After 34 years of dedicated service, Mark Sowder officially hung up his hard hat and retired this past April. He joined the co-op in 1992 as a meter reader after working at Valpo Lumber. Three years later, he moved into a groundman role before transitioning to the metering department as a meter technician in 2000. Along the way, he attended Great Lakes Electric Meter School and completed the Rural Electric Leadership In Training Exchange (RELITE) program through Indiana Electric Cooperatives.

Over the years, Sowder has seen plenty of change. He says improved tools and technology have made the job more efficient and far less physically demanding. Early on, the work required more manual labor, heavier tools, and frequent pole climbing. Today, modern equipment has helped reduce some of that physical strain.

While it’s less common for people to spend their entire career in one place, Sowder encourages others not to shy away from it. He believes that if you enjoy the work and the people you do it with, that’s worth a lot. The co-op, he says, has provided so much for his family and allowed him to retire from a job he truly enjoyed, surrounded by coworkers he calls friends.

Nothing stands out as something he will miss the least, but it’s clear what he will miss most — the people. Long truck rides, late nights, outages, and even holidays on the job built strong bonds that will last well beyond retirement.

In retirement, Sowder looks forward to traveling more and spending time in Northern Idaho near his son, camping and catching perch.

“Mark’s dedication and commitment over the past 34 years have made a lasting impact on both the co-op and our membership,” said Scott Sears, CEO of KV REMC. “We thank him for his years of service and wish him nothing but the best in retirement.”