Indiana Electric Cooperatives (IEC) named Abby Asher the recipient of the 2026 Tom Taylor Award. Asher, senior marketing and communications specialist at Decatur County REMC, was presented the award during the Marketing, Member Services, and Communicators professional section fall meeting on Sept. 25. 

“Abby has transformed how our cooperative communicates with members, from developing our first-ever marketing and communication plan to launching new outage and right-of-way notification systems,” said Brett Abplanalp, chief executive officer of Decatur County REMC. “Her impact reaches well beyond our cooperative, where she has become a trusted partner to schools and community organizations throughout Decatur County.”

Asher was praised by peers and nominators as someone who consistently goes above and beyond her responsibilities, both within the cooperative and throughout her community. One nominator said, “Not for self, but for others is a statement that certainly applies to her core. She simply sees a need and asks how she can help, never seeking recognition for her efforts.”

The award is presented annually to an Indiana electric cooperative member services employee who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, attitude, and commitment to electric cooperative principles. The award is named for the award’s first recipient and longtime Boone Power member services representative, C. Tom Taylor, who lived by the philosophy of “non sibi, sed aliis” – not for self, but for others.