Sometimes, the most powerful validation of our work comes when we least expect it.

Recently, we heard a great story from Denise Machado, Manager of Regulatory Compliance & Operations Coordinator, Westfield Gas + Electric (WGELD), and the team at WGELD—one that perfectly captures the impact of consistent, thoughtful public awareness efforts.

For more than 45 years, WGELD has hosted an annual Electric & Gas School Safety Program for local 5th grade students. This year alone, they’ll reach nearly 400 students through small-group, interactive sessions designed to engage and educate.

As part of their gas safety presentation, the team incorporated content from the Northeast Gas Association public awareness media campaign—specifically, the familiar character “Nosey.”

Before playing the video, presenters displayed an image—just a partial glimpse of Nosey—and asked a simple question:

“How many of you recognize this guy?”

What happened next was remarkable.

Across all nine presentations, the response was the same: hands went up. Not only did the students recognize Nosey, they also knew him by name.

This is exactly what effective public awareness should do.

It’s a testament not only to the strength of the Public Awareness Safety Media campaign, but also to the dedication of local teams like Denise’s—teams that take the time to bring these messages into their communities, into classrooms, and into real conversations with the next generation.

The WGELD team didn’t just present information. They created an environment where safety messaging could resonate—and clearly, it has.

To Denise and the entire Westfield Gas + Electric team: thank you for your leadership, your consistency, and your commitment to keeping your community safe.

NGA’s annual Public Awareness Media Campaign is set to begin this spring. If you have any questions, or if your company is interested in participating, contact Christian Rodrick at crodrick@northeastgas.org

Learn more about natural gas safety public awareness and Nosey here: https://northeastgas.org/Be-Nosey