NRECA honors Minnkota for communications projects

For the sixth year in a row, Minnkota’s Communications department has received high recognition from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Spotlight on Excellence Awards. The program recognizes outstanding work produced by electric co-op communication and marketing professionals across the country. This year, Minnkota received two Silver awards for projects completed in 2023.

Minnkota won a runner-up Silver award for Best Strategic Communications Campaign for its efforts to educate employees, members, local leaders, policymakers and the general public about Project Tundra, the co-op’s carbon capture and storage initiative. The education campaign leveraged a newly launched Project Tundra website, a refreshed Project Tundra branding and style guide, new how-it-works animation videos, fact sheets, community outreach efforts and much more. See the new website at projecttundrand.com.  

Another Silver award for Best Internal Engagement was given to Watts Up at Minnkota, a new employee onboarding program initiated in partnership with Human Resources. The interactive program was an instant success with the employees of Minnkota and has now expanded to include a member-cooperative employee offering.

The Spotlight on Excellence Awards consist of several categories that reflect the scope of cooperative communications, including writing, graphic design, marketing campaigns, etc. Entries are judged by industry peers.

MAIN IMAGE: Back row, left to right: Jenny Erickson, Ben Fladhammer, Emily Windjue, Michael Hoeft. Front row, left to right: Jenna Chase, Kaylee Cusack