(Louisville, KY – June 17, 2021) RunSwitch PR congratulates client Kentucky Electric Cooperatives Joe Arnold for winning the prestigious 2021 LaBerge Award. In his role as Vice President of Strategic Communications for the statewide co-op association, Arnold oversees corporate media relations, which includes Kentucky Living magazine. He also advises the association and its 26 cooperatives on public affairs initiatives.
The LaBerge Award for Excellence in Strategic Communication recognizes an electric cooperative communicator with demonstrated excellence, influence, and impact in co-op communications, both as a practitioner and contributor across the network. The award was established in 2018 in memory of Justin Erick LaBerge, who served as the senior leadership communications manager for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
“You can’t just rely upon one source. We have an amazing magazine, Kentucky Living, which effectively reaches the entire commonwealth. But you can’t stop there. Social media, website traffic, video production, email and grassroots campaigns…You need all of those things combined to effectively and meaningfully reach co-op consumer-members,” Arnold said. “This award reflects both an incredible team of professionals at our association as well as communications professionals at co-ops across Kentucky. I am proud to be affiliated with a truly civic-minded and consumer-owned family of cooperatives.”
RunSwitch PR has had the privilege of working with Arnold and Kentucky Electric Cooperatives for 6 years. The two have seen some incredible progress, working together on initiatives like Beautify the Bluegrass and the Best in Kentucky Awards Show which Joe and his team helped develop and execute. Co-ops have had great success over the last 6 years, and Joe Arnold has been on the forefront of it.
“COVID-19 wasn’t easy for anyone in this business, but Joe is a perfect example of the difference a dynamic strategic communications professional can make for an organization,” said Scott Jennings, Partner at RunSwitch PR. “Coming from a media background, Joe understands how to tell the co-op story, tying together all the pieces to show how his organization and its members are improving Kentucky. We are proud of our friend and client Joe Arnold and look forward to working with him on future projects!”
Read more about the LaBerge Award here.
