Randy Brecheisen, who retired as president & CEO of Hillborough-based Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation in June, has received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. The award is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the governor of North Carolina.

Bill Barber, Piedmont Electric board chairman, surprised Brecheisen with the award during his June 28 retirement celebration.

“Randy has dedicated his career at Piedmont Electric to those living in the Piedmont region of North Carolina,” Barber said. “His efforts have made a significant impact on these communities, and his legacy will continue to strengthen them for decades to come.”

During his 33 years with the cooperative, Randy made strategic investments in innovations that helped members better understand and control their energy usage, while at the same time enabling the cooperative to provide better, more reliable electric service, Barber noted. Those investments include advanced meters, outage maps, community solar, online member account access and immediate communication channels through social media.

Also under Brecheisen’s leadership, Piedmont Electric secured more than $14 million in Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in support of key community development projects.

“It has been an honor serving these communities for more than 30 years,”

Brecheisen said. “I view this award as recognition of all electric cooperative leaders who have contributed to the growth and development of their rural communities.”

Learn more about Brecheisen’s career of innovative service.