Each year, the Indiana Electric Cooperative operations group presents an award to a cooperative operations employee. Harrison REMC Operations/Construction Manager Jim Walter was a 2016 award winner.

The award recognizes outstanding achievements and strong character traits, including career competency, sharing of technical knowledge, concern for job-related health and safety, community involvement and leadership, and contributions toward community and employee health and safety. The award is named for Ernest G. Shearer, the first safety department director at Indiana Electric Cooperatives.