As Wildfire Mitigation Manager and Avian Protection Program Lead, Diana Leiker helps ensure that protecting birds and habitats also strengthens the electric system communities depend on. Her work highlights how utilities can play a critical role in addressing both environmental challenges and energy needs, demonstrating that safeguarding ecosystems and delivering reliable power go hand in hand.
Annual meetings are a cornerstone of the cooperative model, providing a space for transparency, engagement, and shared decision-making. Tri-State’s 74th Annual Meeting brought together member-owners and employees to connect around our cooperative’s shared direction.
Not all of the work that keeps the lights on happens on poles or inside substations. Join Telecommunications Foreman Nick Franklin on a ride-along to see how his work maintaining the critical communication systems keeps the grid smart, responsive, and reliable.
Substations are where power is controlled, protected, and prepared for delivery—but the expertise behind them often goes unnoticed. Join Journey Level Substation Technician John Swanson as he performs critical testing that helps keep power flowing safely to our communities.
Lineworkers are often the most visible part of the electric utility. Whether performing planned rebuilds or working energized lines to avoid outages, their skill and teamwork are essential to reliability. Ride along with Line Foreman Adrian Garcia to see what goes into maintaining the backbone of the grid, day in and day out.
In 2025, Tri-State launched the organization’s first formal employee recognition program known as the Excellence Awards. Designed to honor individuals and teams whose work exemplifies the very best of who Tri-State is, the awards spotlight the outstanding contributions happening across the workforce every day, but the Excellence Awards did not happen overnight.
Nicole Viz helps members save money and keep the lights on through smart demand response programs. Excited about the future of battery technology, she works closely with members to turn small, low‑impact energy shifts into big benefits for their communities.
In rural America, nearly two-thirds of firefighters are volunteers, and they’re often the first line of defense when wildfires ignite. But as fire seasons grow longer and more intense across the West, these departments face mounting challenges. That’s why Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is partnering with San Isabel Electric Association (SIEA) to deliver superior technology and training to fighting fires, because the best wildfire response begins before the flames appear.
Welcome to The People Behind the Power™, where we showcase the extraordinary work Tri-State employees are doing to keep the lights on for nearly 1 million energy consumers in the rural West. This series pulls back the curtain to share the real stories of the individuals whose dedication powers our communities. Because when you meet the people behind the power, you see the heart, talent, and perseverance that goes into every flip of a switch.
Wildfires leave lasting scars on rural communities—something our cooperatives know all too well. During the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, Tri-State member Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative (MSMEC) sprang into action, exemplifying how cooperatives become vital to emergency response and recovery. Their crews, many personally affected by the devastation, worked side by side to rebuild, protect, and restore. This story highlights not only the destruction wildfires bring, but the resilience of these communities and the unwavering commitment of lineworkers, contractors, and support teams who help them rise again.
