Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative (EIEC) announced the appointment of Bradley W. Smith as the cooperative’s next president and chief executive officer, which was effective on April 7.
Smith brings a wealth of experience in the electric utility industry and at EIEC specifically. He was previously the vice president of operations and engineering for the cooperative. After serving our country as a United States Marine, he began his EIEC career working for a subsidiary of the cooperative in 2002.
He quickly transitioned to an apprentice lineman position and went up through the ranks since then, as a journeyman lineman, line foreman, and operations and safety coordinator. He became the vice president of the operations department in 2017.
The Eastern Illini Board of Directors selected Smith following a thorough search process focused on identifying a leader who will continue to build on the cooperative’s legacy of successfully serving its members with reliable electricity and excellent service.
“We are excited to welcome [Smith] to his new role at EIEC,” said Board Chair Kevin Moore. “The board is confident that he will bring the right blend of leadership, vision and experience to guide us forward while remaining deeply committed to serving our members.”
Smith succeeds Bob Hunzinger, who retired after more than 11 years of dedicated service to EIEC and over 40 years in the electric utility industry. Under Hunzinger’s leadership, the cooperative made significant strides in system reliability, financial strength and community engagement.
“I am honored to be named the next president and CEO at EIEC. I’m excited to continue our strong tradition of serving our members,” said Smith. “This is a dynamic time for the electric cooperative industry, and I look forward to working with the board, employees and members to shape a strong and sustainable future together. I’d also like to thank [Hunzinger] for his great leadership. We all wish him well in his retirement.”
