At the awards ceremony held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) Annual Meeting, recipients of the Cooperative Hero Award, Herman C. Potthast Award, N.F. Leifer Memorial Journalism Award, and Ally of Cooperative Electrification Awards (ACE) were officially honored. Pictured (left to right) are Ben Orysen, Chris Tuszke, Mary Erickson, Katie Jagiello, and Shane Larson.
Larson Named ACE Award Recipient
Rock Energy Cooperative President and CEO Shane Larson was presented the 2025 Ally of Cooperative Electrification (ACE) Award, WECA’s highest honor. The ACE Award is presented each year as recognition of outstanding contributions to Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives.
Since joining Rock Energy in 2000, Larson has been instrumental in driving the co-op’s growth and innovation. He led the effort to acquire territory from Alliant Energy in 2005, quadrupling its membership and worked to secure a minor ownership share when American Transmission Company (ATC) was formed in 2001. He also recently oversaw the partial acquisition of Riverside Gas Generation Plant in Janesville.
Erickson Recognized with ACE Award
Mary Erickson, who retired a year ago as the longest-running staffer in the history of WECA, was also presented with the ACE Award, the organization’s top honor. As associate editor of the Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, Erickson was a respected leader and mentor for cooperative communicators and a valued partner for cooperative leaders across the state.
Cooperative Hero Award Goes to Tuszke
Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Journeyman Lineman Chris Tuszke was honored with the Cooperative Hero Award. After finding himself assisting first responders at the scene of a fatal crash in April 2025, his actions prompted the co-op to build on its relationship with law enforcement and others to promote safety and ensure field crews know what to do in crisis situations.
Orysen Selected for Potthast Award
Price Electric Cooperative Operations Manager Ben Orysen was selected as the recipient of the 2025 Herman C. Potthast Award. The Job Training & Safety Committee selected Orysen for outstanding service, dedication, leadership, and cooperation, with an emphasis on safety.
Oconto Electric Wins 2025 Leifer Award
Oconto Electric Cooperative and Katie Jagiello, communications and marketing specialist, earned top honors in cooperative communications, receiving the prestigious 2025 N.F. Leifer Memorial Journalism Award. The award recognizes the electric cooperative whose local pages in Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News demonstrated the highest overall excellence over the past year.
The board of the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) was officially seated at the organization’s recent annual meeting in Wisconsin Dells. Board directors include (front row): Les Dokkestul (Jackson Electric Cooperative), Dan Hillberry (Richland Electric Cooperative), Karen Newbury (Price Electric Cooperative), Barbara Miller (Rock Energy Cooperative), and Craig Buros (Vernon Electric Cooperative). Standing (back row) includes: Kevin Meistad (Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative), Alan Wilkie (St. Croix Electric Cooperative), Kurt Harris (Jump River Electric Cooperative), Monica Obrycki (Eau Claire Energy Cooperative), Cynthia Thorman (Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative), Allen Jicinsky (Clark Electric Cooperative), and Robert Cornell (Washington Island Electric Cooperative).