The Next Greatest Thing

Don Easom started at AVECC on the right-of-way crew in 1985. Now, he is retiring from the cooperative as the Director of Operations. Get to know Don as he talks about his years at the cooperative including his plans after retirement. 

Roxie has been the friendly face most members see when they visit the Ozark headquarters for the past 21 1/2 years. Roxie sat down with Brandon and Barbara to share her favorite parts about working for her local electric cooperative, her famous candy stash, and what's she's most looking forward to when she retires in March. 

The Next Greatest Thing, a podcast powered by Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corporation sat down with NRECA's Beth Knudson and AECC's JD Lowery to talk all things Youth Tour, a FREE trip for High School Juniors to experience Washington, D.C. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C19l_Scy65U

Matt Dawson is a favorite in the office. Get to know Matt as he shares his background in IT, driving company trucks, and his affinity for coffee creamers. 

The man behind the magic of "Making Accidents Disappear" Scott Davis sits down with us to talk about how his magic career started, why he believes in working for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, and some of his favorite moments throughout the years. 

The year that was 2021. WAVE sign-ups, zone openings, AVECC funding, COVID-19 and more. We talk with  WRC and AVECC leaders as they reflect on the past year and look forward to 2022! 

Shane Owens, a second generation AVECC employee shares his passion for helping provide members with electricity,  reminiscences about growing up and visiting the cooperative as a youth, and the time he got bitten by a rattlesnake. 

Get to know Samantha Renard as she talks about being the first female engineer at AVECC, her viewpoints on working for a cooperative, and her favorite Thanksgiving dish. Spoiler alert: She's from New Orleans, so it's not a dish we're all too familiar with in Arkansas! 

Wanda Vaughan's name is synonymous with County Line School District. After growing up in the school, Wanda chose to dedicate her life's work to County Line as a mathematics teacher. Whether it be teaching 8th graders the fundamentals of Algebra, heading up Student Council projects, or recording stats for the softball team, Wanda's passion for her school, community, and her students...

Kim Griffin is a teacher that goes above and beyond. As junior high and high school mathematics teacher at Scranton High School, a mother of two, and a military wife, Kim's passion for her students, school, community and family are unwavering. Join us as we learn more about Kim's love for teaching, and why she believes she'll always live in Scranton, Arkansas. 

On Oct. 12, 2021, Shawn was named the Arkansas Valley Electric Employee of the Year. As  a Systems Coordinator, Shawn is an intricate part of the cooperative. Shawn shares how he felt when he won the award, why he believes the cooperative is an excellent place to work, and even a few stories about his favorite co-workers. 

Rob Roedel is a familiar face and name to anyone who works for an Arkansas Electric Cooperative. Rob has worked for AECC for 20 years and, in 2018, was named Communications Director. He has a wealth of knowledge about electric cooperatives in Arkansas, its history, how it provides for members across the state, and is expert on the best places to eat across the state. 

Technology Manager, Brian Orrick talks about what it's like to work for a forward-thinking cooperative in his home town, his favorite time of the year, and that one time he carried a tortoise during a winter storm. 

In August, AVECC hosted a golf tournament that raised $13,000.00 for Arkansas Children’s Hospital located in Little Rock and Rogers, Arkansas.  For AVECC, this gift represents more than money. For a few AVECC employees and their families who have been impacted by Arkansas Children’s Hospital, it hits home. Those employees shared about their own experiences with Arkansas Children’s Hospital. 

Randall Qualls is a recent addition to the Arkansas Valley Electric crew. In his short time as Facilities Coordinator, Randall has become part of the family. Learn more about Randall's time at AVECC, the time he jumped off a cliff to save a puppy, and his experiences as a preacher.  

Wave Rural Connect continues to bring fiber broadband to rural residents across the River Valley. Catch up with the most recent happenings with General Manager, Ben Roe and Host Brandon Fisher. 

The Next Greatest Thing podcast is celebrating one year! Brandon Fisher and Barbara Jenkins talk about the last year, their favorite episodes, and even give incentive to go back and listen to past episodes! 

AVECC Scholarship Winner Kendell Friemel  joined us for an episode of The Next Greatest Thing podcast where she shared her plans for college, her thoughts on winning the AVECC scholarship, and her plans to someday help local farmers in the Arkansas River Valley. 

We sat down with Harper Faulkenberry, one of the inaugural scholarship winners. Harper reminisces about the process of applying and interviewing for the scholarship, his feelings when he won,  his plans for college, and how he wants to come back to his hometown and serve his community.  

Ozark School District Superintendent Jim Ford talks about how online learning is changing education, OHS's response to COVID-19, and his excitement for Wave Rural Connect to be available in his hometown. 

As an apprentice system operator, Katie Yell is always working to best serve the cooperative as a whole. Learn more about Katie's daily duties, her standout moments working for AVECC, and her plans to compete in an upcoming golf tournament with her coworkers. 

The concept and implementation of capital credits is unique to the cooperative business model. Today’s guest, Lauren Robinson, CPA, Arkansas Valley Electric Accounting and Finance Manger will help answer the common questions and misconceptions about capital credits and explain the process and the purpose of capital credits. 

Get to know, Arkansas Valley Electric Safety Coordinator, John Gossage, as he shares a behind-the-scenes look at his daily job duties, the impact his position has on AVECC as a whole, and why he kept his phone on loud ring during recording! 

Each year, AVECC crews treat rights-of-way with herbicide treatment.  AVECC right-of-way superintendent, Chris Tedford and expert in herbicide sprays, Tim Jesus, manager of R & E Forestry, Inc.  explain the process, the reasons, and debunk common misconceptions about herbicide treatments. 

Cheyenne has been with Arkansas Valley Electric for two years as a Member Services Representative. In this episode, Cheyenne shares lessons learned as an MSR, her favorite workday candy (spoiler alert: It's ALL chocolates!), and  more!