Oregon Trail Electric Co-ops Southern Division Superintendent Pat McCluskey has completed an intensive program in electric utility management with the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

The Robert I. Kabat Management Internship Program (MIP) is a series of workshops offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in conjunction with the university. The program guides participants through all facets of the electric utility industry, including the many changes occurring around the nation.

McCluskey is one of only a few electric utility management staff that will graduate from the management internship program this year.

Participants go through three two-week sessions designed to challenge and educate participants in new, innovative management techniques.  Participants leave with a better understanding of what electric consumers want and how to ensure they get it.

By also covering the unique principles that govern the operations of electric cooperatives, the program helps the co-op analyze other business ventures it may want to enter as well as enhancing the core organization.

Only rural electric cooperative CEOs and top level management participate in the program. This allows greater emphasis of study, on management challenges and the aspects of consumer-ownership that cooperatives enjoy. Participants learn focus on member value as part of day-to-day decision making.