Wednesday | February 25, 2026
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Core Values of Choptank Electric Cooperative

Identified by the 2025 LEAD Program participants

 

By Katie Luckett

 

Choptank Electric Cooperative’s LEAD program stands for Leadership, Engagement and Development. This annual program aims to foster leadership skills among employees at the Cooperative and prepare them for greater responsibilities.

Seven employees completed the internal LEAD program at the end of 2025 by presenting their year-long projects to our Board of Directors. Each participant was tasked with identifying an opportunity at the Co-op and a solution or plan for implementation. Project topics ranged from updating member contact information and right-of-way maintenance, to company policies and internal training programs.  

The group also worked together during the year to establish three core values for the Cooperative: Dependability, Community and Integrity.

At Choptank Electric Cooperative, dependability means doing what we say we will do for every member – in our daily work, our planning, and especially in times of need.

Community involvement is a key ingredient to Choptank Electric’s identity and success. As a cooperative, we are always looking for ways to give back to the communities we serve.

And integrity is the foundation that allows us to achieve excellence. It means standing up for what we believe in, doing what is right even when it’s not easy and ensuring that every action reflects honesty, fairness and accountability.

“We are proud of the inaugural LEAD group and their accomplishments throughout the year,” shared Paula Bishop, Vice President of Human Resources at Choptank Electric. “They have each gained valuable skills and experiences that they will carry with them as leaders at the Cooperative to make a positive impact on our members, employees and communities.”

The 2025 LEAD program participants included:

  • Wayne Daubach, Manager of Operating Services,
  • Patrick Dubinski, Senior Electrical Engineer,
  • Jason Gaskill, Manager of Regional Operations in Salisbury,
  • Rob Jump, Supervisor of System Control,
  • Nick Newnam, Manager of Regional Operations in Denton,
  • Samantha Schuyler, Manager of Human Resources and
  • Alyssa Tobolski, Member Services Project Coordinator.