Earlier this year, Hoosier Energy announced the addition of two Member Relations Specialists to the Energy Management Solutions department.
One of those was an external hire in Justin Thompson, who spoke with GridLines in June.
The other was an internal hire in Kyle Coulson, who started at Hoosier Energy as an intern and has served in multiple roles during his 10 years with the company. With the Merom transition hitting the home stretch, he can begin to turn his full attention to being a Member Relations Specialists.
Coulson recently shared some thoughts on his old and new roles at Hoosier Energy with GridLines.
Q: This is not only a new position for you but a new position within the company. How do you define what this role looks like?
A: Great customer service is what is going to allow this role to be successful. We want to make sure the member-focus always remains at the forefront of Hoosier Energy.
Our hope is to strengthen the personal connections between the members and Hoosier Energy.
Q: Member Relations Specialist is the latest in a variety of jobs you’ve held at Hoosier Energy. Can you tell us a little about your previous positions and how they’ve prepared you for this one?
A: I’ve been with Hoosier Energy for 10 years in total now, seven as a full-time employee. I started as an intern in Environmental Services. I worked with that group for three summers. One of the main functions of that internship was assisting the Environmental Educator. We went to member territories and helped with Annual Meetings, Member Appreciation Day, County Fairs, etc.
I then transitioned into the Fleet Department. In that role, I was responsible for data management and analysis, in which I helped create and manage the budget and work on the life cycle of the equipment.
I became a full-time Hoosier Energy employee in 2015 and joined the Purchasing & Contracts department. In that group I was responsible for IT, Cyber Security, Facilities, Corporate Branding, Communications, HR and Fleet. I worked on RFQs, RFPs, and helped negotiate many contracts while in this role.
In 2018, I transitioned into a hybrid role continuing to work in the Purchasing Department and joining the HR team. I was responsible for all HR functions that came from the Merom Generating Station. These duties included interviewing, grievance meetings, timekeeping and being a first point of contact for any HR questions.
I believe that holding all these positions across Hoosier Energy has enabled me to become very well connected. I know who the subject matter expert is in various departments throughout the company. Many of these positions have also been very customer focused. I hope to continue providing great customer service to our members.
Q: As you’ve met with the various cooperatives, what have you learned from or about Hoosier Energy’s members?
A: We have so many wonderful people working in our cooperatives. The amount of talent and knowledge at each of the cooperatives is incredible.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself – where you’re from, where you went to school and what about hobbies or interests outside of work?
A: I am from Sullivan, Indiana and graduated from Sullivan High School. I then went to the University of Evansville. I got my undergraduate degree in Business Administration and then my master’s degree in Public Service Administration. My wife and I remained in Evansville after graduation (fun fact: we both attended Sullivan High School and then UE). We have one son, Kohen, who is 16 months old.
We love to travel as much as possible (I have visited around 20 countries). We are starting to take Kohen on some of our adventures, and he really loved the ocean on our last trip to the 30a area in the Florida panhandle.