2023 Charles R. Akin Award Recipient Announced

Coates Field Service Inc. proudly recognizes Kelly Vineyard as the recipient of this year’s esteemed Akin Award of Excellence. As an employee who consistently goes above and beyond, Kelly has demonstrated unwavering dedication and outstanding performance in her role at Coates Field Service Inc.

Kelly has dedicated her career to the right of way industry, serving as a land agent for 13 years, title agent and now a senior right of way agent with Coates for the past 10 years. Kelly was nominated by Mark Handley to receive the award.

“Kelly has a thorough understanding of client’s facilities,” Mark said. “She has even been asked to attend various project meetings with the client’s projects managers and operations personnel.”

“Our client informs me on a regular basis about how satisfied they are with her work, performance and willingness to assist.”

Kelly said her love for Coates and the fact that the management team is pleased with her work enough to recognize her means so much to her.

“Right or wrong, my role with Coates is whatever they need from me, or whatever my client’s needs are. I am your woman, and I will figure it out!”

Kelly grew up in Fernandina Beach, Florida, where she was the youngest of 11 brothers and sisters. At 13, her family moved to Chauvin, Louisiana. She later studied nursing in Thibodeaux, Louisiana, and eventually became a district supervisor in Benetton. Kelly also studied and received her Series 7 and 63 in Louisiana.

Through the years, her interests varied and her career paths changed until she found her way into the right of way industry.

With this industry, she has combined a multitude of her interests and put them to use, including research, creating maps and helping people.

The best part about Kelly’s job is the people she gets to work with every day.

“You will never meet a better set of individuals,” she said. “There is always a smile on everyone’s face and always helpful hands to get the job done.”

Kelly reflected on the past ten years working for Coates and said this has been a great journey for her, including the ups and downs.

“The first couple of years, I was so busy establishing myself with Coates and working to maintain the image Coates has created throughout the years,” she said. “But, with the constant support I have received from the staff, management and all of the employees I have worked with, it’s motivated me to be able to face the day-to-day challenges head on.”

As an employee who has worked for other right of way companies, Kelly believes Coates is the best company to work for.

Kelly’s favorite Coates memory is the adventures of “Chip Mooogan.”

Deb Hefner, fellow Coates employee and friend, had a large stuffed cow that somehow ended up at the client’s office, and Chip Mooogan found himself going on many adventures around the office.

“He was continuously finding mischief and was always dressed very dapper,” she said. “We had a lot of fun with him.”

When asked about the most interesting situation she has been in since working at Coates, Kelly was quick to respond.

“I was on a project in Frankfurt, Kentucky, and I was scheduled to meet a landowner on his hunting property.

“I was told his property was the first open gate on the left,” she continued. “The first open gate was private property, and I did NOT belong there.”

Of course, Kelly didn’t know that at the time and continued her drive up the road passing trail cameras, ignoring the “NO TRESPASSING” signs and soaking in the trees and wildlife - totally oblivious.

Quite suddenly, the trail ended as she came up on a locked gate with an even bigger “NO TRESPASSING” sign than she had seen before, accompanied with “WILL BE SHOT ON-SITE” in big, bold letters.

Slowly, the realization she was in the middle of nowhere, In Kentucky, on private property, where you can guarantee the men had guns and knew how to use them sunk in.

Kelly, with no cell service, panicked.

“The only thing I could think of was ‘I need to get out of here now!’” she said. “Of course, I proceeded to get my vehicle stuck and had to walk back to the dirt road praying to Mother Mary the entire way.”

Her prayers were answered, and the landowner was looking for her. As it turns out, the landowner’s property was, indeed, the second open gate.

Kelly said the very next day she purchased her first four-wheel drive vehicle.     

When Kelly isn’t at work, she enjoys crocheting afghans (so many, in fact, that her family has asked her to stop), playing with her four dogs, and painting pictures of photos she has taken (some accompanied with the occasional paw print). She also enjoys cooking. Kelly loves to feed people and strongly believes home begins in the kitchen.

Her greatest interest, though, is watching her grandson, Max, grow up. She hopes to see him more often now that her son is stationed in the lower 48 (Oklahoma to be exact)!

From all of us at Coates Field Service Inc., congratulations, Kelly, on this well-deserved honor!