Doing What Co-ops Do Best

Luke Williams challenged the crowd to question old clichés (Photo by Randy Berger).

Executive staff, directors and other key staff from North Carolina’s electric cooperatives gathered in Raleigh April 5 and 6 for the 2017 Statewide Annual Meetings. More than 400 attendees met to reflect on the past year’s successes and discuss strategies for success in an ever-changing energy industry.

The meetings’ theme of “Beyond Fearless: Relate and Innovate” follows last year’s theme of “Move Forward and Be Fearless” and frames electric cooperatives’ strengths in a time of industry change: Electric cooperatives are the original consumer-centric utilities, and are leaders in innovation as nimble, forward-focused organizations.

Outgoing NCEMC board president Mark Suggs, executive vice president and general manager at Pitt & Greene EMC, spoke to the strength of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives in his remarks to the crowd.

“Electric co-ops in North Carolina have got something going on: Excitement. There’s excitement in North Carolina. There are things happening here that are not collectively happening in other states, and we should be excited about it,” Suggs said. “There’s never been something that came along to so change the quality of life as electricity. We must continue to do those things for our members that improve their quality of life.”

Other speakers included Curtis Wynn, president and CEO of Roanoke Electric; Luke Williams, author of “Disrupt: Think the Unthinkable to Spark Transformation in Your Business,” and a global leader in consulting on disruptive innovation; and a Young Adult Panel of young leaders from the Carolinas making a difference by pursuing their passions.

(L to R) NCEMC CFO Lark James moderated a leadership panel with EnergyUnited CEO Wayne Wilkins and Jones-Onslow EMC CEO Jeff Clark. Not pictured: Randolph EMC CEO Dale Lambert (Photo by Randy Berger)

Panelists — all former participants of the electric cooperative Youth Tour — were Phillip Habib, current Soil and Water Commissioner for Berkeley County, South Carolina; Alex Loflin, a senior at NC State majoring in Natural

Resources and minoring in Extension Education; and Brennan Halkidis, a senior at Porter Ridge High School in Indian Trail. The group discussed their experiences confidently working for change, and shared some of what they will be looking for as they enter the workforce.

“It’s important to have a very diverse group working to achieve the same objective,” Habib explained from his experience. “That’s how you achieve the best results.”

Who’s Who at the Annual Meetings

STATEWIDE LEADERS

The following were elected to 2017–2018 board leadership positions:

• NCEMC (power supply): President Dale Lambert, Randolph EMC; Vice President Paul Spruill, Tideland EMC; Secretary-Treasurer Greg Puckett, Surry-Yadkin EMC.
• NCAEC (co-op services):  President Toby Speaks, Surry-Yadkin EMC; Vice President Bill Barber, Piedmont EMC; Secretary-Treasurer Max Walser, EnergyUnited.
• TEMA (material supply): District I, Joseph Joplin, Rutherford EMC; District II, John Lee, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (Va.); District III, Bertice Lanier, Four County EMC.

YOUTH EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

The North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives awards three scholarships each year to Youth Tour participants from the past year. Outgoing NCAEC President Susan Flythe, Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, announced this year’s recipients:

• Gracie Greene (Blue Ridge Energy) received the Youth Leadership Council Scholarship;
• Brennan Halkidis (Union Power Cooperative) received the Gwyn B. Price Memorial Scholarship; and
• Cassidy Mason (Tri-County EMC) received the Katie Bunch Memorial Scholarship.