Log in | Register |
StormCenter logo

Archive

Tag: LSSC

SECO Energy CEO Inspires LSSC Graduates with Powerful Commencement Speech

 

LSSC’s Interim President Dr. Laura Byrd presents SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn with the prestigious Lakehawk Award following his 2025 commencement address.

SECO Energy Chief Executive Officer Curtis Wynn delivered a powerful message of perseverance and purpose to the graduating class of 2025 at Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) on Friday, May 9. In his heartfelt commencement speech, Wynn urged the graduates to embrace challenges, lead with intention, and not be afraid to take that first courageous step toward their future. Following the address, Wynn was honored with the 2025 LSSC Lakehawk Award in recognition of his impactful speech.

 

In his keynote, Wynn shared his journey from humble beginnings in Graceville, Florida, to becoming the first African American CEO of an electric cooperative in the United States and a nationally recognized leader in rural innovation and energy equity.

 

Speaking to an audience of faculty, families, and graduates, Wynn reminisced on his upbringing in a home that lacked modern conveniences. He spoke of the grit of his parents, and the resilience that propelled him from washing trucks at a rural electric cooperative to testifying before Congress.

 

“You are not just graduating, you’re breaking barriers, changing legacies and opening doors that others in your family may never have imagined,” Wynn said, connecting his own path to that of the many first-generation college graduates in the audience.

 

Wynn stressed the importance of seizing opportunities, sharing his own rise from truck washer to CEO, and emphasized the critical need for a new generation to enter the energy sector workforce. He specifically pointed to the college’s lineworker training program as an example of shaping a strong, skilled future workforce.

 

Curtis Wynn, Chief Executive Officer of SECO Energy, delivers the 2025 commencement address at Lake-Sumter State College’s Leesburg campus graduation ceremony.

SECO Energy is proud to partner with Lake-Sumter State College to power possibilities — for our students, for our communities, and for our future workforce,” said Wynn. “There are thousands of high-paying, purpose-driven careers in the energy industry waiting for graduates just like you.”

 

In his closing message to the class of 2025, Wynn urged them to lead with purpose. “Your background does not define your future — your perseverance does.” The speech was met with enthusiastic applause, confirming SECO Energy’s commitment to community, education, and economic opportunity across Central Florida.

 

As SECO Energy continues to invest in workforce development, SECO Energy encourages local students to consider careers in the energy industry. To learn more about career opportunities, visit SECOEnergy.com> Your Co-Op > Careers.

SECO Energy Donates Bucket Truck to Lake-Sumter State College

SECO Energy is a Central Florida not-for-profit cooperative that is one of the top ten employers in Sumter County, offering competitive wages, generous benefits, a defined-benefit pension and a robust paid-time-off program. As a co-op, SECO Energy is also focused on community involvement and partnerships.

 

“Over a decade ago, SECO Energy recognized a private/public partnership potential with Lake-Sumter State College to train an important part of our workforce. SECO helped finance the inception of the college’s electric utility lineworker program, from which a number of our employees graduated,” said Jim Duncan, CEO.

 

The donation effort was led by SECO’s Manager of Safety & Risk Management Steve Balius. As the Chairman for Lake-Sumter State College’s (LSSC) Engineering Technology Advisory Committee and committee member for the Electrical Distribution Technology program, Balius knew the college’s aging bucket truck wouldn’t continue to prepare students for the world-of-work much longer. When he learned SECO was retiring a bucket truck from its fleet, he went to work connecting the dots. Balius is excited for the donation opportunity and stated, “I am thankful for the generosity of SECO’s Board of Trustees in approving the donation.”

 

Duncan stated, “Today, it is our pleasure to contribute again to the Lake-Sumter State College’s program by donating this bucket truck. It will provide hands-on, real-life experience to students earning their Associates of Science in Electrical Distribution Technology. This program helps SECO too. Line techs who have been with the company for 30 plus years are starting to retire. We want to replace them with local students who want to stay in the area, work for a competitive growing company and raise their families here. For that reason, we felt that breathing new life into our partnership with Lake-Sumter State College with the truck donation was a sound investment.”

 

“We are excited to receive this bucket truck donation from SECO,” said LSSC President Dr. Stan Sidor. “SECO is a strong local partner and this partnership allows us to enhance our EDT program’s ability to train and prepare our students and ultimately support the workforce and our community.”

 

Learn more about SECO Energy and its Concern for Community on our Community page. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.