Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative Chief Operating Officer Nick Eltzroth has recently achieved two milestones that showcase his leadership and dedication to the electric cooperative industry.
Eltzroth successfully completed the Robert I. Kabat Management Internship Program (MIP), a highly selective and intensive electric utility management program offered in partnership with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The MIP program, which includes three 10-day workshops, equips top-level cooperative leaders with essential management, decision-making, and leadership skills tailored to the unique challenges of electric cooperatives. Eltzroth is one of the few individuals this year to graduate from this exclusive program, further strengthening his ability to serve PPEC and its members – especially as the co-op launches its fiber internet arm of service later this year.
Additionally, Eltzroth has been named to the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly Forty Under 40 Class of 2025, an honor recognizing the region’s top young leaders. From over 200 nominations, he was chosen for his outstanding leadership, business achievements, and unwavering commitment to serving Northeast Indiana. His dedication to improving PPEC’s operations and community involvement has earned him this well-deserved recognition. His article in the special publication can be found on page A8 online here.
PPEC President and CEO Randy Price feels Eltzroth is a “true reflection” of the Paulding Putnam team.
“Nick is constantly learning and growing personally and professionally,” Price says. “Team members such as Nick make us optimistic about the future of our community and the electric industry. We are very proud of him and appreciate his enthusiasm for life and business.”
While Eltzroth feels honored, he believes the recognition belongs to the PPEC team and the co-op membership, who have supported him along the way.
“I’m grateful to work alongside people who live out our mission with passion and purpose every day,” Eltzroth says. “Our members have invested in me so that I can invest right back—in our people, our service, and the long-term success of YOUR cooperative. This is about building something stronger for decades to come as we power communities and connect lives—just as we have electrically for 90 years and will do for many more into the future with internet.”
Nick joined the co-op in 2023 and lives with his wife, Claire, and two children in Fort Wayne, Indiana.