Crewe, Va. – Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) Communications Specialist Lauren Irby has earned recognition as a professional communicator in a national certification program offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

Irby has met the requirements to become a Certified Cooperative Communicator (CCC), which signifies standards of professionalism in communications and competency in the electric cooperative industry. There are currently 233 active electric cooperative communicators that have attained CCC status.

In order to become certified, Irby submitted a portfolio of her work, which was reviewed by an independent credentialed communications professional. In addition to completing the portfolio review, she passed a rigorous four-hour examination in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The CCC Program was created to strengthen and enrich the professional skills and abilities of electric co-op communicators, to help them successfully fill their crucial roles for the betterment and prosperity of electric cooperatives. This is done through the establishment of professional development goals, identification of a body of knowledge and skills necessary to the practice of electric co-op communication, and recognition of those individuals who have demonstrated a professional level of excellence.

NRECA is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to more than 37 million people in 47 states.

Southside Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative that serves more than 55,000 homes and businesses in central and southern Virginia. Headquartered in Crewe, SEC has district offices in Altavista, Crewe, Dinwiddie and Powhatan. For more information, visit www.sec.coop.