Cody Durham knows the world of technology has evolved over the years. As the General Manager and CEO of Tishomingo County Electric Power Association, he’s been able to channel that...
With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Brad Coppock has witnessed firsthand the evolution of technology and its impact on the Valley. As General Manager of Powell Valley...
In a time where innovation drives progress and defines success, Clayton Dowell is committed to forward-thinking initiatives that move his community forward. Leading Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES) as CEO,...
As General Manager of Amory Water & Light, Mike King understands that technology isn’t just about progress—it’s about people. By staying tuned in to the needs of his customers, he’s...
Each year, Seven States seeks to highlight the good work being done across the Valley to meet the needs of those served by our LPC partners. As part of our commitment to our member-owner partners, we are excited to spotlight the unique work being done by experts in each of these communities and demonstrate how their work benefits energy consumers across a wide region with varying needs. We are proud to announce the 2025 Seven States Valley Innovation Ambassadors who we will be highlighting throughout the coming year. These individuals represent the work being done across the Valley to deliver more energy to the grid. They each lend their expertise to addressing how we design, develop, and deploy new technologies that solve real-time challenges for small businesses and households. A Valley Innovation Ambassador designation means that you are an individual who is dedicated to working in the short, medium and long term spaces to address today’s needs while delivering tomorrow’s solutions. These individuals have a vision for the future that allows our communities to thrive. In order to accomplish successful transitions to new technologies, we need individuals who think and act innovatively. We are honored to have the opportunity to spotlight talent such as this over the next several months. The 2025 Valley Innovation Ambassadors are: Brad Coppock, GM – Powell Valley Electric Cooperative Clayton Dowell, President & CEO – Bristol Tennessee Essential Services Jason Cloyd, GM – Caney Fork Electric Cooperative Brittany Davis, GM & CEO – McMinnville Electric System Glenn Hale, CEO – Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation Marty Ivy, Superintendent – Mayfield Electric & Water System Gene Kanikovsky, GM & CEO – Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corp. Ray Hardin, GM – Decatur Utilities Cody Durham, GM & CEO – Tishomingo County Electric Power Association Michael King, GM – Amory Water & Light Brian Childers, Chief Information Officer – North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation Kendall Bear, GM – Rockwood Electric Jeff Newman, GM & CEO – Forked Deer Electric Cooperative Scott Owens, GM – Benton County Electric System You can expect to learn more about them in our SPARK newsletter. To subscribe to SPARK, click here.
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With over 30 years of industry experience, Dion Cooper’s transition to President & CEO of Volunteer Energy Cooperative (VEC) in 2022 was an opportunity to ensure their system was prepared for the future with innovative solutions. “One area that we’ve worked to improve is to get more downline controls. We’ve got fiber to our substations and are actively working to implement more smart grid technologies. VEC has been awarded a DOE grant through the MG CARED program, as well as an additional battery grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). We partnered with North Georgia EMC and Blue Ridge Mountain EMC for a multi-state award, which was the first of its kind. In total, the three cooperatives will receive $10M to go toward the installation of additional battery storage systems in our service areas, and VEC plans to install an additional 4MW of batteries in Meigs County with our portion of the award. That battery piece is probably the biggest thing that we’re chasing right now—that will help improve our reliability even more.” Dion knows his LPC is responsible for the present and future of his community’s needs, and he wants his members to know that he strategically evaluates new technology with a long-term vision. “I want our members to know that we always look for opportunities that are going to benefit them in terms of reliability, cost, and anything we can do to improve their service level. We don’t pursue technology for technology’s sake—and as a former IT guy, I love technology—but there has to be a value to the cooperative in order to implement innovation.” Dion knows that Seven States is a helpful resource as his community’s needs continue to evolve and diversify. “We look at Seven States as a valuable partner, not only from a standpoint of doing projects together, but for expertise also—we can reach out to their team and lean on them. With our interest in battery storage and Seven States’ experience in that arena, we are confident that we’ll be able to work together in the future as we continue to explore what can best benefit our community.” With so much technological advancement in the Valley, Dion encourages fellow leaders to find what works best for their LPC and to not be afraid to bring about community change and benefits. “Don’t be afraid to implement new technologies just because it hasn’t been done; don’t let that be a deterrent. You don’t have to live on the cutting edge, but it’s okay to be first sometimes, especially if it has a tremendous value to the organization and to your members. Getting buy-in from your team, board, and community is vital, and if you have a technology that is going to bring real, tangible value to your community, and you keep that at the forefront of everything you do, everything else will fall into place.”
Monte Cooper is no stranger to technological advancements in our industry. Serving Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) as President and CEO has given him an opportunity to ensure that innovation remains at the forefront of his LPC and community. “Innovation at Jackson Energy Authority is such a high priority that it’s been one of our 4 major strategies concentrated on over the past 2 years. Leveraging consultants and partners, such as Seven States, has been a great way for us to pursue innovative projects in an efficient manner. In addition to implementing an updated SCADA system in the future, battery storage is a technology that we look most forward to bringing to our distribution system. We anticipate being the owner and operator of the battery storage projects that we will use to store solar energy and/or TVA energy for discharge during times of on-peak energy usage.” Monte credits Seven States as being a valuable partner for JEA as the needs of its customers continue to evolve. “Seven States assisted with the first ever JEA level 2 EV charger, which was installed at our Training Center. Our first EV project went very smoothly, and we will be using Seven States on the second EV charger, which will be located in downtown Jackson.” With the rapid advancement of innovation in our industry, Monte’s advice to future leaders who want to lead well is to lean into their network and partners for advice and collaboration. “I would advise any new GMs to attend our organizational meetings held by TVPPA, TMEPA, and Seven States in order to network with other utilities and learn from them. Using consultants and trusted partners like Seven States is a better way of getting projects designed, managed, and in service in a timely manner.”
Dan Rodamaker knows that long-term planning is crucial for implementing new technology in the Valley. Leading Gibson Electric Membership Corporation and Gibson Connect, LLC as President and CEO, Dan is focused on bringing innovation to his community to improve his members’ lives for decades to come. “Gibson Electric and our broadband subsidiary, Gibson Connect, have provided high-speed, economically priced broadband access to our members throughout our 12-county service area. This has been a real game changer for our members and our communities. We’ve also utilized that network internally for communication between our offices and for providing business redundancies. The broadband network enables us to monitor and operate downline devices, which helps us serve our members better, utilize our personnel more efficiently, and keep our employees safer. Our pre-pay program has also been extremely successful. Roughly 25 percent of our members are now on PayGo. Not only has it helped reduce our bad debts, but it also has given our members the tools to make informed decisions about their energy use and energy expenditures. Giving people options about how they pay their bills and how they communicate with us is always a good thing, and it equips the members with information that empowers them to adjust their energy use and manage their cost.” While innovative technology is crucial to the Valley’s future, Dan shared that partnering with Seven States has brought his team great value. “Seven States has given distributors in the Valley a forum for collaboration. It has helped us to learn from one another. By offering programs that help to facilitate innovation and learning, Seven States makes it easier for distributors to take that path. A good example of this is the EV program. Adoption of EVs in rural areas will be slower than adoption in some of the more metropolitan areas. By helping those utilities that are on the leading edge of that technology, Seven States helps all of us learn how to best implement a successful EV program.” When asked what advice he’d give to new managers, Dan shared that the power of collaboration is paramount in this industry. “I’d encourage a new GM to take full advantage of the opportunity to collaborate with industry peers. One thing I appreciate about our industry is that we share freely – especially in the Valley. Using R&D (rip-off and deploy) enables us to all be more successful. Communication inside our own organizations is also key. Bringing our internal staff and board members along gets them excited about and invested in new technologies, and this process sets the stage for innovation. I’d advise a new CEO to embrace new technologies, but not just for the sake of using new technologies. There must be value to the membership.”
Mark Malone knows that innovation and long-term planning are paramount in his industry.
Cody Durham knows the world of technology has evolved over the years. As the General Manager and CEO of Tishomingo County Electric Power Association, he’s been able to channel that...
With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Brad Coppock has witnessed firsthand the evolution of technology and its impact on the Valley. As General Manager of Powell Valley...
In a time where innovation drives progress and defines success, Clayton Dowell is committed to forward-thinking initiatives that move his community forward. Leading Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES) as CEO,...
As General Manager of Amory Water & Light, Mike King understands that technology isn’t just about progress—it’s about people. By staying tuned in to the needs of his customers, he’s...
Each year, Seven States seeks to highlight the good work being done across the Valley to meet the needs of those served by our LPC partners. As part of our commitment to our member-owner partners, we are excited to spotlight the unique work being done by experts in each of these communities and demonstrate how their work benefits energy consumers across a wide region with varying needs. We are proud to announce the 2025 Seven States Valley Innovation Ambassadors who we will be highlighting throughout the coming year. These individuals represent the work being done across the Valley to deliver more energy to the grid. They each lend their expertise to addressing how we design, develop, and deploy new technologies that solve real-time challenges for small businesses and households. A Valley Innovation Ambassador designation means that you are an individual who is dedicated to working in the short, medium and long term spaces to address today’s needs while delivering tomorrow’s solutions. These individuals have a vision for the future that allows our communities to thrive. In order to accomplish successful transitions to new technologies, we need individuals who think and act innovatively. We are honored to have the opportunity to spotlight talent such as this over the next several months. The 2025 Valley Innovation Ambassadors are: Brad Coppock, GM – Powell Valley Electric Cooperative Clayton Dowell, President & CEO – Bristol Tennessee Essential Services Jason Cloyd, GM – Caney Fork Electric Cooperative Brittany Davis, GM & CEO – McMinnville Electric System Glenn Hale, CEO – Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation Marty Ivy, Superintendent – Mayfield Electric & Water System Gene Kanikovsky, GM & CEO – Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corp. Ray Hardin, GM – Decatur Utilities Cody Durham, GM & CEO – Tishomingo County Electric Power Association Michael King, GM – Amory Water & Light Brian Childers, Chief Information Officer – North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation Kendall Bear, GM – Rockwood Electric Jeff Newman, GM & CEO – Forked Deer Electric Cooperative Scott Owens, GM – Benton County Electric System You can expect to learn more about them in our SPARK newsletter. To subscribe to SPARK, click here.
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
With over 30 years of industry experience, Dion Cooper’s transition to President & CEO of Volunteer Energy Cooperative (VEC) in 2022 was an opportunity to ensure their system was prepared for the future with innovative solutions. “One area that we’ve worked to improve is to get more downline controls. We’ve got fiber to our substations and are actively working to implement more smart grid technologies. VEC has been awarded a DOE grant through the MG CARED program, as well as an additional battery grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). We partnered with North Georgia EMC and Blue Ridge Mountain EMC for a multi-state award, which was the first of its kind. In total, the three cooperatives will receive $10M to go toward the installation of additional battery storage systems in our service areas, and VEC plans to install an additional 4MW of batteries in Meigs County with our portion of the award. That battery piece is probably the biggest thing that we’re chasing right now—that will help improve our reliability even more.” Dion knows his LPC is responsible for the present and future of his community’s needs, and he wants his members to know that he strategically evaluates new technology with a long-term vision. “I want our members to know that we always look for opportunities that are going to benefit them in terms of reliability, cost, and anything we can do to improve their service level. We don’t pursue technology for technology’s sake—and as a former IT guy, I love technology—but there has to be a value to the cooperative in order to implement innovation.” Dion knows that Seven States is a helpful resource as his community’s needs continue to evolve and diversify. “We look at Seven States as a valuable partner, not only from a standpoint of doing projects together, but for expertise also—we can reach out to their team and lean on them. With our interest in battery storage and Seven States’ experience in that arena, we are confident that we’ll be able to work together in the future as we continue to explore what can best benefit our community.” With so much technological advancement in the Valley, Dion encourages fellow leaders to find what works best for their LPC and to not be afraid to bring about community change and benefits. “Don’t be afraid to implement new technologies just because it hasn’t been done; don’t let that be a deterrent. You don’t have to live on the cutting edge, but it’s okay to be first sometimes, especially if it has a tremendous value to the organization and to your members. Getting buy-in from your team, board, and community is vital, and if you have a technology that is going to bring real, tangible value to your community, and you keep that at the forefront of everything you do, everything else will fall into place.”
Monte Cooper is no stranger to technological advancements in our industry. Serving Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) as President and CEO has given him an opportunity to ensure that innovation remains at the forefront of his LPC and community. “Innovation at Jackson Energy Authority is such a high priority that it’s been one of our 4 major strategies concentrated on over the past 2 years. Leveraging consultants and partners, such as Seven States, has been a great way for us to pursue innovative projects in an efficient manner. In addition to implementing an updated SCADA system in the future, battery storage is a technology that we look most forward to bringing to our distribution system. We anticipate being the owner and operator of the battery storage projects that we will use to store solar energy and/or TVA energy for discharge during times of on-peak energy usage.” Monte credits Seven States as being a valuable partner for JEA as the needs of its customers continue to evolve. “Seven States assisted with the first ever JEA level 2 EV charger, which was installed at our Training Center. Our first EV project went very smoothly, and we will be using Seven States on the second EV charger, which will be located in downtown Jackson.” With the rapid advancement of innovation in our industry, Monte’s advice to future leaders who want to lead well is to lean into their network and partners for advice and collaboration. “I would advise any new GMs to attend our organizational meetings held by TVPPA, TMEPA, and Seven States in order to network with other utilities and learn from them. Using consultants and trusted partners like Seven States is a better way of getting projects designed, managed, and in service in a timely manner.”
Dan Rodamaker knows that long-term planning is crucial for implementing new technology in the Valley. Leading Gibson Electric Membership Corporation and Gibson Connect, LLC as President and CEO, Dan is focused on bringing innovation to his community to improve his members’ lives for decades to come. “Gibson Electric and our broadband subsidiary, Gibson Connect, have provided high-speed, economically priced broadband access to our members throughout our 12-county service area. This has been a real game changer for our members and our communities. We’ve also utilized that network internally for communication between our offices and for providing business redundancies. The broadband network enables us to monitor and operate downline devices, which helps us serve our members better, utilize our personnel more efficiently, and keep our employees safer. Our pre-pay program has also been extremely successful. Roughly 25 percent of our members are now on PayGo. Not only has it helped reduce our bad debts, but it also has given our members the tools to make informed decisions about their energy use and energy expenditures. Giving people options about how they pay their bills and how they communicate with us is always a good thing, and it equips the members with information that empowers them to adjust their energy use and manage their cost.” While innovative technology is crucial to the Valley’s future, Dan shared that partnering with Seven States has brought his team great value. “Seven States has given distributors in the Valley a forum for collaboration. It has helped us to learn from one another. By offering programs that help to facilitate innovation and learning, Seven States makes it easier for distributors to take that path. A good example of this is the EV program. Adoption of EVs in rural areas will be slower than adoption in some of the more metropolitan areas. By helping those utilities that are on the leading edge of that technology, Seven States helps all of us learn how to best implement a successful EV program.” When asked what advice he’d give to new managers, Dan shared that the power of collaboration is paramount in this industry. “I’d encourage a new GM to take full advantage of the opportunity to collaborate with industry peers. One thing I appreciate about our industry is that we share freely – especially in the Valley. Using R&D (rip-off and deploy) enables us to all be more successful. Communication inside our own organizations is also key. Bringing our internal staff and board members along gets them excited about and invested in new technologies, and this process sets the stage for innovation. I’d advise a new CEO to embrace new technologies, but not just for the sake of using new technologies. There must be value to the membership.”
Mark Malone knows that innovation and long-term planning are paramount in his industry.
Cody Durham knows the world of technology has evolved over the years. As the General Manager and CEO of Tishomingo County Electric Power Association, he’s been able to channel that...
With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Brad Coppock has witnessed firsthand the evolution of technology and its impact on the Valley. As General Manager of Powell Valley...
In a time where innovation drives progress and defines success, Clayton Dowell is committed to forward-thinking initiatives that move his community forward. Leading Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES) as CEO,...
As General Manager of Amory Water & Light, Mike King understands that technology isn’t just about progress—it’s about people. By staying tuned in to the needs of his customers, he’s...
Each year, Seven States seeks to highlight the good work being done across the Valley to meet the needs of those served by our LPC partners. As part of our commitment to our member-owner partners, we are excited to spotlight the unique work being done by experts in each of these communities and demonstrate how their work benefits energy consumers across a wide region with varying needs. We are proud to announce the 2025 Seven States Valley Innovation Ambassadors who we will be highlighting throughout the coming year. These individuals represent the work being done across the Valley to deliver more energy to the grid. They each lend their expertise to addressing how we design, develop, and deploy new technologies that solve real-time challenges for small businesses and households. A Valley Innovation Ambassador designation means that you are an individual who is dedicated to working in the short, medium and long term spaces to address today’s needs while delivering tomorrow’s solutions. These individuals have a vision for the future that allows our communities to thrive. In order to accomplish successful transitions to new technologies, we need individuals who think and act innovatively. We are honored to have the opportunity to spotlight talent such as this over the next several months. The 2025 Valley Innovation Ambassadors are: Brad Coppock, GM – Powell Valley Electric Cooperative Clayton Dowell, President & CEO – Bristol Tennessee Essential Services Jason Cloyd, GM – Caney Fork Electric Cooperative Brittany Davis, GM & CEO – McMinnville Electric System Glenn Hale, CEO – Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation Marty Ivy, Superintendent – Mayfield Electric & Water System Gene Kanikovsky, GM & CEO – Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corp. Ray Hardin, GM – Decatur Utilities Cody Durham, GM & CEO – Tishomingo County Electric Power Association Michael King, GM – Amory Water & Light Brian Childers, Chief Information Officer – North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation Kendall Bear, GM – Rockwood Electric Jeff Newman, GM & CEO – Forked Deer Electric Cooperative Scott Owens, GM – Benton County Electric System You can expect to learn more about them in our SPARK newsletter. To subscribe to SPARK, click here.
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
With over 30 years of industry experience, Dion Cooper’s transition to President & CEO of Volunteer Energy Cooperative (VEC) in 2022 was an opportunity to ensure their system was prepared for the future with innovative solutions. “One area that we’ve worked to improve is to get more downline controls. We’ve got fiber to our substations and are actively working to implement more smart grid technologies. VEC has been awarded a DOE grant through the MG CARED program, as well as an additional battery grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). We partnered with North Georgia EMC and Blue Ridge Mountain EMC for a multi-state award, which was the first of its kind. In total, the three cooperatives will receive $10M to go toward the installation of additional battery storage systems in our service areas, and VEC plans to install an additional 4MW of batteries in Meigs County with our portion of the award. That battery piece is probably the biggest thing that we’re chasing right now—that will help improve our reliability even more.” Dion knows his LPC is responsible for the present and future of his community’s needs, and he wants his members to know that he strategically evaluates new technology with a long-term vision. “I want our members to know that we always look for opportunities that are going to benefit them in terms of reliability, cost, and anything we can do to improve their service level. We don’t pursue technology for technology’s sake—and as a former IT guy, I love technology—but there has to be a value to the cooperative in order to implement innovation.” Dion knows that Seven States is a helpful resource as his community’s needs continue to evolve and diversify. “We look at Seven States as a valuable partner, not only from a standpoint of doing projects together, but for expertise also—we can reach out to their team and lean on them. With our interest in battery storage and Seven States’ experience in that arena, we are confident that we’ll be able to work together in the future as we continue to explore what can best benefit our community.” With so much technological advancement in the Valley, Dion encourages fellow leaders to find what works best for their LPC and to not be afraid to bring about community change and benefits. “Don’t be afraid to implement new technologies just because it hasn’t been done; don’t let that be a deterrent. You don’t have to live on the cutting edge, but it’s okay to be first sometimes, especially if it has a tremendous value to the organization and to your members. Getting buy-in from your team, board, and community is vital, and if you have a technology that is going to bring real, tangible value to your community, and you keep that at the forefront of everything you do, everything else will fall into place.”
Monte Cooper is no stranger to technological advancements in our industry. Serving Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) as President and CEO has given him an opportunity to ensure that innovation remains at the forefront of his LPC and community. “Innovation at Jackson Energy Authority is such a high priority that it’s been one of our 4 major strategies concentrated on over the past 2 years. Leveraging consultants and partners, such as Seven States, has been a great way for us to pursue innovative projects in an efficient manner. In addition to implementing an updated SCADA system in the future, battery storage is a technology that we look most forward to bringing to our distribution system. We anticipate being the owner and operator of the battery storage projects that we will use to store solar energy and/or TVA energy for discharge during times of on-peak energy usage.” Monte credits Seven States as being a valuable partner for JEA as the needs of its customers continue to evolve. “Seven States assisted with the first ever JEA level 2 EV charger, which was installed at our Training Center. Our first EV project went very smoothly, and we will be using Seven States on the second EV charger, which will be located in downtown Jackson.” With the rapid advancement of innovation in our industry, Monte’s advice to future leaders who want to lead well is to lean into their network and partners for advice and collaboration. “I would advise any new GMs to attend our organizational meetings held by TVPPA, TMEPA, and Seven States in order to network with other utilities and learn from them. Using consultants and trusted partners like Seven States is a better way of getting projects designed, managed, and in service in a timely manner.”
Dan Rodamaker knows that long-term planning is crucial for implementing new technology in the Valley. Leading Gibson Electric Membership Corporation and Gibson Connect, LLC as President and CEO, Dan is focused on bringing innovation to his community to improve his members’ lives for decades to come. “Gibson Electric and our broadband subsidiary, Gibson Connect, have provided high-speed, economically priced broadband access to our members throughout our 12-county service area. This has been a real game changer for our members and our communities. We’ve also utilized that network internally for communication between our offices and for providing business redundancies. The broadband network enables us to monitor and operate downline devices, which helps us serve our members better, utilize our personnel more efficiently, and keep our employees safer. Our pre-pay program has also been extremely successful. Roughly 25 percent of our members are now on PayGo. Not only has it helped reduce our bad debts, but it also has given our members the tools to make informed decisions about their energy use and energy expenditures. Giving people options about how they pay their bills and how they communicate with us is always a good thing, and it equips the members with information that empowers them to adjust their energy use and manage their cost.” While innovative technology is crucial to the Valley’s future, Dan shared that partnering with Seven States has brought his team great value. “Seven States has given distributors in the Valley a forum for collaboration. It has helped us to learn from one another. By offering programs that help to facilitate innovation and learning, Seven States makes it easier for distributors to take that path. A good example of this is the EV program. Adoption of EVs in rural areas will be slower than adoption in some of the more metropolitan areas. By helping those utilities that are on the leading edge of that technology, Seven States helps all of us learn how to best implement a successful EV program.” When asked what advice he’d give to new managers, Dan shared that the power of collaboration is paramount in this industry. “I’d encourage a new GM to take full advantage of the opportunity to collaborate with industry peers. One thing I appreciate about our industry is that we share freely – especially in the Valley. Using R&D (rip-off and deploy) enables us to all be more successful. Communication inside our own organizations is also key. Bringing our internal staff and board members along gets them excited about and invested in new technologies, and this process sets the stage for innovation. I’d advise a new CEO to embrace new technologies, but not just for the sake of using new technologies. There must be value to the membership.”
Mark Malone knows that innovation and long-term planning are paramount in his industry.
