Cloverland’s primary goal is to provide safe, reliable and affordable service to its 34,000 member-owners. Storekeepers play an essential part in this mission by keeping proper supply inventory and safeguarding all tools and equipment required to prepare maintenance work orders and construction projects within the cooperative's five-county service territory.
The primary responsibility of the storekeeper is receiving, organizing and delivering materials required at the cooperative’s divisions and warehouses. Covering over 4,000 miles of rural utility line, the remote division warehouses must be fully stocked in case of a storm or other outage event. When storms strike, division line crews are prepared because storekeepers keep the warehouses organized and stocked with supplies.
Storekeepers ensure division locations have the resources needed to keep the lights on for Cloverland’s members. From maintaining proper inventory to safeguarding tools and equipment, the storekeeper's roles are essential to achieving the cooperative's goal of providing reliable service to member-owners.
On Wednesdays, Cloverland receives a supply shipment. Storekeepers Randi Newcomb and Rick Recla unload and organize the shipment in Cloverland’s warehouse.The storekeepers deliver supplies to divisions and warehouses weekly at Cloverland’s Sault Ste. Marie-based administrative office, Hydro Plant, Newberry, Manistique, St. Ignace, Mackinac Island, DeTour and Drummond Island.Rick Recla (left) and Randi Newcomb (center) are managed by Cloverland’s Purchasing Manager Tim McLean (right). The purchasing manager oversees the storekeepers and the warehouses, amongst other duties. The warehouses use an inventory system to track the materials used for each job. The inventory system ensures the right materials are ordered weekly while providing the cooperative with an accurate cost for storm repair work, maintenance projects and new member construction.Maintaining warehouse organization is critical to successful supply delivery and inventory management. In addition to strong organizational skills, Randi and Rick are certified forklift operators, and Randi holds her commercial driver's license (CDL). The CDL allows Randi to deliver large items, such as utility poles, to division warehouses.Cooperation, communication, organization and dependability are vital traits that ensure the success of storekeepers each day. The storekeepers and purchasing manager are crucial to assisting all Cloverland divisions with the cooperative’s mission of delivering reliable and safe electric service.
