Steady Hands Through Four Decades of Change
Bobby Martinez
Bobby Martinez
Bobby Martinez
After 40 years of steady service, Bobby Martinez is preparing to close a remarkable chapter at Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, with plans to retire sometime in 2026. It’s a career that began modestly and grew into a lifetime of commitment to keeping SSVEC members powered and safe.
Born and raised in Bisbee, Martinez came to SSVEC as a temporary worker, hired as a groundman on a project expected to last just six weeks.
“Basically, after the six weeks, they never told me to go home and I just kept working,” Martinez said.
Eighteen months later, he was formally hired and assigned to a pole crew, replacing and installing utility poles across the service territory.
Over four decades, Martinez has witnessed sweeping changes at the Cooperative. He points to the growing influence and professionalism of linemen, noting that a core group of experienced journeyman linemen are “keeping the lights on.” At the same time, he’s seen a new generation step up, with apprentices and young linemen working side by side with veterans to master the skills needed to maintain a reliable electric grid.
Safety, Martinez says, has seen some of the most significant progress.
“There’s a lot more emphasis on doing the job safely,” he said.
Regular safety seminars and ongoing training underscore the dangers of line work, and the responsibility crews share to look out for one another.
“Everyone understands the importance of doing the job safely and making sure everyone comes home at night,” Martinez said.
Before becoming Warehouse Supervisor, Martinez spent 20 years in Operations, working in the field with linemen and maintaining the grid. He also served as a meterman, gaining a broad understanding of the Cooperative’s day-to-day work.
Now, Martinez is ready for another transition. He recently got engaged to his high school sweetheart, Sydney.
“We dated in high school, and reconnected on Facebook,” he said.
He’s also looking forward to spending more time with his adult children. His son, Seth Martinez, is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher beginning this season with the Boston Red Sox. His daughter, an OB-GYN, who recently graduated medical school and is completing her residency in Seattle.
“I’m ready,” Martinez said regarding his retirement. “I’m looking forward to getting up in the morning and not having to go to work!”
Char Bennett
Bobby Martinez
Bobby Martinez
When Char Bennett arrived in Arizona from the Chicago area, she was looking for a fresh start for her family. What she found at Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative was more than a job — it became a 40-year career marked by loyalty, adaptability, and quiet leadership.
Bennett joined SSVEC as a part-time typist and customer service representative, encouraged by a neighbor, who worked at the Cooperative. She told me to apply,” Bennett recalled with a laugh. “So here I am.”
That modest beginning led to a pivotal role within the Cooperative. After moving to full-time status in November 1985, Bennett was appointed Executive Assistant in 1990 by then-General Manager Howard Bethel. She would continue in that role through two additional leadership transitions — serving under CEO Creden Huber beginning in 1995 and again when Jason Bowling assumed the position in 2022.
Over four decades, Bennett has been a front-row witness to the Cooperative’s evolution. She saw SSVEC expand service to meet rapid growth in Sierra Vista, Benson, and Willcox, and she remained in the Willcox office even after most administrative staff relocated to Sierra Vista.
Just as dramatic were the changes in workplace technology.
“My first computer was the Radio Shack TRS-80,” she said. “After that, I shared a small personal computer with WordPerfect software, that could process meter readings.”
As the Executive Assistant, Bennett worked closely with SSVEC’s Board of Directors and senior leadership, helping guide the Cooperative through years of growth and change. Her longest board relationship has been with Director Curtis Nolan, who has served 33 years and is a former president of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board of Directors. Current Vice President Dan Barrera has served since 2000.
Outside the office, Bennett treasures time with her two daughters, six grandchildren, and her dogs — Daisy, a nine-year-old boxer, and Bella, a Belgian Malinois, also age 9.
“SSVEC is a wonderful place to work,” Bennett said. “We’re like family.”
Rep. Ciscomani recognizes SSVEC national award
Hailing the commitment of the Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) for prioritizing affordability, Congressman Juan Ciscomani celebrated the national award received by the local utility in a speech to Congress.
"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative in southern Arizona for receiving the 2026 Electric Cooperative Purpose Award from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association," Ciscomani stated in his remarks from the floor of the House of Representatives.
SSVEC recently received the Electric Cooperative Purpose Award from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The award recognizes cooperatives that work with their membership to make visible, lasting improvements to the quality of life in the communities they serve. SSVEC earned the recognition for actions taken during the 2022 surge in global fuel prices that placed significant pressure on energy costs for rural families and businesses.
"I congratulate the Board of Directors, the employees, and the member-owners of Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative," Rep. Ciscomani said. "Thank you for your commitment to protecting affordability and serving rural Arizona."
SSVEC’s board and leadership team implemented a member-focused strategy during the surge in global fuel prices designed to deliver immediate relief while maintaining long-term financial stability. The cooperative directed 100 percent of its annual operating margin to buy down more than $8 million in member fuel bank debt, reducing the wholesale power and fuel cost adjuster and lowering the cost burden on the cooperative’s member-owners.
"SSVEC’s board and leadership team knew they needed to protect the very members who own the cooperative while maintaining long-term stability — and that’s exactly what they did," Ciscomani said. "They responded with ingenuity and resolve, launching direct communication with members, working with its cooperative partner, AEPCO, to establish a fuel hedging program, and directing 100 percent of its annual operating margin to buy down more than $8 million in member fuel bank debt."
SSVEC was recognized for the award during NRECA’s Power Xchange national meeting, held March 6 to March 11 in Nashville, Tenn., where electric cooperative leaders from across the country gather to share best practices and celebrate achievements within the cooperative network.
A video of Rep. Ciscomani's remarks from the floor of the House of Representatives is available online at www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=OTNUT1CSWzs.
SSVEC Receives National Electric Cooperative Purpose Award
Willcox, AZ — Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) has been recognized with the 2026 Electric Cooperative Purpose Award by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), honoring the cooperative’s commitment to its members and communities during a period of unprecedented energy cost volatility.
The Electric Cooperative Purpose Award recognizes cooperatives that work with their membership to make visible, lasting improvements to quality of life in the communities they serve. SSVEC earned the recognition for actions taken during the 2022 surge in global fuel prices that placed significant pressure on energy costs for rural families and businesses.
During that period, SSVEC’s board and leadership team implemented a member-focused strategy designed to deliver immediate relief while maintaining long-term financial stability for the cooperative. The cooperative directed 100 percent of its annual operating margin to buy down more than $8 million in member fuel bank debt, reducing the wholesale power and fuel cost adjuster and lowering the cost burden on the cooperative’s member-owners.
“This recognition reflects what cooperatives are built to do,” said Jason Bowling, Chief Executive Officer of SSVEC. “When our members were facing rising energy costs, our board, employees, and cooperative partners worked together to find a solution that delivered immediate relief while protecting the long-term strength of the cooperative.”
The effort required collaboration across the cooperative network. SSVEC worked closely with its power supply partner, the Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO), along with financial partners, regulators, and cooperative peers to implement a strategy that balanced affordability with long-term resilience.
Employees across the organization played a key role in evaluating options, coordinating with partners, communicating with members, and implementing the financial and operational changes needed to execute the plan.
Bowling noted that while the award recognizes past action, cost pressures in the electric industry continue to affect utilities and their members nationwide.
“Electric cooperatives across the country are facing rising costs for power supply, infrastructure, and reliability,” Bowling said. “Our members have seen that pressure recently, and we understand the concern that comes with it. What this recognition represents is our commitment to confront those challenges directly. In every creative way we can muster, we will work to shield our members from volatility while maintaining the safe and reliable service they depend on.”
Because of the steps taken in recent years, SSVEC has strengthened its financial position and improved its ability to manage future energy market volatility while continuing to serve more than 50,000 members across Cochise, Graham, and Pima counties.
“The cooperative model works because decisions stay close to the people they affect,” Bowling said. “This award recognizes the trust our members place in us and the dedication of employees who work every day to protect affordability and reliability for the communities we serve.”
SSVEC was recognized for the award during NRECA’s Power Xchange national meeting, where electric cooperative leaders from across the country gather to share best practices and celebrate achievements within the cooperative network.
Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric cooperative headquartered in Willcox, Arizona, providing safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to communities across southeastern Arizona.
SSVEC Captures Top Honors in Arizona Lineman's Rodeo
The 2026 Arizona Lineman's Rodeo and Technical School was held in Marana, AZ and hosted by TRICO Electric Cooperative March 23 to March 25. Three first place finishes and recognition for outstanding team communication highlighted a statewide competition for linemen representing Sulphur Springs Vally Electric Cooperative (SSVEC).
SSVEC apprentice linemen Gabe Ornelas and Sawyer McDonald both won top individual honors. Ornelas earned first place in the "Mystery Event," which challenged linemen to remove a conductor from a dolly and tie onto an insulator. To add to the challenge, competitors only learn the requirements of the event moments before they participate. McDonald finished first on the written test, which tests the competitor’s knowledge on all aspects of line work. And for the second consecutive year, Sawyer was awarded the grand prize of "Overall Top Hand".
Gabe Ornelas not only excelled in individual events, but also in the team events. The competitors are paired with an apprentice from a different cooperative, which requires the team to focus on communication and team work to accomplish their task. Gabe’s team not only took first place in the insulator change out event but also won overall top team.
"The rodeo continues to be a valuable opportunity for our apprentices to strengthen their skills, compete with peers from across the state, and reinforce the safety practices that are critical to our daily work," said Nathan Hodges, Senior Vice President of Operations at SSVEC.
SSVEC apprentice lineman Shelbey Kogan also excelled in the team events. Her team was honored for outstanding communication and teamwork, which Hodges noted is "...an achievement that reflects the professionalism and collaborative mindset we see in the field."
The statewide rodeo event provides apprentice linemen an opportunity to strengthen their skills, compete with peers from across the state, and reinforce the safety practices that are critical to daily work. The event included both classroom and hands-on training, covering topics such as rigging, fault finding, primary cable preparation, and battery and solar safety, followed by individual and team rodeo events including the knowledge test, obstacle course, hurt-man rescue, and equipment change-outs.
Line workers representing 13 electric utilities from throughout Arizona and New Mexico participated in Marana event.
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Highlighted by a $5,000 scholarship, grand prize winners earning an all-expense paid trip, and $50,000 in awards to some of the 227 students who participated, the 42nd annual Youth Engineering and Science Fair was a resounding success when it concluded Friday night, February 27, 2026.
Sponsored by the Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) Foundation, which supports community grants to enhance local youth programs, the weeklong fair honored students and their teachers in grades fifth through twelfth for their innovative and informative science projects while also encouraging awareness of energy consumption.
Buena High School student Landon Martinez captured the top cash award for the evening with a $5,000 scholarship. Martinez compiled the most overall points for projects he has entered in the fair since he started the competition in the fifth grade.
A total of seven students, all attending Buena High School, captured grand prize honors in the high school division, earning trips to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) May 9 to May 15 at the convention center in Phoenix.
Daniel Dilone, a sophomore at Buena, was awarded a grand prize for his project, entitled "Two-Phase Electrochemical Detection of L-Tryptophan as a Kynurenic Acid Analog." Together with Buena High School advisor, Beverly Adams, Dilone will join more than 1,800 students in ninth through twelfth grades at the international fair.
Buena High School Juniors, Quintin Lawrence, Jack Campbell, and Alejandro Romero will also be attending the Regeneron fair, earning a grand prize for their project, entitled "Solar Soaring," advised by Amy Martinez of Buena High School Engineering.
The final grand prize was awarded to Buena seniors Jessalyn Lopez, Braden Alexander, and Ethan Juarez for their project, entitled "All Terrain Trash Robot," also advised by Amy Martinez.
More than 350 parents, teachers, and avid supporters attended the awards ceremony Friday night at the Community Innovations Center in Sierra Vista.
“It's always impressive when the community, parents, and educators come out to celebrate the academic achievements of our local students,” said Kristin Gray, Community Relations Manager at SSVEC. “We truly appreciate the judges who volunteered their time to review each project, and our teachers did a great job encouraging their students to participate.”
Displays were set up beginning on Monday, February 23, at the innovation center. On Wednesday, multiple judges interviewed high school students about their work and their interest in the topic of their presentation.
Thursday, the Fair was open to the public and offered the opportunity for people to look at each student project. In addition to the projects, several organizations brought science-related displays for public review, including Gray Hawk Animal Exhibits, Bisbee Science Lab, and Kartchner Caverns.
Fifteen community award sponsors were represented at the fair, including the Shelly Ethell Team at Long Realty, Arizona G&T, Canyon Vista Medical Center, the Gridiron Desert Elite Flag Football, Saguaro Air Solutions, TWN Communications, Lighthouse Electric and Solar, Lloyd Construction Company, Herald Review Media, Greater Sierra Vista Kennel, the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona, The Huachucans, and ACE Hardware.
Financial awards presented by the SSVEC Foundation are not generated from member electric bills. The SSVEC Foundation generates most of its funding from uncollected Member Equity payments. When former members leave the SSVEC service area and fail to provide a forwarding address, or in circumstances when repeated efforts to contact a former member fail, these Member Equity funds are turned over to the Foundation and used to fulfill its mission supporting local youth programs, including community grants.