Who are you?
Candace Croft, CCC and your current CCA Board President.
(Pictured at left rear – with family at Horseshoe Bay.)
How long have you worked with cooperatives?
I just started my 18th year.
Describe your role.
As Communications and PR Coordinator, I’m responsible for all of my co-op’s communications efforts. With a team of two, this means I wear a lot of hats including member communication like our monthly newsletter and social media, employee communications, event planning, media relations, storm/outage communication efforts, and school programs like our Youth Tour program and scholarship program.
What do you enjoy about working with cooperatives?
I really enjoy the variety of tasks I am able to experience working with a cooperative. I never know what the day might hold – it could be riding with linecrews, writing an article, handling social media and outage communications or strategic communication planning.
When did you join CCA? Why?
I believe I joined CCA in 2007 because of the encouragement of my supervisors at the time, John Thornton, and Terry Mullen – both longtime CCA members. They told me that the organization had benefitted them both tremendously over the years in a variety of ways. I have found this to be true. From bettering my communication skills and providing wonderful learning opportunities to helping me improve and develop my leadership skills and creating a network of people I know will help me in any situation. I have also made some amazing friends through CCA.
Did anything surprise you about CCA upon joining?
I wasn’t sure what to expect at the time I joined. I was new to the cooperative industry and fairly new to my co-op. One of the things that surprised me was the willingness to share ideas, files and even challenging experiences or solutions to problems. My co-op network never ceases to amaze me with their generosity and caring spirits – whether that’s checking in after a storm devastates your service area to see what they can do to help or literally taking over your social media pages.
What are your hobbies and interests?
I enjoy traveling, spending time with friends and family, concerts, and going to the lakes and beaches near my home. I also enjoy hanging out in my backyard around the firepit. One of my favorite places I’ve traveled is Bermuda.
Do you have a “bucket list”? What are some of the things on that list?
I don’t really have a “bucket list” but I would love to visit England again, and add Scotland and Ireland to the itinerary. I would also love to see the Northern Lights.
Give us something about yourself that is surprising or that most people don’t know.
I drove hundreds of miles to shop the “World’s Longest Yard Sale” through Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee with my cousin a few years ago.
Email Candace at: ccroft@westflorida.coop
