Annual Report Gold Spotlight Award

In a daring departure from tradition, I earned top honors when a pirate-themed annual report captured the NRECA Spotlight Gold Award. Designed to engage readers and stakeholders with bold creativity, the report transformed dry data into a high-seas adventure. Through clever nautical metaphors and swashbuckling visuals, the report charted the year’s financials, strategic milestones, and cooperative achievements as treasure maps, stormy voyages, and treasure maps. Each section was crafted with rich, textured design, blending period-authentic visuals with modern insights to make utility performance metrics both memorable and meaningful.

The theme resonated particularly well with the cooperative’s membership, turning what is typically a formal document into an engaging, accessible narrative. Hand-drawn illustrations, parchment-style backgrounds, and pirate lingo infused the report with personality, while still meeting rigorous standards for clarity, accuracy, and professionalism.

 The gold-level recognition of the NRECA Spotlight Awards celebrated not only the creativity behind the concept, but also its effectiveness in turning required reporting into a fun adventure.

Find the report here.