The summit opened with a leadership transition, as retiring Executive Vice President and CEO Joe Brannan gave a farewell remarks and welcomed incoming EVP and CEO Amadou Fall. Brannan applauded electric co-op leaders for working together to innovate through their shared Brighter Future vision.

“Your leadership in uniting as one voice across the state is the proudest moment of my career. Leaving is bittersweet, but I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together and confident Amadou Fall will take our organization to new heights,” Brannan said. “The future holds both challenges and opportunities, and Amadou brings the intellect, determination and collaboration necessary to continue us on this path of innovation.”

During his remarks, Fall stressed electric cooperatives’ shared mission to provide safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable power to the communities they call home — and the spirit of cooperation that gives the co-op network strength.

“I think what most excites me about the co-op business model is what we call the ‘Cooperative Difference.’ The fundamental concept of supporting the communities we serve was born out of necessity, and has become all the more critical in a time when costs are rising and many companies are focused on profits,” Fall said. “The secret sauce for our success is also a part of that Cooperative Difference — cooperation among cooperatives. That open collaboration is what gives us strength as a statewide network. It’s what enables the spark of innovation to grow to an executable strategy. And it’s what will keep us powering tomorrow, together.”

Other sessions included an address from Stephen Bell, senior vice president of Communications for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the national trade association representing more than 900 electric co-ops from across the county. Bell discussed critical issues facing electric co-ops today, and credited North Carolina electric co-ops for addressing today’s needs while planning proactively for the future.

Business meetings for the three statewide organizations — North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC), the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives (NCAEC) and the Tarheel Electric Membership Association (TEMA) — were also held, where officers were elected and, in the case of TEMA, incoming directors were named (see sidebar).

Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative Executive Vice President and General Manager Susan Flythe also addressed the group as outgoing NCEMC board president.

“Each of you is in this room because you have a proven track record of serving your members in a way that’s best for them,” Flythe noted. “That said, the only way we’re going to find success at home is by working together. We’re writing a new chapter together, and it’s only through cooperation and combined strength that we will find success in this new era for our industry.”