Carroll Electric announces new CEO

Bidding farewell: More than 20 years of service to Carroll Electric

As I write my final column as Carroll's president and CEO, I think back to the many positive memories from my 20-plus years servings this great organization.

Having started my career in the electric utility industry over 42 years ago, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the differences between investor-owned utilities and cooperatives.

My first experience was with an investor-owned utility. I spent more than 19 years there and near the end of that stint, my wife and I moved onto co-op lines. I was already familiar with co-ops, but it wasn't until then that I saw for myself the value of being a cooperative member. I quickly made a concerted effort to find my next professional adventure as a cooperative employee.

My time with the cooperative has been the best professional experience of my career. Much of that centers around the not-for-profit business model and what that means for our members. I've found that the best way to explain this difference is a simple comparison:  With an investor-owned utility, you have stakeholders on one hand an customers on the other. Like a balancing scale, what's good for one is bad for the other and vice versa. With an electric cooperative, your stockholders are the customers (members). They are one and the same, so what's good for one is good for the other.

This model centers on having all our members democratically vote for representation on the board of trustees. You, with your friends and neighbors, determine the policy direction for Carroll Electric to ensure the team of employees focuses on what is in the best interest of the entire membership. The board, representing you, has provided our mission "serving and enlightening our members and communities." I'm proud to tell you that Carroll Electric's employees have done an outstanding job of delivering this service to you.

Throughout my 18 years as president and CEO, I've had the privilege of working with exceptional employees and board members and serving thousands of cooperative members. Together, we have achieved a great deal and enhanced the cooperative's performance.

"We are going to miss Larry's perseverance and integrity," said Harold Sutton, chairman of Carroll Electric's board of trustees. 
Our board and this co-op owe Larry a great deal of gratitude. What our members care about is Carroll Electric keeping the lights on and keeping costs affordable. Larry has done a fantastic job at doing both." 

A few highlights from my tenure include implementation of a call answering service to answer more of your outage calls and dispatch more quickly; changing our automated meter reading system, allowing us the ability to remotely check whether meters are receiving power and thus predicting outage locations; changes to how we bid our line clearance program and establishing a true five-year cycle; purchasing equipment like track machines that allows our employees to more safely complete their work in areas inaccessible to a bucket truck; and negotiating deal with large loads that allow Carroll to collect a revenue stream, lowering costs to the other members and eliminating risks.

I have also been blessed with the opportunity to serve on the Buckeye Power Board of Directors, the Cooperative Response Center Board, and the United Utilities Supply Board. With these, I have been able to serve cooperative members not only at Carroll Electric, but also across the state of Ohio and nationally. I'm fortunate to have also made some great friends along the way.

While I will no longer be leading Carroll Electric, I leave knowing that there is a dedicated team of employees ready to continue the advancement of the cooperative into a successful future.

Thank you for the privilege of serving you. Carroll Electric will always hold a special place in my heart.