N.C.’s Electric Cooperatives Move Forward, Fearlessly

LED manufacturer Cree, Inc.’s CEO Chuck Swoboda served as the annual meeting keynote speaker, sharing his company’s business driver: “The cheapest, cleanest energy is the energy you never use.”

The meeting provided more than 300 electric co-op senior staff and directors an opportunity to reflect on the past year’s successes, while taking time to discuss future opportunities and challenges for their co-ops and the energy industry as a whole.

The meeting’s theme of “Move Forward, Be Fearless” set the tone for many learning sessions and conversations about the current state of the energy industry — where electric utilities are using technology to find new ways to engage with consumers.

Mark Suggs, general manager of Pitt & Greene EMC and president of the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC) board of directors, recognized the group for their efforts in making the state a national leader in adapting new technology for the benefit of their electric co-op members.

“As electric cooperatives, we are more than an infrastructure company; we are a trusted energy provider, and as member-consumers explore ways to manage their energy bills, they can count on us,” Suggs remarked. “Co-op directors across the state have brought North Carolina’s electric cooperatives to the forefront of the nation, and our counterparts from all over the country see North Carolina as a model.”

Suggs also presided over the business section of the meeting, where officers and representatives to the statewide boards of directors were seated (see sidebar).

General sessions at the meeting included a panel of young people from the state who provided perspective on community involvement and what they think it means to “be fearless.”

“One thing that’s important as we educate ourselves and raise awareness of issues, is to never leave any stone unturned,” NCEMC CEO Joe Brannan said. “The youth of today are more capable than we were when we were their age — it’s important that we listen to and learn from our youth.”

The youth panel included Jacob Brooks, national spokesperson for the 2009 Youth Leadership Council as a member of Blue Ridge EMC (and former Carolina Country columnist); Analuz Carrillo, a 2015 youth tourist and Pee Dee EMC member; and Reggie McCrimmon, a 2013 graduate of North Carolina Central University and current director of member services and external affairs for the Congressional Black Caucus.

Brooks interprets being fearless as an opportunity to push beyond uncomfortable situations to challenge and better himself. McCrimmon agreed, seeing it as a way to become engaged politically, socially, environmentally, as well as civically through community service.

“Young people want to feel that they’re a part of something, so naturally community service is a great way to get people involved,” McCrimmon said. “You can actually see the advancement of your efforts. You can see the natural engagement; you can see the process changing.”

He stressed that although young people today excel at mobilizing for causes and communicating new ideas, particularly through social media, they turn to older generations for their experience in providing the infrastructure to make those new ideas a reality.

Carrillo further stressed the importance of civic engagement with a quote from Gandhi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”