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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the rugged terrain of northern New Mexico, keeping trees and plants away from power lines is a critical part of protecting electric reliability and reducing wildfire risk, especially along the transmission corridors in Carson National Forest. 

IT Project Manager, Ali Pentico, is helping power our cooperative from behind the scenes by connecting people, technology, and purpose. She ensures smart, cost‑effective solutions that strengthen reliability and reduce costs for members, guided by a shared commitment to serving members and communities.