BY JODI BORGER

Across Indiana, a new generation of leaders is rising to guide electric cooperatives forward. They bring inventive ideas, technical expertise, and a strong dedication to service and community, embodying the cooperative spirit.

In celebration of National Cooperative Month, Indiana Electric Cooperatives (IEC), the publisher of Indiana Connection, is recognizing eight rising leaders from around the state. These individuals do more than just maintain the lights; they also build community bonds, promote innovation, and equip co-ops to face future challenges and opportunities.

“At IEC, we commend these emerging leaders and believe they will be the key to moving the industry and their cooperatives forward,” said CEO John Cassady. “Their commitment to service and community is shaping a better future for their members and all Hoosiers.”

Abby Asher, Decatur County | Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist

Abby Asher’s path to marketing and communications wasn’t a straight one — and she considers that an advantage.

Asher originally attended college for elementary education but changed direction when she realized it wasn’t the right fit. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, she took a position combining human resources and marketing.

“That’s where I realized the marketing and communications side was what I really enjoyed,” Asher said.

Her first connection to Decatur County REMC came as a first-time homeowner and cooperative member attending the Annual Meeting. When a member service representative position opened in 2012, she decided to apply.

Asher spent nearly four years in member service before moving into billing. Marketing was added to her responsibilities in 2022, and in January 2024, she became senior marketing and communications specialist.

“Looking back, I’m really glad my path through the cooperative wasn’t a straight line,” Asher said. “Working in member service and billing gave me a much better understanding of our members, our employees, and how the different areas of the cooperative work together.”

That experience now shapes her approach to communications. Among her proudest accomplishments is creating Decatur County REMC’s Little Crew Club, which earned a Gold Award in the national Spotlight on Excellence Awards. She has also helped expand live line safety demonstrations and create and launch the PowerStream Fiber brand.

“Abby’s teamwork, mutual support, and shared purpose give her a mindset that prioritizes group success over her own personal gain,” said Johnny Schisler, operations manager at Decatur County REMC. “She consistently works to solve problems and help Decatur County REMC achieve its goals.”

Asher has continued developing her cooperative knowledge through the IEC Leadership Edge Program and Hoosier Energy’s Member Service Representative Program. This year, attending Youth Tour and Camp Kilowatt also gave her firsthand experience with two programs she promotes.

As Decatur County REMC evolves, Asher wants to help reach the next generation of members without losing sight of what makes the cooperative unique.

“As we grow and evolve with new services like PowerStream Fiber, I think it’s important that we don’t lose sight of what makes a cooperative different — our history, our values, and our connection to the people we serve,” she said.

Hayley Berg, Henry County REMC | Manager of Member Services

When Hayley Berg walked into Henry County REMC as a part-time customer service representative in December 2014, she was still months away from graduating high school. She didn’t know much about electric cooperatives — or that she was beginning a career that would eventually lead her to manage the department.

“When I first started here, I had no idea what I was walking into,” Berg said. “I just knew that it was a customer service job at an electric company.”

The day after graduating in 2015, Berg became a full-time employee. After six years as a customer service representative, she was promoted to member services coordinator in 2021 and became manager of member services in April 2026.

Through each role, one thing has remained constant: her focus on members.

“I can’t always give the members exactly what they need, but I always try to find a solution that works for them and us to make sure they know we value them as members and people,” Berg said.

Berg has continued building her skills along the way. She completed the IEC Leadership Edge Program and Hoosier Energy’s MSR HEATS Program, earned her Certified Key Account Executive credential, and completed Advanced Communication training through the Bell Leadership Institute. She is also finishing an associate degree through Ivy Tech Community College.

Her involvement extends beyond Henry County REMC. This year, Berg serves as president of IEC’s CSR Section, helping plan programs for customer service representatives across the state.

“Hayley consistently approaches challenges head-on and finds creative, effective solutions,” said Joanna Penticuff, member service representative at Henry County REMC. “She is a hands-on manager who consistently supports her team and excels at recognizing and celebrating her department’s accomplishments.”

Now approaching 12 years with the cooperative, Berg is focused on growing into her newest role while helping her team do the same.

“I am excited to see how things advance over the next several years, learn new ways to enhance our members’ experience, and continue to grow myself and my team,” she said.

Cody Fletcher, Kankakee Valley REMC | Director of Engineering

Cody Fletcher grew up knowing Kankakee Valley REMC as the electric cooperative that served his family. Today, he is helping lead its engineering department.

His parents have received their electric service from Kankakee Valley REMC for the past 50 years, and Fletcher became a cooperative member himself 11 years ago.

“The co-ops really do care about the people they serve,” Fletcher said. “Everyone puts the member first, whether it is the CSR who is an actual person you get to talk to when you call our office or the linemen who work all night long to get the power back on.”

Fletcher earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering and Management Technology from Purdue University North Central, now Purdue University Northwest.

After college, he joined an investor-owned utility as a field engineer and spent five years there before a former coworker recruited him to Kankakee Valley REMC.

“I was excited for that change,” Fletcher said. “From my interview, I felt like it was a family.”

Fletcher joined the cooperative as engineering supervisor in June 2022 and quickly found that his role extended beyond engineering. He has made it a priority to build relationships across departments and help connect employees in the office with those working in the field.

“I feel like I have helped to bridge the gap between departments inside the co-op,” Fletcher said. “I have a close relationship with all parties and can bring them together and help with problems that might not always be known.”

His coworkers have noticed his willingness to step in wherever he is needed. He has also made developing others a priority.

“His willingness to invest time in coaching and supporting colleagues has strengthened both individual performance and the overall effectiveness of the engineering department,” said Jeff Maroon, GIS administrator.

Fletcher graduated from IEC’s Rural Electric Leaders in Training Exchange, or RELITE, program in 2024 and was one of three participants selected to return for a third year to assist with the program.

In August, Fletcher was promoted to director of engineering.

“I look forward to continuing to grow as a leader and to build my career at the co-op,” Fletcher said. “I hope that I will always keep the members first in all decisions made.”

Jason Hughes, Kankakee Valley REMC | A-lineman

For years, becoming a lineman was something Jason Hughes thought about — but wasn’t sure would ever happen.

After seven years in construction, Hughes had a full-time job and three young daughters to support, making a career change difficult. But his wife’s grandfather, a longtime lineman who spent part of his career with an electric cooperative, continued encouraging him.

During a Thanksgiving visit, he told Hughes about an opening for a groundman and urged him to apply. That opportunity brought Hughes to Marshall County REMC in 2015, where he completed IEC’s Rural Electric Apprenticeship Program (REAP) and earned an associate degree from Ivy Tech Community College.

In 2022, Hughes joined Kankakee Valley REMC, where he now serves as an A-lineman and frequently leads crews on projects ranging from pole replacements to line rebuilds.

“I am so passionate about what I do,” Hughes said. “I enjoy teaching others whenever I can.”

That willingness to help others develop is something his coworkers have noticed.

“Jason leads by example, and when he steps into the role of crew leader, he makes sure everyone has a voice on the jobsite,” said Scott Hanson, director of operations at Kankakee Valley REMC. “People respect him because he listens, treats everyone with kindness, and is always willing to help.”

Hughes also gives back outside his day-to-day responsibilities, volunteering for community projects, representing the cooperative at local events, and mentoring youth at the electric cooperative trades camp.

He has continued preparing himself for future opportunities, completing IEC’s Advanced Lineman Training Program and participating in the two-year RELITE leadership development program. As part of RELITE, Hughes developed a leadership motto that reflects his approach: “Great leadership starts with integrity.”

Looking ahead, Hughes hopes to eventually move into an inside leadership position where he can continue sharing what he has learned throughout his career.

Carly Nichols, Jay County REMC | Marketing and Communications Coordinator

From life-sized Candy Land and employee mystery games to community cookbooks and food drives, Carly Nichols has found plenty of ways to put her creativity to work at Jay County REMC.

“Exercising my creativity and helping the community are my two greatest joys with this job,” Nichols said. “Anytime I can combine these two things is a great day.”

A 2003 Ball State University graduate with a degree in theater, Nichols didn’t set out to pursue marketing or communications. Her introduction to the cooperative came while she was working in the Energy Assistance Department at Community & Family Services, where she collaborated with Jay County REMC employees to help members receive energy assistance.

When the cooperative’s marketing coordinator retired in 2020, a co-op employee, Missy May, encouraged Nichols to apply.

“My background really isn’t marketing, but I was lucky enough that she thought I might be a good fit for the job,” Nichols said.

Six years later, Nichols remains Jay County REMC’s marketing and communications coordinator — and its one-person marketing department.

Early in her cooperative career, Nichols was tasked with developing a monthly competition program to boost employee engagement and morale. Since then, she has created office-friendly versions of Battleship, Monopoly, Candy Land, and Clue, along with contests, treasure hunts, and mysteries. Her REMClue game, which turned employees into suspects in the kidnapping of Willie Wiredhand, earned a Silver Award in the 2023 Spotlight on Excellence Awards.

“Carly is the type of person who goes out of her way to help others but never wants to be in the spotlight or receive any kind of recognition,” said Missy May, Jay County REMC billing coordinator. “She is continuously finding ways to bring our whole company together, while also finding new ways to connect with and serve our community.”

That community involvement ranges from electrical safety and 4-H programs to career fairs and food drives. Nichols recently created the Little Lineworkers Squad, which was inspired and guided by Abby Asher’s Little Crew Club.

Additionally, in 2026, she also turned years of member-submitted recipes into a cookbook that raised $445 for Second Harvest Food Bank. Through the RELITE program, she also helped organize a six-month food drive that created 300 meal-in-a-bag dinners for six food pantries across the cooperative’s service area — continuing to use her creativity to benefit everyone around her.

Ryan Stuthers, SCI REMC | Manager of System Planning and Engineering

A college career fair introduced Ryan Stuthers to electric cooperatives. What began as an interest in infrastructure quickly became an appreciation for the cooperative model behind it.

“I had always been interested in infrastructure over manufacturing or product development,” Stuthers said. “The electric cooperatives — service in not only infrastructure, but in democratic, member-owned, not-for-profit infrastructure — was a clear path of interest for me.”

Today, Stuthers is manager of system planning and engineering at South Central Indiana REMC, where he oversees line design, system planning, system control operations, and GIS.

His path to the cooperative industry began while studying electrical and computer engineering at Anderson University. Stuthers met IEC’s Ann Mears at a career fair and, through that connection, met Gregg Wolven, the former director of engineering at WIN Energy REMC, who gave him the opportunity to spend time at the cooperative and learn more about the industry.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in 2020, Stuthers joined Tipmont REMC, where he spent five years advancing through engineering and system operations roles before joining South Central Indiana REMC in 2025.

Stuthers has continued to build his technical and leadership skills throughout his career. He earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering with an emphasis in power and energy from Arizona State University in 2024 and graduated from IEC’s RELITE program that same year. In 2025, he became a certified Project Management Professional.

In just over a year at South Central Indiana REMC, Stuthers has made an impression on those he leads.

“What truly sets Ryan apart is his investment in people,” said Stefanie Lifford, supervisor of system operations at South Central Indiana REMC. “He creates an environment built on trust, mentorship, and continuous learning, encouraging his team to strengthen their technical skills and deepen their system knowledge.”

Stuthers also serves as a consulting member of NRECA’s transmission & distribution engineering committee (TDEC), contributing to industry research and technical guidance. He remains connected to Anderson University as a member of its Alumni Council and engineering advisory board and as an adjunct professor of electrical engineering.

Looking ahead, Stuthers hopes to continue contributing to the cooperative industry through his work at SCI REMC and with NRECA’s TDEC.

 Brody Wade, JCREMC | GIS Technician

JCREMC was part of Brody Wade’s childhood long before it became part of his career.

His mother worked for the cooperative, and Wade remembers spending time at the office after school while she finished work. Today, Wade is JCREMC’s GIS technician, and many of the employees who watched him grow up are now his co-workers.

“Since 2022, I have shifted from being the kid who hung out in the office after school to now being coworkers with the very same people who have seen me grow up into the person I am today,” Wade said.

Wade earned a bachelor’s degree in natural resources and environmental sciences from Purdue University in 2022. During and after college, he worked as an environmental scientist in environmental restoration and geographic information systems, or GIS.

Although he enjoyed the work, Wade wanted to return home and apply his skills locally. When a position opened at JCREMC in 2022, it gave him that opportunity.

Over the past four years, Wade has gained experience beyond GIS, including engineering and operations. He has earned certifications in drone operations and staking engineering, completed Hoosier Energy’s HEATS program, and trained in 811 locating.

“The more accurate and efficient I am with my GIS data, the safer our system is not only for our linemen, but also our members,” Wade said. “That is the goal every day.”

His environmental background proved beneficial at the cooperative. When solar was added to JCREMC’s system, Wade helped introduce agrivoltaics, partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish native perennial pollinator habitat around the solar field. One of his goals is to make the site a place where local students can learn about STEM and the environment.

For the past two years, Wade has chaired the cooperative’s sponsorship team, helping support local schools, athletic programs, first responders, FFA chapters, and other organizations.

Additionally, for the past four years, he has volunteered as a coach for a local high school FFA program. This year, he led a wildlife habitat education program team to a state championship and a third-place finish at the national level.

“Giving back to the community that gave me so much growing up is the biggest reason I do what I do professionally and personally,” Wade said.

Tommy Wiseman, Harrison REMC | Accounting Manager

The first time Tommy Wiseman heard of Harrison REMC was years before he ever imagined working there. During his final summer of college, Wiseman interned with Monroe Shine, a public accounting firm that audits several local electric cooperatives, including Harrison REMC.

“Working on those audits really opened my eyes to the cooperative model and the benefits that come with working for these organizations,” Wiseman said.

After graduating from the University of Southern Indiana with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Professional Services, Wiseman joined Monroe Shine full-time and later earned his Certified Public Accountant license.

He eventually moved to First Harrison Bank as a senior accountant, working closely with the CFO and assisting with financial reporting. Nearly five years later, his career came full circle when he applied for the accounting manager position at Harrison REMC.

“It’s really neat to look back at my career and see how each step unknowingly prepared me for the next,” Wiseman said.

Now more than two and a half years into his cooperative career, Wiseman has developed an even greater appreciation for the cooperative model.

“In an industry where you might expect organizations to compete, there is instead a genuine willingness to share ideas and help your peers succeed,” he said.

Wiseman carries that cooperative spirit into his community, serving on the boards of the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce and Harrison County Community Foundation.

Harrison REMC CEO David Lett said Wiseman has quickly become an important part of the cooperative’s leadership team, successfully guiding the accounting department through annual financial audits, budgeting, and the financial responsibilities associated with a FEMA weather event.

“Tommy demonstrates exceptional professionalism, sound judgment, and maturity in both his work and his interactions with employees, management, and the board of directors,” Lett said. “His strong accounting knowledge, attention to detail, and commitment to accuracy have made him an invaluable member of our leadership team.”

Looking ahead, Wiseman sees both challenges and opportunities as Harrison REMC prepares for retirements in several key positions.

“One of the biggest things that I have learned since stepping into management is that things rarely stay the same,” Wiseman said. “You have to be willing to adapt, continue learning, and prepare for what’s ahead.”