BEHIND THE NUMBERS
Transparency matters in a cooperative, and this section takes a closer look at the data and information that help keep our members informed and connected to the work of Southeastern Indiana REMC.
Years of Service, Decades of Dedication
Some numbers tell a story bigger than what first appears on the page.
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At Southeastern Indiana REMC, one of those numbers is 982.
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That is the combined number of years current employees have served the cooperative. Behind those 982 years are lineworkers, member service representatives, tree trimmers, engineers, fiber employees, accountants, leadership, and support teams who have helped carry the cooperative through decades of change.
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The tools have changed. The technology has changed. The systems have grown. But the heart of the work remains the same: serving members and showing up when they need us most.​​
Employee Service Snapshot
Current employees counted: 81
Combined years of service: 982
Longest-serving employee: 48 years
Employees with 5+ years: 51
Employees with 10+ years: 36
Employees with 20+ years: 19
Employees with 30+ years: 9
Employees with 40+ years: 2
​Dianna Jeffries, who marked 40 years with the cooperative this June, has seen Member Services evolve from handwritten paperwork and in-person payments to online tools, digital payments, account systems, and new communication channels.
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“Before computers, we did everything on paper,” Dianna said. “Pink paper was for connects. Yellow paper was for disconnects. The servicemen took those papers into the field, brought them back, and we figured final bills by hand.”
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Today, members can manage much of their account online through SmartHub and other digital tools. While the technology has changed, Dianna says one thing remains the same.
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“What has stayed the same is our friendly faces and friendly voices,” she said. “A lot of members still like talking to a live person instead of a machine.”
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That cooperative spirit is especially evident during major outages.
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“When other co-ops came to help after storms, you’d look out and see the parking lot full of line trucks,” Dianna said. “It gave you chills. Co-ops come together in a time of need.”
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George Bultman, who celebrated 36 years as a full-time employee this June, has watched field operations evolve through advances in mapping, equipment, and technology.
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“The mapping program has been one of the best things to happen to the co-op,” George said. “It helps you connect the dots and find better ways to do the work.”
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Yet for George, relationships remain just as important as technology.
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“If you show people respect, that makes a difference,” he said.
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Weather continues to be one of the greatest challenges in providing electric service. Line Foreman Gary Thomas remembers a severe Christmas snowstorm when crews worked around the clock to restore power. At one point, he recalls sitting in a truck beside a pond, eating Christmas dinner with fellow linemen while monitoring a nearby aerator fountain. When the fountain stopped, they knew power was out again—and it was time to return to the lines.
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Stories like these represent what years of service truly mean: holidays spent away from family, employees answering phones during outages, crews working through severe weather, and departments working together when members need help most.
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“Our members are everything to us,” Dianna said. “They’re the reason we’re here.”
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Behind the numbers are the people who have done that work year after year. Their combined 982 years of service are more than a measure of time—they reflect dedication, resilience, local knowledge, and the cooperative spirit that continues to power Southeastern Indiana REMC forward.
