Baton Rouge (February 3, 2021) – ALEC recently hired 2016 Youth Tour Alumni and Youth Leadership Council (YLC) Daniel Bischoff as a cooperative communicator intern.  Daniel is a recent graduate of Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a concentration in Digital Advertising.  While enrolled at LSU, he was awarded a football scholarship serving as an equipment manager for the Tiger football team that earned a National Championship Title, SEC Championship Title, and Playoff Title.

During 2016, Daniel represented Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative on the Louisiana Youth Tour trip to Washington, D.C. where he was selected by his peers to represent the state of Louisiana as their Youth Leadership Council member.  This trip of a lifetime opened many doors for Daniel.  Daniel has interned for the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).  Not only has Daniel represented the Louisiana electric cooperatives in Washington, D.C., he has also had opportunities to attend NRECA Annual Meetings in San Diego, Orlando, and New Orleans.

“Daniel is one of our shining stars,” said Addie Armato, director of member engagement for ALEC.  “Youth Tour is designed to provide students from our rural areas a springboard into early adulthood and leadership, and Daniel has used this platform to its fullest potential.”  It is only fitting that Daniel will spend the next few months working at the statewide association before starting graduate school.  Armato hopes he will get a better idea of some of the job opportunities available in the electric cooperative industry.

Daniel hopes to get accepted into graduate school at either the University of Oregon or Auburn University.  He has also applied for a summer internship with Nike in Oregon.  “My goal is to one day work in the highly competitive sports equipment market,” said Bischoff.  “I like the drive of competing for market share, but my heart will always be with the electric cooperatives.  They have opened so many doors for me and given me so many opportunities.”

“Daniel is a true champion,” said Armato.  “He has the personality and the drive to succeed in his future endeavors.  I hope he spreads his wings and flies high, but then I want him to come back home to nest at one of our great Louisiana electric cooperatives.”  During Bischoff’s internship he will work on several communication projects for the statewide and its member cooperatives.  Armato also hopes to bring him around the state to the different cooperatives to meet the great employees of our electric cooperatives.