Sawnee Employee Receives NRECA “Trail Blazer” Award

Date: 2/23/01

Contact: Melisa Watson, Director Marketing

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation (Sawnee) announced today that Waylon Shadburn, Coordinator of Safety and Training, would be the recipient of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), Cooperative Research Network (CRN), 2000 “Trail Blazer” award. yes"This award is given by CRN to identify and promote innovative ideas in the area of utility line construction. yes"Program director, Bob Saint, stated, “We are looking for new tools and inventions that would make distribution line construction and maintenance easier.” yes"The Distribution Operations Task Force of CRN reviewed all entries and made this year’s selection based on originality, usefulness, and practical ability.

Mr. Shadburn submitted a working idea/ concept of a device he called a “Pole Buddy” tool. yes"This entry was selected from a field of over 47 entries! yes"The first place winner receives a cash prize and assistance in a possible patent and/or commercialization support of his idea. yes"> Mr. Shadburn will be honored at the Annual Cooperative Research Network (CRN) Breakfast on Sunday morning, March 11, in St. Louis. yes" NRECA CEO, Glen English, will be making this presentation.

Sawnee EMC is a distribution electric cooperative with headquarters located in Cumming Georgia. Sawnee serves over 108,000 members / consumers in seven (7) counties throughout North Georgia. yes"> Sawnee has assets of over $280 million and distribution plant totaling over 7,400 miles.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is the national service organization dedicated to representing the national interests of consumer-owned cooperative electric utilities and the consumers they serve.

# # #