Firelands Recognizes Cooperative Employees

Joanne Wray celebrates 20 years with the Cooperative - (2/10)

Joanne Wray started work at Firelands Electric Cooperative in February 1990 as a cashier/receptionist. She advanced into the engineering Department, and was named operations assistant in February of 1998. Her job entails helping to schedule and dispatch Firelands’ line crews and staking engineers as well as assisting members with new service, maintenance and repair work inquiries.

“I really enjoy being a part of the Firelands team, and having the opportunity to assist members with their questions,” says Joanne.“I work with a good group of people, and really enjoy what I do working for the co-op.”

Joanne is a native of the New London area, where she currently resides with her cat, Hobbs. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family.

Don Englet celebrates 10 years of service - (3/10)

Don Englet started work at Firelands Electric in March of 2000 as an Apprentice Lineman. After completing the Apprentice Lineman coursework, he moved to Engineering Services Representative, and in 2005 was promoted to Line Supervisor.

Don says since the FEMA rebuild work was completed in 2009, Firelands line crews are repairing and upgrading those parts of the system that needed work, but did not qualify for the FEMA project. “This is part of our current 4-year work plan and will be completed later this year,” he says.

He enjoys his work and adds Firelands has “a great bunch of people” to work with. He says, “It’s good to see how well our Apprentice Linemen are doing in the new COLT [Central Ohio Line Training] program at Marion Technical College. Firelands will have 3 new Journeymen Linemen in 2 years and 2 more a year later.”

Don lives in the rural New London area and is a member of the New London Volunteer Fire Department. He and his wife, Sara, have two sons, Clayton and Jackson, and they enjoy hunting, fishing and “whatever sport the kids are into at the moment.”