Duck River EMC CEO Posting

The Board of Directors at Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC) is seeking a visionary, principled, and innovative leader to join the cooperative as its next Chief Executive Officer. The preferred start date is mid-October 2024.

DREMC has partnered with GreatCo-Ops (www.greatcoops.com) to assist with the search.

The cooperative seeks a CEO with exceptional leadership, superior communication skills, and strong relationship-building abilities.  The ideal candidate should possess a strategic mindset and the ability to foster collaboration to further develop a unified vision for DREMC’s future.  The CEO will be entrusted with cultivating an organizational culture that empowers DREMC’s team of approximately 175 employees to flourish and consistently provide exceptional service to members.

It is of utmost importance that the CEO firmly commits to ethics, safety, and DREMC’s values. This commitment should be at the core of their leadership approach. Additionally, it is essential that the CEO embodies self-awareness and a collaborative spirit.

The CEO of DREMC will lead the cooperative in achieving excellence in organizational culture, safety, service, reliability, operations, and fiscal strength. This is a collaborative effort, and they must demonstrate strong leadership abilities to foster positive relationships with co-op members, employees, the board, regulatory agencies, legislators, energy providers, the wider community, and other stakeholders.

About Duck River EMC

Founded in 1936, Duck River EMC provides electricity to more than 83,000 members across 16 counties in Middle Tennessee, covering approximately 2,500 square miles. The company’s corporate headquarters is in Shelbyville, and the cooperative has seven additional locations:  Manchester, Decherd, Lewisburg, Columbia, Sewanee, Lynchburg, and Chapel Hill.  DREMC’s wholesale energy needs are served by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

DREMC has a longstanding commitment to being a good citizen of the communities it serves.  As part of its commitment to community support, the cooperative works with a local nonprofit to provide emergency residential energy assistance, provides scholarships to students, engages in outreach with local schools, and more.

Thirteen engaged, committed, and experienced trustees govern the co-op. They look forward to working collaboratively with the cooperative’s next CEO to build on DREMC’s history of success. 

About the Region

Shelbyville, Tennessee, is a delightful community of about 25,000 people in Middle Tennessee’s bluegrass region.  Shelbyville is situated on a limestone bluff along the Duck River, about 50 miles south of Nashville.

Various industry sectors, including technology, healthcare, tourism and hospitality, music and entertainment, and automotive manufacturing, drive Middle Tennessee’s robust economy. In 2023, the region experienced significant job expansion, particularly in the technology and healthcare areas.

One of the most significant events in Shelbyville is the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, an annual event that showcases the beauty and skill of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed.  It typically occurs in late summer and attracts an estimated 250,000 spectators and 2,000 horses.

This part of Tennessee is known for nature, music, food, fishing, and adventure-seeking.  The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just four hours away, a stunning place where visitors can hike the trails, embark on scenic drives, observe wildlife, and enjoy breathtaking views in America’s most visited national park.  Music is deeply ingrained in Tennessee’s culture, with Nashville being the heart of country music and Memphis known for blues and soul.  Tennessee is known for its food, which includes Southern classics, unique local dishes, and barbecue. There are many places to fish, including lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.

The closest major airport to Shelbyville is Nashville International Airport, 60 miles from DREMC’s headquarters.

DREMC offers the unique opportunity to lead a top-tier cooperative and live in one of America’s best regions. 

Qualifications

            Required

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

• Verifiable, successful leadership experience at the Vice President level (or equivalent) or above with an electric utility (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 a direct report to the CEO/GM in the cover letter or resume.)
• Excellent leadership and communication skills
• Demonstrated success in building high-performance teams and excellent organizational cultures where employees thrive
• A focus on delivering an outstanding member experience
• The ability to build a workplace that aligns with DREMC’s vision, values, and policies and adheres to federal and state employment regulations.
• A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with boards of trustees, executive teams, employees, 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 DREMC 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 for self and the employees
• A willingness to travel for meetings at the local, regional, and national levels
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university

Preferred

• A minimum of 5 years of experience at the Vice President level or above within an electric utility, preferably an electric cooperative
• 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 law, management, finance, accounting, economics, or engineering

Compensation and Benefits

In addition to a highly competitive salary, DREMC’s new CEO will enjoy the following benefits: Pension and 401(k); medical, dental, and vision insurance; long-term disability insurance; term life insurance; AD&D insurance; use of DREMC’s private employee health centers (three locations); health club reimbursement; and a cooperative-provided vehicle.

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 DREMC, given the cooperative’s unique characteristics.

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

Applications are preferred by July 12, 2024, at 5:00 pm Central.  However, applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.

DREMC is an equal opportunity employer.