If the brain of every electrical cooperative was within its executive offices and boardroom, then the nerve impulses enabling its actions would almost certainly be its executive assistant. At Baldwin EMC, just one employee has held that title for the last 16 years.
During her tenure, Patty Norman has worked under four different general managers and watched the company grow by leaps and bounds as rural Baldwin County has developed. She has worked through at least eight major tropical weather systems, including Hurricane Ivan, which temporarily disabled BEMC’s entire grid.
Although her responsibilities have grown along with the company, Patty said there is one duty that is always a priority – providing assistance to the managers, vice presidents and the board of directors.
“I do anything [the general manager] or the board needs me to do,” she said. “And that will keep me busy.”
Patty is responsible for all scheduling of board meetings and educational courses, as well as any travel plans for the general manager and board members.
Patty said the thing she enjoys most about working for a cooperative is the solidarity between employees and the feeling that you are doing something for the community. She also believes the current team of leaders at Baldwin EMC is one of the most productive and skilled yet.
“I enjoy every one of them,” Patty said of the board members and vice presidents. “They are all more than qualified to do what they do, and they do a tremendous job of it.”
An Alabama native, Patty moved to Baldwin County in the 1970s. She has two adult sons, both on active duty in the U.S. military. Her husband is a retired Alabama state trooper, and they reside in Gulf Shores. In her spare time Patty enjoys tending to her flowers.