During an outage at Rawhide Energy Station, success depends on more than schedules and technical expertise; it depends on people. Long hours and complex work require teams to solve problems in real time, support one another and work toward a shared goal.
During last year's major outage, Rawhide leaders wanted a way to recognize those contributions. Inspired by the tradition of awarding a game ball after a big win, they introduced the Rawhide game ball.
“Each week, we recognized one employee for demonstrating the teamwork, leadership and commitment that helped make the outage a success,” said Brodie Griffin, director of power generation.
The first recipients set the tone:
- Week 1: Ryan Ricau took ownership of work in the Spray Dry Absorber, confined spaces and lockout tagout activities.
- Week 2: Brian Johnson helped build the outage schedule for the I & E team, discovered a critical electrical issue that could have caused an arc flash and forced outage.
- Week 3: Travis Thompson managed scaffold and insulation work while closely connected to crew and contractor schedules, keeping work moving across all areas.
As the weeks went on, more names were added:
- Week 4: Shawn Hancock supported critical turbine work while helping host board members and visitor tours on-site.
- Week 5: Jake Barrett played a key role in advancing components for the secondary superheat project.
- Week 6: Albert Rodriguez led contractor safety orientations with energy, consistency and a positive presence.
- Week 7: Phil Whitely consistently stepped in wherever he was needed and kept work moving.
While each recipient was recognized for something different, the common thread was teamwork. What began as an outage tradition quickly became a meaningful way to celebrate the people who go above and beyond for their coworkers and the organization. “At Platte River, we often recognize group efforts, because ultimately that is what it takes for us to be successful. The game ball allows us to also recognize individuals who directly impact the team’s overall success.”
Now, the game ball is awarded quarterly, with Danielle Sosa becoming the Q1 2026 for her work on the dust collector project and the positive energy she brings to the team. The Q2 recipient is currently being selected.
A display of signed game balls now serves as a reminder that Rawhide's success is built on collaboration, leadership and a shared commitment to delivering reliable power to our owner communities every day.