Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative’s 2024 Washington Youth Tour Finalists.

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For the 2024-2025 school year, Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) supported nonprofit Mat Bevel Company’s STEAM world-building program for youth called The Universe Within. In keeping with its own mission, SSVEC has established a Foundation that supports youth and education within its service area.

Kristin Gray, Community Relations Manager for SSVEC said, “We believe in giving back to our community by supporting teachers, schools, and STEAM related programs that align with our values. In 1984 SSVEC members approved a bylaws change that established the Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative Foundation. Today, the Foundation funds education related programs, including the Washington Youth Tour, YES Fair, and Scholarship programs.”

In addition, SSVEC Foundation offers one-time grants of up to $40,000 to educational entities as well as one $150,000 jumbo grant available for a winning and qualified project of merit. All programs and projects awarded are intended to contribute to transformative education initiatives with lasting impact.

SSVEC is a unique not-for-profit cooperative that returns margins earned in excess of expenses to its members in the form of capital credits. The SSVEC Foundation is funded, in part, from unclaimed patronage capital in instances where residents have moved away and SSVEC is unable to locate former members. In addition, SSVEC members can assign their future patronage capital directly to the Foundation.

Created in 1938, Sulphur Springs Valley Electric now serves more than 59,000 meters and is the largest electric cooperative in Arizona today. Thanks to its members, SSVEC has expanded its service area to more than 5,700 square miles where it maintains 32 substations and more than 4,200 miles of energized line.

Throughout its 81-years of progress, SSVEC has been guided by the seven cooperative principles, including voluntary membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, ongoing education and training, cooperation with other cooperatives, and concern for the community.

This year SSVEC was part of Mat Bevel Company’s ‘Plant The Seed’ fundraising campaign in June. Through its work, the SSVEC Foundation continually plants seeds in the minds and hearts of students by offering educational opportunities for a wide range of students.  SSVEC offers safety education programs for third graders, the Youth Engineering and Science (YES) Fair for 5-12 graders, the Washington Youth Tour program, as well as scholarships and educational entity grants.

Kristin said, “We were inspired to support Mat Bevel Company’s STEAM world-building program again this year because it is providing access to career pathways that might not otherwise be available in our small communities. This program is literally opening new worlds by empowering youth to contribute to their own communities through technology and science-based solutions.”

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT SULPHURE SPRINGS VALLEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE!

The Raise the Bar Team who supports Mat Bevel Company’s work and youth programming for rural communities.

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In 2009, Jennifer Tersigni founded her company Raise the Bar Consulting to provide support for nonprofits that are doing great work in communities. The company offers growth and transformation strategies to help organizations thrive through three core areas of support: fundraising and revenue growth, organizational development, and transitional leadership solutions.

This year Raise the Bar Consulting was the first to donate on June 1 during Mat Bevel Company’s (MBC) ‘Plant The Seed’ fundraising campaign. Founder and CEO Jennifer Tersigni says, “I was inspired to support Mat Bevel Company’s STEAM world-building program called The Universe Within this year because it’s benefiting youth in the rural communities of Santa Cruz County. Growing up in a rural area myself, I understand the challenges faced in America’s rural communities firsthand. In fact, my childhood is one of the transformative experiences that led me to work in and for the nonprofit sector.”

Jennifer has long supported MBC’s vision to build cultural enrichment and opportunities for youth through arts and science education, not just because it’s needed, but because she believes what the nonprofit offers is extraordinary and visionary. She explains, “Their work inspires children (and adults) and creates a sense of awe and wonder, like a spark that lights the creative fire.”

Jennifer has been a fan of MBC Founder Ned Schaper’s work dating back close to 25 years. At the old Mat Bevel Institute, she witnessed people of all ages and stages of life being inspired. The property offered a format of art that was mesmerizing, the kind few people had ever seen. Jennifer adds, “Folks would leave the shows and talk for days about their experience. It was amazing.”

When the Mat Bevel Institute building was torn down in the mid 1990s, she never imagined that someday MBC would purchase its own property, and that the nonprofit would also open a satellite location in rural Patagonia, AZ.

Jennifer says, “Few artists and innovators make such a move, truly offering access to those who might not have it otherwise. What an incredible gift to Patagonia and Santa Cruz County to have access to such creative programming, usually reserved for urban centers. I was once again inspired by MBC’s transformation to build something bold, visionary, and new. I decided to make a sponsorship gift to support MBC’s vision of providing cultural enrichment and opportunities for youth through arts and science education, especially in underserved rural communities.”

Jennifer believes that every child, regardless of their background, deserves access to transformative experiences that inspire creativity, critical thinking, and resilience.

Raise the Bar Consulting, much like MBC, has planted many seeds over the years that have led to significant growth and opportunities for youth, families, and communities. Its current and past work with noteworthy partners like LPKNC, SARSEF, Arizona Youth Partnership, Institute for Better Education, Literacy Connects, Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, Beads of Courage, and many others have allowed them to be a small thread in the tapestry of support for the arts, science education, and youth development.

Jennifer says, “As we celebrate our 15th anniversary and expand our work with schools, we are excited about new ways we plan to partner to support youth, arts, and education—nurturing hope, instilling confidence, and fostering a sense of belonging that will last for generations. The opportunity to philanthropically support organizations like MBC feels good, builds dreams, enriches lives, and helps others. After all, it wasn’t that long ago when some of us were those very kids in a rural town where someone else did the same for us. Now, it’s our turn to pay it forward.”

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT JENNIFER AND RAISE THE BAR CONSULTING!

South 32’s Manager of Project Technology Todd Pereira with a Desert Tortoise.

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Todd Pereira, Manager, Project Technology joined South32 in January 2023. He holds a double diploma in IT (Network Engineering & Systems Administration) from Canberra Institute of Technology in Australia and a Masters of Management (IT) from Charles Sturt University in Australia.

He has over 16 years of experience in the mining industry, working with technology in diverse locations including Australia, Saudi Arabia, and the USA. He says, “I have developed a deep understanding of the industry and its unique challenges. In my previous role as Head of IT with Nevada Gold Mines I successfully led the integration of Barrick and Newmont domains to form the largest gold mining complex in the world.”

South32 has sponsored Mat Bevel Company each year supporting The Universe Within world-building curriculum which aligns with one of its core focus areas, education, in particular cultivating skills and a passion for STEM subjects at an early age. STEM literacy is absolutely an essential part of mining, especially when it comes to a company that strives to innovate using digital transformation, which refers to adopting technology to improve operational efficiency.

Digital Transformation has not been widely adopted within the mining industry, but Todd and his team at South 32 are changing that. While companies in other industries can decide how to adjust their pricing models, mining companies’ pricing is controlled by external forces like the stock market and stability of global economies. For the industry to maximize profits, digital transformation provides a method to drive down those overheads for mining companies. This efficiency creates more opportunities for mining projects to continue and invest in their partnering communities.

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South 32’s Todd Pereira skiing on Mount Lemmon

The Hermosa Project near Patagonia, Arizona is the only advanced mine development project in the U.S. as of 2023 that could produce two federally designated critical minerals—one of the world’s largest undeveloped zinc resources and manganese, a resource that could produce battery-grade manganese to supply domestic demand. There has been no manganese mining in the U.S. since the 1970s, and there is no manganese metal production in all of North America. More than 75% of manganese metal in North America is imported from foreign sources, and the US is now 100% reliant on foreign sources for manganese. In addition, the US produces only 6% of the world’s zinc and is highly reliant on international sources for this metal.

South32 aims to “Power America’s Clean Energy Transition” through the Hermosa Project by producing minerals needed to build electric vehicles and renewable energy, thereby helping in the effort to decarbonize two of the highest greenhouse gas emitting sectors and power the nation’s clean energy future. With the U.S. highly reliant on imports and overseas supply chains for these resources, the Hermosa Project was selected as the first mining project to take part in the federal government’s FAST-41 program.

Todd says, “We’re designing the Hermosa Project to be a different kind of mine, using advanced technology and methods that will make it safer and more sustainable than older mines. For example, the project started with a $30 million voluntary clean-up of historic tailings piles left by previous owners. Building Santa Cruz Country’s first dry stack tailings facility to store more than 2.2 million tonnes of legacy tailings has helped the Hermosa Project reduce its water footprint by more than 75% of what similar mines in the broader region use.”

Additionally, Hermosa, thanks in part to its underground mining operational plans, has a footprint that is 95% smaller than a typical open-pit mine in Arizona. The mine is being designed to use renewable energy and electric vehicles to power its operations. South32 will also be constructing a remote operations center with state-of-the-art remote operating and automation technology.

During the initial construction phase, the project is expected to generate a cumulative $29 million in local taxes for Santa Cruz County, double the current amount, and $38 million in state taxes over the projected construction period (2022-2027).

Top prize winners in the 39^th Annual Youth Engineering and Science (YES) Fair were also winners at the Regeneron International Engineering, Science, and Technology Fair in Dallas, Texas, on May 14-15. The winners were pictured on awards night at the local fair, held March 2 at the Rothery Educational Service Center in Sierra Vista. Pictured are (from the left) Amy Martinez, teacher at Buena High School, the Buena High YES Fair Team of Emery Denham, Kevin Tran and Dylan Rubstello, Veritas student Manuel Castillo, Veritas teacher Melissa Bravenec and SSVEC Chief Executive Officer Jason Bowling.

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MBC sponsor Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) serves more than 53,000 member accounts located in a four-county service area in southeast Arizona. SSVEC is an industry leader in providing safe, reliable, and affordable service.

The Cooperative is guided by principles that emphasize voluntary and open membership, concern for the community, democratic member control, and support for education.

It is this support for education that has garnered SSVEC support for MBC’s The Universe Within STEAM program each year. SSVEC youth programs include scholarships, the Washington Youth Tour, and the Youth Engineering and Science (YES) Fair.

As a cooperative, SSVEC members are the owners of the company. Members are entitled to vote and/or serve on the elected Board of Directors. Members also benefit from the financial success of the not-for-profit cooperative. Each year, the SSVEC Board of Directors reviews the financial status of the Cooperative and decides on the capital credits that are returned to the members.

During the past 86 years, SSVEC has paid out more than $33 million in capital credits to its members.

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Winners of the 2023 Washington Youth Tour all-expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capital were announced Nov. 16 at a family-student banquet held in Benson and hosted by SSVEC. Those pictured include (standing from the left) SSVEC Chief Executive Officer Jason Bowling, Benjamin Squires and Heart Monger, both of Buena High School; Juliannah Gavin and Brianna Vandeweg, both of Veritas Christian Community School; Kevin Tran of Buena High School, and Dan Barrera, Secretary of the SSVEC Board of Directors. Those seated, from the left, include Sammy Judd, St. David High School; Nathan Miles, Benson High School, Kyle Asato, Tombstone High School, and Ryan Wilde, Buena High School.

SSVEC is also a founding member of the Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO), which generates electricity for local members and other cooperatives in Arizona, New Mexico, and California. AEPCO’s Apache Generating Station in the town of Cochise, AZ, is the primary source of electric power for SSVEC and AEPCO’s other members.

Innovation and investment continue to be priorities for SSVEC. In 2023 the Cooperative added another 20-megawatt solar farm, with a battery system, that will provide power to some 3,000 local members. In 2024, SSVEC anticipates increasing its energy portfolio with the addition of more solar power, increasing its overall energy mix to more than 35 percent from renewable resources.

MBC sponsor Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, represented by VP of Marketing & Communications Marcus Harston, pictured above, far right, presenting scholarship checks to Benson Unified School District.

Through our sponsor recognition articles, we are showcasing the many ways professionals cultivate and use creativity to improve their personal lives, their careers, the places they work and their communities. This article features Gloria Spencer, President of Nogales US Customs Brokers Association and General Manager of Livingston International. Read on to learn more.

Marcus Harston is Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC). The Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned distribution cooperative in Southern Arizona. SSVEC provides electricity to more than 60,000 services over some 4,100 miles of energized line.

Marcus explains, “My role at SSVEC is broad. I’m responsible for all marketing communications material, including print, social media, and video across all public outlets. I manage a variety of member-oriented programs such as Surge Protection, energy audits, and solar inspections. And I lead all youth programs including scholarships, the Washington Youth Tour, and the Youth Engineering and Science (YES) Fair.”

In his role, he directly interacts with the Board of Directors, Senior Management, Members, and affiliated organizations such as National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association (GCSECA), and Touchstone Energy.

MBC sponsor Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, represented by VP of Marketing & Communications Marcus Harston, pictured center above in the blue shirt, with volunteer staff members from SSVEC and Boys & Girls Club during a volleyball clinic to benefit high school and middle school coaches and players in Cochise County.

After serving 24 years in the military, Marcus entered the private sector with an eye toward educating young people. He says, “I started at SSVEC as the Community Relations Manager, where I was responsible for managing all youth programs. In this role, I was able to achieve my goal of educating and improving the future of young people in our service area.”

For Marcus, creativity is an opportunity to express, create, and direct elements of communication to other people and audiences. Utilizing the “tools” of creativity, he conveys messages in unique and invigorating ways with specific and general audiences, depending on the circumstances. The result of creativity has the power to inspire, motivate, and lead to a specific positive change in people.

Marcus says, “I employ creativity every day, personally and professionally, whether I’m developing correspondence, considering a marketing message, or even in contemplating a difficult golf shot on the weekend! Having a creative capacity empowers me to ‘think outside the box.’ Working in a position that invites a variety of messaging to diverse audiences gives me the opportunity to develop creative solutions and ideas to help achieve the Cooperative’s mission.”

The SSVEC golf tournament hosted for large users of electricity to assist with energy efficiency, usage and other programs to benefit companies in the service area.

At SSVEC, creative ideas are often inspired from discussions with fellow team members. Marcus says, “It’s important to ‘eliminate the fear factor,’ so that all ideas can be heard, without consequence, regardless of how radical they may be.”

Reading and researching are also ways that Marcus generates creative ideas. He compares outcomes from the experience of others and contemplates ideas that come to mind while digesting new materials and information. He also uses relaxation techniques, aimed at clearing and focusing the mind, to stimulate new, creative, ideas.

Marcus Harston is Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative