Electric cooperative leaders are sharing deeply personal stories about how co-ops changed their lives as they deliver commencement addresses at local colleges throughout the country this graduation season.
“When electric cooperative CEOs give commencement addresses, it’s a powerful opportunity to engage with the community, inspire young graduates, and spread awareness about career opportunities in the cooperative sector,” said Tim Korman, CEO and general manager at Missouri’s Macon Electric Cooperative, who delivered the address at State Technical College of Missouri.
“By sharing stories of leadership, innovation, and community impact, CEOs can spark interest in co-op careers, helping to build the next generation of community-focused leaders while addressing workforce needs in the evolving energy industry.”
Korman, who earned an associate of electronic technology degree from State Tech in 1990, talked about what it was like to work as a lineman at the co-op he now leads.
“One day, after making a mistake on a simple task, I received what I considered at the time to be some pretty harsh criticism from one of the lead linemen,” he told the graduates. “I’ll be honest—it stung.”
After he calmed down, Korman said, he realized the veteran lineworker was hard on him because he saw potential in the junior crew member.
“Over time, I learned that those tough lessons were gifts,” he said. “Those men taught me things no textbook ever could: the value of precision, the necessity of perseverance, and the importance of humility.”
In Florida, SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn—a former NRECA president—told graduates of Lake-Sumter State College about his rise from humble beginnings as the ninth of 10 children in a small rural community to becoming the first African-American CEO of an electric co-op in the U.S.
“My career didn’t begin in a corner office or at the head of a boardroom table,” Wynn said. “I started my journey in the energy sector washing trucks [as a high school student] at my hometown electric cooperative, West Florida Electric Cooperative.
“While washing those huge bucket trucks, I watched, I learned, I asked questions. I took every opportunity to understand how the business worked—from the line technicians, billing clerks, front counter cashiers to the customer service reps and the engineering team.”
After graduating from high school, Wynn asked the co-op’s general manager if he could become an apprentice line technician. Instead, the manager hired him as a night dispatcher so that Wynn could attend college during the day. The co-op paid Wynn’s tuition and bought his books.
He would go on to graduate with a degree in business and information systems, becoming CEO of Roanoke Cooperative in Aulander, North Carolina, where he helped bring high-speed internet service to rural communities and make energy-efficient home improvements affordable for low- and moderate-income families.
“In 2009, I was asked to testify before the United States Congress on rural broadband and energy equity,” Wynn said. “As I walked into that chamber, I carried with me my whole journey.”
He encouraged the graduates to consider the energy industry, where there is high demand for employees to fill good-paying jobs as lineworkers, engineers, cybersecurity and IT specialists, renewable energy technicians and business and finance professionals.
“Over 50% of the current energy workforce is nearing retirement age, creating an urgent need for the next generation of skilled professionals,” said Wynn, who became CEO of Sumterville-based SECO Energy in 2021. “Within the electric cooperative industry alone, thousands of high-paying jobs remain open, waiting for qualified individuals like you.”
Marshall Cherry, who succeeded Wynn as president and CEO of Roanoke Cooperative in 2022, told graduates at Halifax Community College in Weldon, North Carolina, that he can relate to their experiences.
“I’m from this region—just like many of you,” he said. “I grew up in Bertie County and played sports against every high school in Halifax County. My path took me through Livingstone College, a small HBCU, which added another layer of challenge as I found myself in rooms with people holding degrees from some of the most prominent universities in North Carolina early in my career. I often wondered if I belonged. But I kept going.”
Cherry first learned about electric co-ops as a high school student, when he was selected to participate in the statewide Cooperative Leadership Camp. After graduating from college and going to work for Roanoke Cooperative, he moved up through the ranks, serving as chief operating officer for eight years before becoming CEO.
“Along the way, I learned that what matters most isn’t where you start—it’s how you carry yourself,” he said. “I carried the values I was raised with: respect for every person I met, no matter their title or background; a belief in the dignity of hard work; and a deep understanding that leadership begins with listening.”
Cherry said Roanoke Cooperative has been proud to work with the community to create jobs and boost economic development, and he urged graduates to become local leaders.
“But lead with respect—not just for titles or traditions, but for every voice and every story. Lead through collaboration—because the best solutions are built together, not alone. And never stop leading with curiosity—ask questions, seek understanding, and remain open to the possibility that growth comes from the unexpected.”
Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.