Celebrating Co-op Service

Member Services Specialist Betsi Ross hits 15-year milestone at Northern Lights

Betsi Ross has spent her entire career in customer service and, for the past 15 years, she’s helped Northern Lights, Inc. members. She says her longevity in the service industry wasn’t something she planned, she “really just likes helping people.”

Hired in 2011 to assist members at the service counter, Betsi enjoyed interacting with cooperative members. After a few years, she began working in the transfer department, serving moving members, landlords and tenants. As the Northern Lights service area experienced growth, the new services department grew to meet the needs of cooperative members. In 2019, Betsi moved into her current role in that department. Today, as a member services specialist, she welcomes new members, helps process their applications and resolves any issues to ensure they have a smooth start of services.

“We have a great crew at Northern Lights, and working for a cooperative is amazing,” she says. “If I knew then what I know now, I would have applied here earlier.”

Betsi happily shares her love of baking with her valued colleagues. She brings homemade cookies every Wednesday, and she makes her co-workers their favorite desserts on their birthdays. Betsi’s co-workers returned the favor on her last birthday. They decorated her cubicle in all things Morgan Wallen, her favorite country artist.

“I mean everything was Morgan-themed, and his face was everywhere—on balloons, stickers and signs,” she says. “They really made me feel special, and it was the best day at work ever.”

Working for a rural electric cooperative means living and working near the cooperative, and that’s good with Betsi. She works at the Northern Lights’ headquarters in Sagle, just across the long bridge from Sandpoint, Idaho, where she graduated high school and has been a lifelong resident.

“I love a small town where you recognize people at the grocery store,” she says.

For someone working in the electric utility industry, it might seem a bit unusual that one of her favorite spots to visit is Cave Creek, Arizona, a small desert preserve with no outdoor lighting. But, with lots of hiking trails and plenty of bird-watching opportunities, “it shares a vibe similar Sandpoint,” she says. Betsi and her family visit there once a year.

Family is central to Betsi’s life, and she beams when talking about her three sons.

“I always wanted to be a mom, and I raised three boys who became amazing adults,” she says.

Plus, they are parents to her “incredible grandchildren,” who are a cherished part of her life.

Betsi’s commitment to caring for those around her makes her a valued member of the Northern Lights team.