New Madrid Power Plant employee Dino Wilkerson receives Excel award from Associated Electric Cooperative

William “Dino” Wilkerson of New Madrid, material handling supervisor at New Madrid Power Plant, was among those honored recently at the 24th annual employee recognition awards ceremony at Associated Electric Cooperative’s Springfield headquarters.

The Excel awards are peer-nominated recognitions of employees who have excelled in their crafts, vocations and professions or in specific functions.

Wilkerson is the recipient of the 2017 Excel Award for Supervisor of the Year. He joined Associated in 1998 as a general utility first period, working his way through auxiliary operator. He moved to the coal yard in 2001 as a utility operator first period, then yard equipment operator, and in 2013 was promoted to material handling supervisor. As a supervisor, he oversees the day shift crew that unloads coal from the coal trains and moves it to the yard, and from there by conveyor into the plant’s two generating units.

 

“I could tell when I first got out there, I realized this was the department I wanted to retire from. Just by watching the leaders ahead of me, this is what I wanted to do. I definitely wanted to be in leadership,” Wilkerson said.

 

A nominator said about him, “He has proven himself to be an outstanding leader and … he shows a deep understanding of employee issues and works affably with everyone. He bridges the gap between union and nonunion flawlessly. He is always eager to listen to union employees’ ideas for the best outcome for the company and encourages them to share their ideas to make their work easier, more efficient and safe.”

 

“I’ve most enjoyed being a supervisor,” Wilkerson admitted. “But I recognize that I couldn’t do anything as a supervisor without all the employees and all the departments that help me get the job done. When everything is working well, it’s a great feeling to watch the teamwork.”

 

Wilkerson also serves on the AECI Team committee at the plant, which engages with the community through fundraisers and events that highlight community needs. Another nominator said, “He encourages all of his crew to participate, especially in charitable events such as the food drive and toy drive. He alone raised over $600 in donations from the coal yard department for the company food drive, which helped provide meals to many families in our area.”

 

The Excel award is Wilkerson’s second: last year he was part of a team honored with the Excel Award for Community Advocate of the Year. He also received the Safety Person of the Year Award in 2012.

 

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma that serve more than 910,000 meters. AECI’s mission is to provide an economical and reliable power supply and support services to its members, including the “Take Control & Save” energy efficiency program, www.TakeControlAndSave.coop. AECI is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

  An Equal Opportunity Employer and provider/disability/veteran