As we continue to grow, our team continues to grow as well. This reflects our ongoing commitment to serving our members more effectively and meeting the increasing demands of our day-to-day operations for electric members as well as our new fiber customers. Each new team member brings a unique set of skills and fresh perspectives that will strengthen our organization and help us build a stronger, more dynamic cooperative for the future. 

A Paulding County native, Sierra Halter lives in Paulding with her boyfriend, Luke, and their two dogs, Benny and Doug. She joined the co-op because of its strong reputation for serving the community and wanted to be part of that mission.

Halter joins us to support data analytics, company procedures, and service order management, helping keep the cooperative running efficiently behind the scenes. 

Before joining Paulding Putnam, Halter worked as a financial coach for NOCAC, helping individuals access resources and navigate life transitions. She also has experience as a licensed childcare provider and holds an associate degree in business administration.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, attending concerts, trying new restaurants, and listening to music — especially Taylor Swift. One of Halter’s most memorable experiences was flying in both a Huey helicopter and a historic B-25 Mitchell bomber.

Her favorite motto is simple: “You gotta keep on keepin’ on.” — Joe Dirt.

Gavin Huff will be assisting with mapping, engineering, and GIS projects while gaining hands-on experience with our electric system.

A 2022 graduate of Continental High School, Huff is entering his final year at the University of Cincinnati, where he is majoring in electrical engineering. Huff hopes to build a career in power systems and was drawn to Paulding Putnam for the opportunity to work directly with the electrical grid while being part of a community-focused organization.

Throughout college, Huff has gained valuable experience through internships with BK Tool & Design, Burns & McDonnell, Tesla, and most recently, Idaho National Laboratory, where he worked on instrumentation and control engineering for test nuclear reactors.

At Paulding Putnam, he will support mapping, GIS, and engineering projects while learning more about transmission and distribution systems, substations, and SCADA.

Outside of work, Huff enjoys hunting, fishing, spending time outdoors, watching sports, and staying active. A fun fact: he’s been bass fishing in Mexico. His favorite motto is, “Tomorrow isn’t promised.”

Keith Kimmet lives in Cloverdale with his wife, Michelle, and their three sons. An active member of his community, he volunteers with several organizations in Ottoville, including the Lions Club, Park Board, and Park Carnival Committee.

In his new role, Kimmet supports the cooperative’s facility needs and warehouse operations, helping keep day-to-day operations running smoothly behind the scenes.

Before joining Paulding Putnam, Kimmet spent 10 years in the grocery industry, followed by 11 years in pest control. While working alongside the cooperative as a contractor, he learned about Paulding Putnam’s positive workplace culture and was drawn to the opportunity to join the team. He also liked the variety the position offered, combining both indoor and outdoor work.

He is looking forward to learning more about the electric industry while supporting the cooperative’s facilities and warehouse operations. Outside of work, he enjoys hunting, coaching his children’s sports teams, and volunteering on community projects. 

Kimmet lives by a simple philosophy: “Give it your all every day because you never know when it will be your last.”

Apryl McClaine joins us as the cooperative’s newest dispatcher. In her role, she coordinates electric and broadband crews during outages and service calls, communicates with lineworkers and technicians in the field, and helps ensure everyone arrives at and returns from each job safely.

She lives in Bryan with her husband, Eric. Together they have three children, along with two Labrador retrievers and a bunny. The couple also serve their community as firefighters/EMTs for the city of Bryan, and Apryl continues to work part-time as a dispatcher for the city’s police and fire department.

Before joining Paulding Putnam, McClaine spent 14 years with the Williams County 911 and Emergency Management office. Earlier in her career, she worked in banking. She says the opportunity to join Paulding Putnam offered the perfect chance to apply her communication, problem-solving, and customer service skills while learning a new industry.

Outside of work, she enjoys staying active through walking, running, strength training, and Zumba. McClaine also loves traveling and spending weekends cheering on her sons at their sporting events. A lifelong learner, she’s always eager to earn new certifications and develop new skills, and she hopes to pursue a master’s degree in the future.

Her favorite reminder is to approach life with gratitude: “The moment you change ‘I have to’ into ‘I get to,’ you shift from seeing burdens to recognizing blessings.”

As a member of the facilities staff, Amy Thrasher helps keep the cooperative’s offices clean, healthy, and welcoming for employees, members, and visitors.

Thrasher lives in Payne with her husband, Ed. They have five children, six grandchildren, with another grandchild on the way, and share their home with a cat and dog. She is the only deaf adult in her family and attended the Ohio School for the Deaf in Columbus. Today, Thrasher enjoys staying active in her faith through church, Bible studies, and performing Psalms in American Sign Language with friends.

Before joining the co-op, Thrasher worked as a housekeeping aide, where she gained valuable experience in maintaining clean, organized environments. She was encouraged to apply by her husband after he spotted the opening on Facebook and says she was drawn to the cooperative’s welcoming atmosphere and strong sense of teamwork.

Outside of work, Thrasher loves creating seasonal crafts and hopes to one day start a small home-based craft business. She also enjoys road trips, spending time with friends and family, and Christmas shopping.

Amy’s favorite Bible verse is “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.”