Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative Trustees Become Credentialed Cooperative Directors

SOUTHPORT, Fla., Oct. 21, 2009 –Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative Trustees Doug Birmingham, representing District II, Group 2, and Jimmy Black, representing District III, Group 2, were recently recognized for their commitment to education and attainment of the Credentialed Cooperative Director certification.

Today’s electric utility environment imposes new demands on electric cooperative directors, particularly increased knowledge of changes in the electric utility business, new governance skills and a working knowledge of the cooperative principles.  Electric co-ops in Florida have a commitment to work through NRECA to sharpen this body of knowledge for the benefit of their electric cooperative consumer-owners.

The NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director program requires attendance and demonstrated understanding of the basic competencies contained in five core courses.  Birmingham and Black completed the following classes:  Director Utilities and Liabilities; Understanding the Electric Business; Board Roles and Relationships; Business Planning; and Understanding Financial Planning.

“Completing this certification certainly makes each of them even more of an asset to the Cooperative.”  

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is part of the Touchstone Energy® national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives providing high standards of service to customers large and small.  GCEC serves approximately 20,500 consumers in Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Jackson, Walton and Washington counties and in the municipalities of Wewahitchka, Ebro, Lynn Haven, White City, Fountain and Southport.