An update from Central CEO, Hunter Robinson

Establishing a set of organizational core values is one way to ensure Central always operates with a high standard of customer service. The core value of Respectful Engagement is one of our six core values and represents how we strive to engage with the membership, our communities, our fellow employees, and anyone we interact with daily. I really enjoy the quote by Will Durant, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” It's a perfect summary of what Central works to exhibit day in and day out.

Respectful engagement is lived out by the cooperative in many ways. As a local company, we take pride in being accessible to all of our 17,000 members. We welcome engagement and communication with a desire to answer your questions and assist in any way possible. Whether it’s in the office, on the phone, in the field or at a member meeting, we are here for you.

Last year, the pandemic altered our business in many ways. One obstacle was Central’s annual meeting. Originally scheduled for May 2020, it was quickly realized that there was no way to safely have an event that drew an average attendance of more than 2,000. Plan B was to postpone the event to October and have a drive-thru format at four locations. The new format was a success and allowed us to reach even more members. In fact, a post meeting survey found that most attendees prefer the drive-thru format versus the traditional in-person meeting.

To bring back more face-to-face interaction this year, we decided to host two member appreciation picnics we called Kilowatts and Brats. The events were held in June at our office in Stillwater and at Tilghman Park in Chandler. Members had the opportunity to visit with employees and the Board of Trustees. At the time of writing this column, the Stillwater meeting was a success, and we expect the Chandler meeting to be as well.

Moving forward, we are developing more opportunities like Kilowatts and Brats to engage our membership and further demonstrate our core value of respectful engagement. Watch for these announcements in our newsletter and on social media.

I encourage you to save the date for our 82nd Annual Meeting on October 7, 2021. Due to uncertainties at the time of planning the meeting, this year’s format will be the same as last year with locations in Chandler, Guthrie, Perry and Stillwater. Watch your newsletter
for more information in the months to come!