After an incredible 36 years of service to Midwest and Big Country electric cooperatives, Linda Key retired February 1. Family, friends and co-workers gathered to celebrate her years of dedicated service and embarkment on a well-deserved journey into retirement. Key plans to spend lots of time with her grandkids and traveling.
Key has been an integral part of our cooperative, beginning her career at Midwest Electric Cooperative on October 5, 1987, as a general office clerk. She became the co-op’s billing supervisor in October 1989 and then the consumer accounts clerk in January 1999, when Midwest and Stamford electric cooperatives consolidated. Shortly thereafter, Key was promoted to consumer accounts manager, in September 1999. Key became BCEC’s director of office services in 2004 and then the vice president of office services in 2015.
Key’s hard work and unwavering dedication have left an indelible mark on our cooperative, and she will be sincerely missed. Throughout her nearly four-decade tenure, she has not only witnessed but actively participated in the evolution of our cooperative. From the earlier days to the technological advancements of today, Key has been a steady and reliable force, always putting the needs of our members first.
It’s not just the years of service that make Key special; it’s the countless moments of collaboration, problem-solving and genuine care for our community that define her legacy. Whether it was ensuring a swift response during a storm or working tirelessly to improve our services, Key has been at the forefront, exemplifying the cooperative spirit.
As we bid farewell to Key and express our warmest gratitude for her exceptional service and the positive impact she has had on our cooperative, we would like to congratulate longtime employee Sarah McLen on her promotion to vice president of member services. While the job title has evolved to better encompass the position’s duties, McLen’s experience as the cooperative’s key accounts executive will keep us in very capable hands. We are excited to see McLen excel in upholding the legacy of excellence that Key leaves behind.
