With nearly 20 years of dedication to the Energy Education Council (EEC)/Safe Electricity organization, Jim Thompson, general manager of Adams Electric Cooperative in Camp Point, was honored as its longest-serving board member on Dec. 6 in Springfield. He was recognized for his service on the board and his dedication to promoting electrical safety to help reduce injuries and save lives through public and internal safety communications.
Thompson was named a board member for the safety-minded organization in November 2004, the same year he was named Adams Electric’s general manager. As an EEC/Safe Electricity board member, he has voted on hundreds of motions, weighed in on countless educational member resources and guided the organization during times of change and growth.
“We have been honored to have Jim on the board for nearly two decades. His leadership has enabled this organization to provide thousands of educational resources that have inevitably saved countless lives and prevented numerous accidents,” said Erin Hollinshead, EEC/Safe Electricity executive director. “Jim has helped develop multiple policies, recruited dozens of members and reviewed hundreds of resources, making Safe Electricity a national, award-winning program and an expert in electrical safety education. We shall forever be grateful for his years of service and leadership,” she added.
When Thompson joined the board, EEC/Safe Electricity had 70 Illinois members and 75 out-of-state members who represented five states. Today, the nonprofit based in Springfield has nearly 550 members representing 40 states.
“Safety is something all utilities can come together on,” Thompson said. “It is one of those things that we can do better together than individually. Working with all utilities developing great safety products is very rewarding.”
Since the Safe Electricity program was created in 2001, it has provided thousands of safety-minded resources to its more than 500 utility members across the country to help save lives and reduce injuries. Safe Electricity is a public awareness program of the EEC, a not-for-profit organization established in 1952, and operates under the University of Illinois.
The EEC is led by a board of directors that consists of industry professionals. In addition to Thompson, Craig Sondgeroth, president/CEO of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, and Anita Hoene, director of human resources at Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative, are also on the board representing electric co-ops.
