July 28, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Walton EMC Websites Named Nation's Best

Contact Greg Brooks, 770/266-2307, or Heather Maynard, 770/266-2408

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Walton Electric Membership Corporation's electric and gas company websites have been hailed as best at the Cooperative Communicators Association's annual communications contest.

Both won their respective categories, with the gas website landing first in the Web Site-External for Public category and the electric website topping the Web Site-External for Members category.

The electric site went on to be picked as Best of Class in the entire Programs and Projects division from among 154 other entries. Judges gave the entry the highest possible score for its imaginative, creative presentation of information.

"It makes a dry subject matter fun," said Matt Fangman, one of the division judges, who also noted the entry's 'people-centric' approach. "Compared to the other entries, it felt the most relevant to the audience and the end result has the most impact for the money spent."

"We redesigned the websites so they will be more useful and friendly to our electric customer-owners and gas customers," said Greg Brooks, communications coordinator. "And we tried to make sure we looked at the websites from their point of view and not ours," said Communications Specialist Heather Maynard.

Sliced Bread, an Athens, Georgia advertising and design agency as well as DLF Communications, a Murfreesboro, Tennessee writer collaborated with Maynard and Brooks on the projects.

Maynard also received second place in Photo Illustration for her artwork to promote Willie's World of Wheels, Walton EMC's annual charity car show.

Earlier in the year, the co-op's communications efforts were recognized at the Spotlight on Excellence, an annual awards program for the nation's electric cooperatives. Walton EMC garnered Awards of Merit for best video/DVD and best news story.

Walton EMC is a customer-owned power company that serves 118,000 accounts over its ten-county service area between Atlanta and Athens. It's subsidiary, Walton EMC Natural Gas, serves natural gas accounts statewide.