ’s positive culture and work environment doesn’t happen by accident – it’s cultivated with buy-in from all levels but it starts with the Human Resources (HR) Department.

This team consists of Employee advocates, benefit specialists, recruiters, trainers, a culture specialist and communicators. The work they do goes a long way toward making Employees feel engaged, appreciated and a part of something bigger. Everything comes back to service with CoServ and an Employee with purpose provides better service.

In addition to the normal HR responsibilities, they maintain a robust curriculum for continuing education for all Employees, called CoServ U, organize engaging events for Employees, and produce internal communications that keep Employees informed and connected through fun activities.

“We’re always looking at how we can make things better for our Employees and make them feel at home,” said Libby James, Senior Vice President of Corporate Services. “Having a company that’s so supportive of the HR function in general and understanding the value of each individual employee here, I think that’s a rewarding place. That doesn’t always happen.”

CoServ restructured the department in 2021 to put an even greater emphasis on Employee feedback, particularly for new hires.

The newest member of the HR team focuses on proactive recruiting for certain specialized job openings. That means searching for candidates who fit the job criteria and asking them to apply.

CoServ’s Employee Experience Specialist engages with new hires during the onboarding process and remains their advocate throughout the first year, meeting with them periodically. The co-op also conducts Employee surveys to check the pulse of the company and see what changes need to
be made.

“If we feel more engaged, then we feel more tied to the organization and the more fulfilling the job is,” Libby said.

Each September, CoServ has an Employee Recognition event where Employees are recognized for milestone work, anniversaries and other accomplishments.

The Careers Campaign has also been revamped in recent years to attract a wider variety of talent at job fairs and college campuses.

“We’re the third-largest electric cooperative in the country and we’re one of the fastest-growing, too, so we’re always needing new talent for a wide range of specialties,” Libby said. “CoServ is a great place to work and we’d love to have you join our team!”

Through the efforts of HR, CoServ Employees understand that they are part of something greater than themselves, focused on serving our Members and Customers. We hope that this is evident whenever you interact with us!