Celebrating 36 Years of Service: Congratulations, Martin Nicol

After 36 years of dedicated service to URE, Operations Manager Martin Nicol is retiring, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, mentorship and unwavering commitment to the members and employees he has served throughout his career.

Martin’s journey at URE began in 1990 when he was hired as an apprentice lineworker. Looking back, he remembers quickly learning what it meant to be part of a cooperative.

“My early memories at URE were centered around a culture that I was taught from day one to understand,” Martin said. “The camaraderie in the line crew, starting at the bottom and working your way up, the willingness to help each other even after hours, and above all, keeping the power on for our members — even if it meant missing Christmas or being out in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm.”

That commitment to serving members became the foundation of a career that would span more than three decades. From apprentice lineworker to operations manager, Martin played an important role in helping guide URE through periods of significant growth and change.

“Our cooperative has seen a tremendous amount of growth,” Martin said. “We’ve had to become more efficient with a similar number of lineworkers. Advances in technology have enhanced our ability to assist in troubleshooting and restoring power. Our apprenticeship program is one of the best in the nation, producing a highly qualified group of lineworkers prepared to safely handle the new technical advances we have seen in recent years.”

While Martin is proud of the cooperative’s accomplishments, one of his proudest moments was simply being hired at URE as a young apprentice.

“After 36 years of service, I am proud to be leaving as manager of operations,” he said. “It was a job I worked hard at and took pride in every day, with the ultimate goal being to maintain and restore power to our members.”

Throughout his career, Martin became a familiar and trusted face to both members and employees. Many members knew him by name and often called to express their appreciation for the work he and his crews performed to keep the lights on.

That reputation for service and leadership is something URE CEO/president Anthony Smith has witnessed throughout Martin’s career.

“I first met Marty when he was a young apprentice lineman at URE, and I was just beginning to learn the ropes in the engineering group,” Anthony said. “Even back then, he was always willing to help and mentor other employees as they gained experience and confidence. He’s not only been a wonderful coworker but also a dedicated mentor and friend.

“Whether it was discussing how to keep the power on during maintenance, explaining to me how to fix something at my house, or even offering wise marriage advice, Marty has always been available to help others succeed,” Anthony said. “He truly has a servant’s heart, and really, that’s what leadership is about.”

URE VP of Engineering and Operations Matt Zarnosky said Martin’s impact on members is something that stands out throughout his career.

“Over the years, I’ve received countless calls and messages from members expressing their appreciation for Marty and the work he and his team do every day. In fact, I still have a voicemail from a member that spent several minutes talking about the positive impact Marty had made. Whenever things get challenging, it’s a reminder of the difference he has made for our members and our cooperative. Marty has earned the trust and respect of the people we serve, and that’s one of the greatest compliments anyone in this industry can receive. His leadership, dedication and commitment to our members will leave a lasting impact on URE.”

As he prepares for retirement, Martin is looking forward to spending more time with family and focusing on the things that matter most to him.

“I look forward to a slower pace that will allow me to spend time doing many hobbies like hunting, woodworking and smoking meat,” Martin said. “My wife, Amy, and I will enjoy helping our kids as they grow their own families. I hope to have more time to spend with our parents, help more at church, and just have time to do the things that are important to me.”

As he reflects on his career, Martin remains grateful for the opportunity to serve the cooperative and its members.

“I want to thank URE members, the board and employees for allowing me to be a part of the cooperative,” he said. “This job has been a blessing to me and my family for many years.”

While Martin’s daily presence will be missed, the impact he has had on URE, its employees and the members he served will continue for years to come. His commitment to service, leadership and helping others succeed has helped shape the cooperative’s culture and will remain part of his lasting legacy.

Congratulations, Marty, on your retirement, and thank you for 36 years of dedicated service to URE and its members.