August 2024 | Pursuit of Excellence | Olympian Ryan Murphy, Interns Keep Pushing Forward

Posted: August 1, 2024 at 8 a.m.

By Sean J. Vanslyke | sean@gosemo.com

I was in Indianapolis for work in June, unaware that the USA Swimming Team Trials were also taking place. After a long day of meetings and catching up on emails from my room on the 29th floor, I headed to a business dinner.

The elevator stopped on the 26th floor, and an athletic young man with a large suitcase stepped in. We exchanged a few words, and I assumed he was checking out.

When we reached the second floor, we found ourselves near the hotel’s ice machines. To my surprise, I ended up helping four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Murphy fill three pillowcases with ice and zip up his suitcase. He was preparing for an ice bath about three hours before attempting to qualify for his third Olympics!

We only had a few minutes to chat. I asked Ryan what keeps him pushing forward. He said, “It’s the fulfillment of the pursuit of excellence. It’s a really awesome thing to strive for, and that could be something different for everyone.”

Later, as I arrived for dinner, my friend Kevin Wheeler unexpectedly asked if I wanted to go to the swimming trials. Off we went. Guess who swam and qualified for his third Olympics? Congratulations, Ryan! Good luck in the 2024 Olympics in Paris! Keep pushing forward and lead with your heart!

The pursuit of excellence is something Team SEMO strives to achieve. We may not win gold medals, but we care deeply and want to see our members and subscribers live their best lives. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in the efforts of our team and our three summer interns, who are helping us explore innovative ways of doing things. Much like Ryan, they are driven to improve and excel. Watching their growth is truly inspiring.

Book of the Month: “Everyone shines and needs to be seen. Everyone wants to know that they matter, and that they are needed. Sure, some may hide their brilliance, but the light is in there, always flickering, and it is a beautiful thing when we can reflect it back to them.” Noticing by Kobi Yamada

Sean is the CEO/GM of SEMO Electric Cooperative and GoSEMO Fiber.

Sean Vanslyke (left) shares a moment with four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Murphy (right) three hours before the USA Swimming Team Trials in Indianapolis.
The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis featured around 900,000 gallons of water across two pools. Lucas Oil Stadium was split into two halves, with a heavy tarp coming down around the 50-yard line to separate the main competition pool from the warmup lanes. The main 50-meter competition pool, located on the south side of the stadium, boasted 10 lanes and was surrounded by stadium seating. On the north side of the stadium, there was a L-shaped warmup pool with 18 lanes.
Team SEMO’s Britney Mulcahy, second from left, welcomes SEMO Electric Cooperative’s summer interns (left to right) – Betsy Riggs, Eric Riddle, and Piper Schoemehl. This talented group is diving into GoSEMO Fiber’s marketing and construction initiatives, bringing fresh energy and ideas to the team. Internships like these are crucial for providing hands-on experience, fostering professional growth, and preparing the next generation of leaders in the cooperative industry.