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Press Releases
February 27, 2011
Lincoln Electric Cooperative names
new General Manager - (Press
Release - PDF)
EUREKA – After months of
conducting a nationwide search to fill the top post for Lincoln Electric
Cooperative, the board of directors has named V. Ray Ellis, Jr., (Ray) as the
new General Manager to replace LEC’s longtime General Manager, Michael Henry,
who will be retiring in May, 2011. Ellis was unanimously selected after two days
of intensive interviews with five highly qualified finalists from all over the
country. He will assume his duties April 11, 2011.
Ellis, 53, is currently employed as
the General Manager for both the Okanogan County Electric Cooperative &
Okanogan County Energy, Inc., (their propane subsidiary) in Winthrop, WA. He has
25 years of cooperative utility experience, the last 5 as the General Manager of
both companies. He began his career with Okanogan County Electric Cooperative 25
years ago as a lineman for 10 years and also served as engineering manager,
service technician, and meter man, before being named as the cooperative’s
General Manager in 2006. He is also on the Board of Directors as Vice Chair of
the Pacific Northwest Generation Cooperative (PNGC), and is scheduled to assume
the Chairmanship of PNGC beginning October, 2011.
Ellis’ responsibilities included
developing entire budgets for both companies, analyzing and forecasting energy
and customer growth, developing various rate schedules, devising long term work
plans and providing leadership for 21 employees. He has been involved in
developing power contracts with PNGC and as a sitting board member holding the
office of vice chair (soon to be chair) it has allowed him to be in a position
to help determine the strategic focus and direction of PNGC, which is Lincoln
Electric’s power supplier.
Raised in the Winthrop, WA area,
Ellis graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography from Eastern
Washington University. He is also a 2008 graduate of the NRECA Management
Internship Program at the University of Wisconsin, and a 2005 graduate of NWPPA’s
frontline leadership sessions.
Ellis’ wife, Tammie, also a native
of Winthrop, WA, holds a degree in education and a Masters Degree in Literacy
from Eastern Washington University. She is currently teaching. They have 3 grown
children, Ryan, 29; Kali, 26; and Jay, 25.
Ellis stated, "Lincoln Electric
feels like an extremely good match for me and my wife. I understand the working
of small utilities and find it challenging and gratifying to work with staff and
a board to find answers to the energy needs of its members. In researching and
visiting LEC, I have noticed a commitment to the community that promotes
economic growth that benefits everyone. LEC is a well-managed organization and I
would like to continue in that tradition and, along with the staff and board,
help guide LEC into the future. A small rural area is where my wife and I have
lived and choose to live and we look forward to becoming an active part of the
Eureka community. I enjoy and encourage member involvement in all aspects of the
cooperative, including customer service, community responsibility and the
cooperative vision. I will make myself available to the employees, the board,
the community and the cooperative members we serve."
"We are extremely pleased with the field of
well-qualified candidates that we interviewed. As the representatives for our
consumer members, we have the important fiduciary responsibility to select the
best qualified manager for our cooperative; and we take that job quite
seriously," said Tina Taurman, board president. "Ray possesses the
attributes we were looking for in dedication to the cooperative principles,
sound management practices and exceptional people skills. We are very excited to
have Ray as our new General Manager and look forward to exciting and challenging
times ahead."
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