Craighead CEO Posting

The Craighead Electric Cooperative (CECC) Board of Directors seeks a dynamic, high-integrity, and visionary leader to serve as the cooperative’s next Chief Executive Officer. The preferred start date is April 2025.  Seven committed and experienced directors govern the cooperative and are eager to partner with the next CEO to build on CECC’s legacy of success.

The cooperative is seeking a CEO with exceptional skills in leadership, communication, and relationship building. The ideal candidate will have a strategic mindset and a deep commitment to fostering collaboration. The CEO will play a pivotal role in shaping an organizational culture that empowers CECC’s team to excel and consistently provide exceptional service to its members.

The CEO needs to be deeply committed to ethics, safety, and the core values of CECC, integrating these principles into their leadership style. Moreover, the CEO should demonstrate self-awareness and a strong focus on teamwork and collaboration.

CECC’s CEO will guide the cooperative in fulfilling its mission to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable energy while driving excellence in service, member care, organizational culture, safety, operations, and fiscal strength.  This effort requires strong leadership to foster positive relationships with the board, executive team, staff, business partners, the community, and other key stakeholders.

About Craighead Electric Cooperative

Craighead Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas, is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative founded in 1937.  It serves a broad community across eight counties in Northeast Arkansas.  The cooperative has approximately 32,000 meters and provides electricity to a diverse customer base, including residential, commercial, and agricultural members.  CECC purchases its wholesale power from Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, ensuring reliable service throughout the region. 

In 2018, CECC launched Co-Op Cares, an employee-sponsored community fund that supports local charitable organizations in Northeast Arkansas. This program is entirely funded by voluntary contributions from CECC employees and has positively impacted over 100 community organizations.  Currently, more than 90% of employees participate in Co-Op Cares, with total donations exceeding $224,000. Another example of CECC employees’ collaboration with local organizations is the Solar ONE Project, which promotes renewable energy and supports wildlife habitat. These initiatives and other collaborative efforts highlight the CECC team’s commitment to their communities.

3E8 Broadband Solutions, LLC d/b/a empower delivered by CECC (3E8)

Additionally, CECC has become the leading provider of internet in and around the area in which it serves electricity.  The organization’s broadband infrastructure has been built in a short period of time and is well ahead of its projections regarding internet service to customers and to the region.  The Chief Executive Officer of CECC will also serve as the CEO of 3E8.  So, internet experience would be very beneficial but is not an absolute prerequisite.  3E8 is a wholly owned subsidiary of CECC but is a taxable entity.  3E8 wants to continue to grow and to become one of the top internet providers in the state. 

About the Region

Jonesboro, Arkansas, is a charming city in the state’s northeast corner. It is near the borders of Missouri and Tennessee and within reasonable driving distance from Kentucky. It is the fifth largest city in Arkansas, with an approximate population of 81,000. 

Key industry sectors contributing to Northeast Arkansas are primarily agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare, with agriculture being the more prominent due to the region’s fertile land, yielding crops like rice, soybeans, cotton, and wheat.  The region is particularly known for being one of the leading rice-producing areas in the United States. Manufacturing plays a significant role, with diverse industries such as food processing, furniture manufacturing, and automotive parts production contributing to the local economy. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are significant employers in the region.  The area is also seeing growth in logistics and distribution due to its strategic location.

Jonesboro and the surrounding region offer a blend of outdoor recreation, cultural attractions, and family-friendly activities.  Explore Crowley Ridge State Park, or spend a day at Craighead Forest Park, a local favorite for hunting, fishing, biking, and camping. In fact, some of the best duck hunting in the United States is within 30 minutes of Jonesboro.  For arts and culture, visit the Bradbury Art Museum or enjoy a performance at the Fowler Center on the campus of Arkansas State University.  The downtown area has charming shops, restaurants, and a vibrant local music scene.  Jonesboro’s proximity to Memphis, about an hour away, offers even more options for dining, shopping, and entertainment.  Whether looking for outdoor adventures, art and culture, or family-friendly events, Eastern Arkansas has something for everyone.

The closest major airport to Jonesboro is Memphis International Airport, located approximately 70 miles southeast of Jonesboro, offering numerous domestic and international flights. 

Qualifications

            Required

            Applications from those not meeting the required qualifications will not be considered.

• Verifiable, successful leadership experience with an electric utility at the Vice President level (or equivalent) or above. We recognize that many utilities refer to those reporting to the CEO/GM as something other than “Vice President.” In such situations, individuals who are direct reports to the CEO/GM are welcome to apply, and they must be clear that they are direct reports to the CEO/GM in the cover letter or resume
• Excellent leadership and communication skills
• An ability to develop a compelling vision and strategic plan that aligns with the long-term goals of the board of directors
• Demonstrated success in building high-performance teams and excellent organizational cultures where employees thrive
• A focus on delivering an outstanding experience for CECC members
• The ability to build a workplace that aligns with CECC’s vision, values, and policies and adheres to federal and state employment regulations
• A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with the board of directors, executive teams, employees, members, and key external stakeholders
• Knowledge of electric utility operations, safety protocols, power supply, member needs and expectations, finance, strategic planning, and risk management
• An understanding of electric utility industry trends, their likely effects on cooperatives, and ways to leverage those trends to benefit CECC and its members
• An understanding of – and an appreciation for – the cooperative business model and Seven Cooperative Principles
• A commitment to professional growth and development
• A willingness to travel for meetings at the local, regional, and national levels
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university

Preferred

• Senior leadership experience within an electric cooperative
• Leadership experience at an organization operating a broadband business
• An understanding of the regulatory, political, and legislative environments facing the electric utility industry
• An advanced degree or certification in an area relevant to leading an electric utility, including but not limited to engineering, management, finance, accounting, economics, or law

Compensation and Benefits

In addition to a highly competitive salary, CECC’s new CEO will enjoy the following benefits: Pension and 401(k); medical and dental insurance; short and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; spouse and child life insurance; business travel accident insurance; helicopter ambulance service; medical insurance for bona fide retirees; health savings account; 457(b) retirement plan; ten holidays; vacation; up to five days of personal time; PTO rollover; and at board of directors’ discretion, a company vehicle or a vehicle allowance.

Application Process and Deadline

Interested individuals who meet the required qualifications must email a cover letter and resume to Monica Beavers, Director of Client Services at GreatCo-Ops, at mbeavers@greatcoops.com.  In addition to discussing the applicant’s fit for the role, the cover letter must also include the individual’s perspectives on one significant trend in the electric utility industry and how it will likely affect Craighead Electric Cooperative and its members.

Professional references and a personality profile will be requested later for applicants who progress in the process. Finalists will undergo a comprehensive background check, and the selected candidate must also undergo a pre-employment drug test.

Applications are preferred by December 20, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.  However, applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.

Craighead Electric Cooperative and 3E8 are both equal-opportunity employers.