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Chief Executive Officer's
Report
September 2006...
The Only Thing Certain is That Everything Changes
Those close to the daily operations of your local electric cooperative would probably tell you that things are changing at FKEC, just like they are in our community. Some probably feel these changes are for the better, others are not so sure. But as CEO, I can tell you with confidence that change is the only thing certain.
In the September issue of FKEC News you will see that we have hired a new Chief Financial Officer and named a new Chief Operating Officer. These staff changes are part of the reorganization I started to help better position the company to meet the future needs of our community. On these pages you will also see many promotions and new hires as we continue to feel the affects of the changes in our local housing market.
As most of you know, real estate prices skyrocketed for the past several years, sending many of our employees scrambling to "cash out" and move away. Other employees and those new to the area are still hoping to purchase a home, but are finding the prices out of reach.
Although FKEC is a not-for-profit organization, we must still retain our skilled employees, maintain a high level of service to our members, provide safe and reliable power, and cover our costs. We are also charged with providing quality electric service in the future, which means studying all the possibilities of alternative energy sources for our area.
One of these possible sources is our very own Gulf Stream. FKEC is currently watching the work of the Miami-based Ocean Renewable Power Company as it undertakes a pilot ocean current generation project with the help of Florida Atlantic University. We look forward to this project succeeding and ultimately providing a clean, reliable local source of affordable renewable energy for you, our members. Look for more information on this project in future issues of FKEC News.
So change is not just certain, it's here. We, like other local businesses, are constantly working to adapt to our community's changing needs. But through it all, we at FKEC will remain focused on our number one priority: you. Because serving our community is the cooperative way. So, when you're a co-op, the more things change, the more things stay the same.
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ABOUT SCOTT NEWBERRY
Scott Newberry joined FKEC in 1990 as Planning, Rate and Budget Analyst and
was promoted in 1996 to Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, he oversaw all of
the financial, accounting, billing and information system functions of the
cooperative. He was promoted to CEO on January 1, 2006.
Scott is an active member of the Upper Keys community and is a past
president, current director and president-elect of the Rotary Club of Key
Largo, is a director for the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce and is co-founder
and president of the Upper Keys Golf Association.
In 1994, Scott completed the three-year national electrical course for
apprentice linemen to further his education in cooperative operations. He
is a graduate of Leadership Monroe County Class XI and completed the
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Management Internship
Program in 2005.
Scott graduated from Arkansas State University with a degree in Agriculture
Business and Economics in 1986. In 1988, he began his career in the
electricity industry when he joined the Rural Electrification Administration
(REA) in Washington, D.C. With the REA, he worked first as a Commercial Loan
Specialist and was later promoted to Power Requirements Officer before
moving to the Florida Keys to join FKEC in 1990. |
