By Rick Lemonds, president & CEO
If you’ve ever attended South Central Power’s annual meeting, like the one we hosted at Ohio University – Lancaster in August, you’ll know that one of our traditions is to have our board’s assistant secretary, Alan Gabriel, lead a public recognition of all of the veterans in attendance. As a veteran of the Coast Guard, Alan takes a lot of pride in the veterans who are members and employees of South Central Power. Aside from his public recognition of veterans, Alan is also a behind-the-scenes champion of finding ways to improve the lives of veterans who live and work in our communities.
At South Central Power, we see Veteran’s Day as a time to thank our members who are veterans. If you are reading this as a veteran who served in any capacity, we thank you for your service and sacrifice. We also take November as an opportunity to honor our employees who are veterans and recognize the importance of their work.
Our veteran employees have served in many branches of the military and in diverse roles. Each of them brings a unique set of skills and qualities to the workplace that greatly benefit your cooperative and the communities we serve. Whether it’s teamwork, commitment, or their ability to adapt and overcome challenges, veterans live out the qualities we value most in our employees.
When we hire veterans, we not only acknowledge their service but also invest in their future. We provide them with opportunities to apply their unique skills in our workforce, ensuring a smoother transition to civilian life. We see this as a duty we owe to those who served, but also a smart business decision. Veterans bring invaluable leadership, discipline, and problem-solving abilities that enhance your cooperative’s success.
As we celebrate Veterans Day, join me in remembering and honoring Ohio’s veterans. By doing so, we not only pay tribute to their sacrifice but also together build a brighter future for our state and nation.
Are you a veteran or reservist looking for a new job opportunity in our service area, or know someone who is? We encourage all veterans and reservists to check out career
opportunities.
From the November 2025 issue of Ohio Cooperative Living.