Bradshaw honored with Democracy Award

Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Co-Mo Connect Powered by Co-Mo Connect Electric Cooperative, Tipton, was honored with the 2025 Frank Stork Democracy Award for his legislative work on behalf of Missouri’s electric cooperatives. The award was presented Oct. 1 at the annual meeting of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives (AMEC) in Branson.

The award is named for Frank Stork, former executive vice president of the association, who devoted most of his life to fighting legislative battles on behalf of Missouri’s electric cooperatives. It is presented annually to someone who upholds these same ideals.

“Politics has always been at the heart of our work, and it takes constant vigilance to succeed — the kind of vigilance Frank Stork exemplified,” said Caleb Jones, CEO of the association. “It is fitting that this award carries his name, and equally fitting that this year’s recipient is Aaron Bradshaw, who has shown the same dedication.”

Aaron’s path to Tipton, Missouri, started in Florida where he was vice president of Member Services and Marketing for Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative. In 2013 he was named CEO of Intercounty Electric Cooperative, Licking, Missouri, where he served until his move to Co-Mo in 2018.

During his time with Missouri’s electric cooperatives Aaron has shown a willingness to not only work to pass or defeat bills affecting the electric cooperative program but also to help put into practice new laws that need testing.

A fine example of this came in 2023 when Co-Mo Connect became the first electric cooperative to use a newly passed territorial law to serve a subdivision that preferred electric cooperative power over another power supplier. That case required countless sleepless nights from Aaron and his staff as Co-Mo fought for the right to serve this area. His hard work paid off after a year of legal wrangling.

Today other electric cooperatives and their members can benefit from this successful test of the Co-op Service Option Law. There is now a template others can use to protect their service territory and provide opportunities for economic development and to grow the cooperative.

Aaron has also been a champion for those co-ops working to provide fiber internet service to their members. Co-Mo’s fiber subsidiary, Co-Mo Connect, has provided a model many others have followed. In its 15 years of existence, it has brought high-speed internet service to more than 25,000 rural people and businesses. Elected officials hold Co-Mo Connect up as a sterling example of what can be accomplished through relentless determination in the face of overwhelming odds.

He serves as chairman of the AMEC Member and Public Relations Committee, a role he uses to help share the electric cooperative message statewide.

“He will always hold a spot as a champion of democratic excellence for rural electric cooperatives,” Jones said. “His concern for community shines forth in all that he does.”

The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives is the Jefferson City-based statewide service organization for Missouri’s electric cooperatives.