Central’s 2011 Most Valuable Business

CENTRAL — Dixie Electric Membership Cooperative (DEMCO) was named winner of the 2011 Business MVP Award at the 2nd Annual Central Awards ceremonies at Elegant Memories.

The award was presented to DEMCO president and CEO John Vranic by Sharon Browning, the immediate past president of the Central Community School Board.

Browning said, “This new award is presented to the business based in Central which the judges believe has the greatest overall positive impact on our economy in Central by its employment of Central residents, its service in the best of times and the worst of times, and its commitment to Central year after year.  And that business is DEMCO!”

DEMCO, which was founded in 1938, is headquartered at 16262 Wax Road in Central.  It has more than 200 employees, many of whom are based in Central.  It serves 98,000 customers in a seven parish area.  Its distribution system covers 15,000 square miles.  It is now the largest electric cooperative in Louisiana.

In accepting the award on behalf of DEMCO’s employees and members, Vranic said.  “Our family moved here with the kids in 1980, and we can attest that Central is the best place to be.”

Vranic told the packed house at the Central Business Awards ceremonies, “We hope times are good, the hurricanes stay away, and the meters keep spinning!”

DEMCO was also inducted into the Central Business Hall of Fame.