Navigating Change Together

Change is not as simple as closing one door and opening another.

Our offices have been familiar places for years. They are where you stopped to pay a bill, asked a question or talked with someone you knew. So when we make a change to something that familiar, we understand that it can take some adjustment.

Over the past several months, FreeState has experienced a significant transition. We closed our McLouth member office at the end of May, and for the past 11 months, we operated from a temporary location in Topeka during construction. And now we are officially open at our newly renovated headquarters.

It has been a lot of change in a short period of time. For our members. And for our employees.

One thing I have learned about change is that managing it starts with remembering why you are making the change in the first place.

The five-phase facility project is not only about renovating office spaces. It is about preparing your cooperative for what comes next, whatever that might be.

Technology is changing. The electric grid and power distribution are becoming more complex. The expectations of our members and employees continue to evolve. We need facilities, technology and workspaces that allow our employees to collaborate effectively and give us room to respond to those changes.

At the same time, some things should not change.

Our commitment to reliable electric service does not change. Our responsibility to use your cooperative’s resources wisely does not change. And our commitment to being accessible and responsive to our members does not change.

How we provide that service may look different.

Members have more ways than ever to conduct business with FreeState. We have online tools, by phone, through the SmartHub mobile app, by mail, using VanillaDirect at participating retailers and, of course, in person at our Auburn Road headquarters. Modernizing the cooperative means making sure those options work together so members can choose what works best for them.

There is also something valuable about change that we sometimes overlook. Change gives us an opportunity to examine how we do things and ask whether there is a better way.

That is what we have tried to do over the past year.

We have looked beyond where FreeState is today and considered what the cooperative may need five, 10 or even 20 years from now. We have worked to create a headquarters that supports our employees and gives us greater flexibility as our membership and communities change.

I want to thank our members for their patience throughout the construction and transition. Temporary offices, changing locations and new routines are not always convenient, and we appreciate your willingness to navigate those changes with us.

A renovated building may be the most visible part of this project, but it represents something much bigger. It represents a cooperative that is willing to adapt while staying grounded in the principles that have always guided us.

Our purpose remains the same: Serving you, our members, and preparing FreeState to continue doing that for generations to come.