This month's message from CEO/General Manager Michael Cremer in Your Co-op Connection in Rural Missouri.
July 2025
Co-op stays committed to members no matter the season
Summer is officially here, bringing backyard barbecues, family road trips, evenings at the ballpark and countless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. For those of us who work at Crawford Electric, this season also calls for a heightened focus on system maintenance and storm readiness.
For 85 years, this co-op has been blessed with excellent employees. As the years pass, faces change, but our commitment to serving you remains.
Like many organizations, we’re also navigating a season of change. Some longtime employees are wrapping up careers of dedicated service. While it’s never easy to say goodbye, these moments offer a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come, appreciate those who have paved the way, and look ahead to the next chapter.
That next chapter is already underway. Crawford Electric is well positioned to safely provide reliable, affordable electricity thanks to the hard work of individuals who care deeply about their craft and the members they serve. Whether it’s restoring power after a storm, building service to a new home, answering a billing question or sharing information to help members stay safe and informed — every touchpoint matters.
That sense of commitment and service resonates with me not just professionally, but personally. As we embrace the onset of summer, many of us have been celebrating yet another season: graduation season. In my own family, our oldest daughter graduated from State Tech in Linn, Mo., with the credential to become a licensed practical nurse. I couldn’t be prouder. Watching her choose a career dedicated to helping others reminds me how powerful a spirit of service can be. When people choose to serve, their influence ripples outward — shaping families, communities and futures.
Our cooperative is built on that same mindset. We continue to grow, adapt and improve by welcoming new team members, upgrading systems and making thoughtful decisions that enhance how we serve you, today and into the future.
This includes being proactive in our focus on storm readiness and system reliability. This spring has been tough on everyone. Record-breaking weeks of heavy rain, damaging wind and hail have caused problems for you and our crews. Despite that, crews have cleared hundreds of miles of our rights-of-way and completed more than 100 maintenance work orders. These efforts strengthen our electric system, helping to prevent some outages and reducing the severity of outages when severe storms roll through.
We encourage you to be prepared, too. If you haven’t already, take a few moments to review your storm plan. Be sure you know how to report an outage, keep essential supplies on hand and visit our website for safety tips and resources.
Our promise remains the same: dependable, high-quality service delivered by people who care. We’re honored to serve you, and we thank you for the trust you place in us.
Enjoy your summer!