Phil Carson (left) a board director for Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Mount Vernon, was elected secretary-treasurer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) at the organization’s annual meeting on Feb. 20, 2013 in New Orleans. Carson joins newly elected NRECA officers Mel Coleman, NRECA board vice-president and CEO of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative; Curtis Nolan, NRECA board president and board member for Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative; and Jo Ann Emerson, the new NRECA CEO.
Carson is the first Illinois electric cooperative representative to serve as an officer on the NRECA board of directors. NRECA is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperatives. These locally-owned cooperatives generate, transmit and distribute electricity to the homes, farms and businesses of 42 million members in 47 states.
Carson has been a director at Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Mt. Vernon since 1998 and has served on the NRECA board since 2006. In addition, he is a director for Egyptian Telephone Cooperative Association, Southern Illinois Power Cooperative and the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC). Carson is a former dairy farmer who retains an interest in a 160-year old farm, and is the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville.
Duane Noland, President/CEO of the AIEC, upon hearing the election results remarked, “I am pleased the NRECA board recognized Phil’s passion to serve electric cooperatives both in Illinois and nationally, and elected him as their secretary-treasurer. Phil is highly respected for his integrity and insight and he takes his responsibilities seriously. On behalf of the entire community of electric cooperatives in our state, we congratulate him on this honor.”
