Members of Community Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors are keeping pace with changes in the electric sector and approaches to strategic planning that will help them guide the cooperative more effectively.Board member Brian Jones of Isle of Wight County has earned a “Director Gold Credential” through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. As NRECA explains, “the Director Gold Credential recognizes directors committed to continuing their education … who desire a tangible credential that demonstrates their ongoing commitment to advancing their knowledge and performing their fiduciary duty to the best of their ability.”
Board member Douglas Chesson of Southampton County also has completed an intensive educational program administered by NRECA. Chesson completed the Board Leadership Program designed to help understand their roles and responsibilities, stay up-to-date on industry issues and trends, and better prepare them to meet challenges facing electric cooperatives.
Board of Directors Chairman Jeannette Everett, who renewed her Director Gold Credential last spring, commended Jones and Chesson for their respective achievements.
“Congratulations to Robert and Doug on their accomplishments. I know first-hand that successful completion of the NRECA leadership programming requires a commitment of time and effort that is fairly significant. So I’m happy for them. But even more so, I’m happy for CEC’s members, because these achievements help ensure that they are receiving the representation and leadership they deserve from the board of directors.”
The challenges facing electric cooperatives make it important that directors stay up to update on changes in the electric utility business and strategize effectively on ways to safeguard the interests of member-owners. The NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director program requires attendance and demonstrated understanding of the basic competencies contained in five core courses:
- Director Duties and Liabilities
- Understanding the Electric Business
- Board Operations and Process
- Strategic Planning, and
- Financial Decision Making
Education, Training and Information is one of the nine guiding principles of rural electric cooperative operations in the United States. NRECA represents the nation’s almost 900 private, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide electric service to more than 42 million people in 48 states. Community Electric is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors. The directors are elected by the co-op’s membership at the annual meeting and serve three-year terms.
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