Get to know your co-op: The heart of CoServ
CoServ knows that our Members and Customers count on us for reliability, affordability and safety - all areas where CoServ excels.
But CoServ doesn’t stop there – we also invest in the communities we serve, volunteer, and give back to those less fortunate.
Heading up the initiative to go the extra mile is our Community Engagement Department, led by Glen Squibb, Director of Community Engagement. The team is divided into three groups, with one coordinator, Julie Fuller, who ensures events and projects are organized and supports the whole team in their daily work.
#1 ACADEMIC INITIATIVES/ENERGY EDUCATION
Giving back to schools
Whitney Gohlke spent most of her career in elementary education and now she’s the Manager of Academic Initiatives for CoServ’s Community Engagement Department.
Her team oversees CoServ's scholarships and Youth Leadership Tour programs. They also lead CoServ's various educational initiatives, such as the Adopt-A-School and Energizing Educator recognition programs.
If you have elementary-age children, they have likely seen the Energy Education Team’s presentations. Alphonso Williams, Justin Porterfield and Randy Copeland visit different schools almost daily throughout our service area, which includes 23 school districts! They put on arcing demonstrations, circuit building activities as well as POWERrace and POWERtown presentations to teach safety and STEM-related lessons
to students.
#2 EVENT SPECIALISTS
Giving Back to the Community
CoServ is an indispensable partner for community events, helping with sponsorships, providing food from the Snackin' Wagon for groups like first responders, and organizing and running our Member/Customer Appreciation events like the CoServ Corral. CoServ's events specialist team, Katie Moore, Ashtin Pizarro, and Walker Sims, lead these endeavors.
If you attend a city-sponsored event in your city or town, chances are you’ll likely see the CoServ logo, a booth or a bucket truck somewhere.
In addition, they oversee CoServ’s volunteer efforts, including ramp builds, various drives and the bi-annual American Red Cross Blood Drive.
#3 COSERV CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Giving Back to Those in Need
For 20 years, the CoServ Charitable Foundation has supported nonprofits across our service area and beyond through grants. The Community Engagement department is responsible for operating CCF. Jennifer Ebert, CCF and Outreach Coordinator is essential to its operation, which includes reviewing grant applications, presenting them to the CCF Board, and then, the fun part, distributing them to the recipients.
By contributing a few cents per bill and an average of $6 per year, Members and Customers raise more than $1 million annually for Operation Roundup® which goes toward grants throughout our service area.
These grants are part of the lifeblood of the North Texas nonprofit ecosystem, and we thank everyone who participates in Operation Roundup. CCF grants outside CoServ’s service area are funded by the Unrestricted Fund, which raises money from CoServ fundraisers and CoServ Employee payroll deductions.
“When we say CoServ is more than just an energy company, it’s our department leading that charge for hundreds of other CoServ Employees,” said Glen Squibb, Director of Community Engagement. “We have become an integral part of the communities we serve through our various charitable programs, donations, events and sponsorships.”
