Honored to Serve

Skip to main contentI am truly honored to introduce myself as the new president and CEO of Carroll Electric Cooperative. Leading a cooperative in the CEO role has always been a career goal of mine, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do so. As I step into this role, I do so with a deep sense of responsibility and gratitude to serve the members and communities across our six-county service area.

My wife and I recently made the move to the Carroll Electric service area, and we are excited to become part of the community. We are entering a new chapter of our lives as empty nesters, as the last of our four children graduated high school this past May. My wife, Teresa, is a registered nurse who shares my passion for serving others and looks forward to contributing to the community in her own way.

My roots in the cooperative world run deep. I grew up in a co-op family, as my father retired from an Ohio electric cooperative, and I followed a similar path. I began my career as a lineman at Pioneer Electric Cooperative in Piqua, Ohio, working in the field, restoring power during storms, and maintaining the system day in and day out. Those years shaped who I am today and gave me a true "boots-on-the-ground" understanding of what it takes to keep the lights on safely and reliably.

After my time in the field, I had the privilege of joining Ohio's Electric Cooperatives as the manager of the Central Ohio Lineworker Training (COLT) facility. Over the course of a decade, I worked alongside and helped to train cooperative lineworkers from around the state, including many of the dedicated linemen who continue to serve Carroll Electric today. That experience reinforced my belief that safety, training, and teamwork are at the core of everything we do.

Most recently, I served as chief operating officer for Lorain-Medina and North Central electric cooperatives, where I gained valuable day-to-day experience in leadership, operations, and supporting the people who serve you, our members. Throughout my career, one thing has remained constant: a strong commitment to cooperative principles and delivering safe, reliable, and cost-effective electricity. Those principles will continue to guided my leadership in the years ahead.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our board of trustees for the trust they have placed in me, and to former CEO Larry Fenbers for his leadership and guidance throughout this transition. Larry's two decades of service have helped build a strong foundation that positions Carroll Electric for continued success.

Carroll Electric has a proud history rooted in cooperative principles: local, member-focused, reliable service, and safety above all else. I am committed too building on that legacy by focusing on continuous improvement, operational excellence, and maintaining the high level of service our members expect and deserve.

None of this work is possible without the dedicated employees of Carroll Electric. Since joining the cooperative the first of March, I have witnessed firsthand the commitment and professionalism of our team as they work to support you, our members. Together, we will continue to ensure that your cooperative remains strong, reliable, and focused on the future. 

Thank you for the warm welcome I have already received. I look forward to meeting many of you in the months ahead--at local sporting events, community gatherings, county fairs, and our annual meeting--and working together to serve our communities.