CBPU introduces three new employees and highlights national community-service award

At the meeting the Coldwater Board of Public Utilities introduced three recent hires: Nathan Wood, a journeyman lineman who transferred from Duke Energy and said he is originally from Coldwater and attended Coldwater High School and Kellogg Community College; Malachi (Malachi Brownlee), a journeyman who obtained his qualification in Texas and returned to work locally; and Leilani Castile, CBPU's new community engagement and marketing manager, who said she joined from Mason, Michigan and graduated from Albion College in May.

Leilani told the board her priorities include customer communications, public relations, branding and building trust and transparency between CBPU and the community. The utility director thanked the new employees and welcomed them to the team.

Leilani also announced that CBPU received the Sue Kelly community service award at the American Public Power Association national conference. She said the recognition reflected employee-led community initiatives in 2025, including a school-supply drive, the StoryWalk education project, two blood drives, Toys for Tots collections, fairgrounds improvements, sponsorships totaling more than $28,000 for 26 local organizations, approximately 456 volunteer hours and nearly $10,000 in employee donations and in-kind contributions.

The board received the introductions and the award announcement with thanks and moved on to agenda business.