Kaylee Dinkel is KEC’s Marketing & Communication Specialist and has worked for KEC for six years.
What made you interested in working for KEC?
I originally went to school for journalism and spent a few years working on North Idaho College’s student news publication, The Sentinel. During that time, I discovered that I was more drawn to graphic design, social media and web communications.
Around that time, a family friend who worked at KEC knew I was exploring career options and encouraged me to apply for an internship at the cooperative. I was a bit intimidated—it felt like a big leap. With some heartfelt encouragement from my loved ones (special shout out to Mom!), I decided to go for it. I submitted my application…and the rest is history.
What does a day look like for you as the Marketing & Communication Specialist
In my role, I’m involved in the development of much of the communication KEC shares with members. Whether it’s an email, newsletter or other notification, there’s a good chance I had a hand in creating it, though it’s always a team effort. I also manage most of our social media content (so if you see a post, feel free to say hi in the comments!). We’re committed to keeping our members informed and that commitment is at the core of my role at the cooperative.
What are your organizational priorities right now?
As winter approaches, some of my focus shifts to prepping and updating content for the cold weather season. It’s important that we quickly communicate with members during situations that could arise—from cold snaps to winter weather outages—in the form of emails, website content, social media posts, etc.
If there is one thing you’d like the average member to know about KEC, what would it be?
Please keep your contact information updated with us—this includes your email, phone numbers and mailing address. It may seem trivial but being able to provide our members with the latest information regarding outages, safety and other critical updates is essential to keeping everyone informed and connected when it matters most. You can learn how to check or update your contact info at www.kec.com/manage-your-online-account.
What is the biggest challenge in your job?
One of the biggest challenges in my role comes during our busy seasons. Spring and summer bring added responsibilities like helping to plan our Annual Meeting, Member Appreciation events, and our charity Golf Classic, as well as preparing communications for the potential wildfire season. Balancing these seasonal projects with my regular workload keeps my schedule full, but I enjoy the variety and can confidently say I’m never bored!
What is the best part of your job?
It’s tough to choose a favorite part of my job, but one thing I’m especially grateful for is the chance to grow in ways I never expected. Over the past few years, I’ve learned skills I never imagined I’d use in this role, from becoming proficient in coding to earning my Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) or drone pilot license and helping launch our Electrification Unplugged podcast. I deeply value the opportunity to keep learning and evolving every day.
What’s your favorite thing about our area?
I was born and raised in North Idaho so I will always hold this area close to my heart. I make a conscious effort to never take for granted the natural beauty that surrounds us. From the mountains to the lakes, trails, sunsets and night skies, we are truly never at a loss for fantastic scenery.