The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held at Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc., located in Newberry County, South Carolina, on Monday, August 31, 2026.
Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Trustee Leon Fulmer delivered the invocation, and a quorum was determined to be present.
The secretary reported that the following Board Members were present:
Barbara C. Bishop
J. Craig Kesler
Melanie B. Hawkins
William Lominick, Sr.
Johnnie L. Dickert
Douglas E. Hipp
John W. Nichols
Leon Fulmer
Also present were President and CEO G. Keith Avery; Attorney Thomas Pope; Arthur Guy, CFO; Leann Hutto, Vice President of Human Resources; Stephanie Sullivan, Vice President of Operational Support; Drew Davidson, Vice President of Engineering and Operations; Jocelyn Dussault, Communications, Government & Public Relations Coordinator; and Tara Chapman, Executive Assistant.
Ms. Dussault was recognized for earning her Credentialed Cooperative Communicator (CCC) certificate. Following the recognition, Ms. Dussault left the meeting.
President and CEO Avery informed the Board that Mrs. Hutto would present information regarding employee salaries and requested that staff be excused from the meeting for the presentation. After staff members left the meeting, Mrs. Hutto proceeded with her presentation.
Mrs. Hutto presented the proposed salaries for the staff and employees for 2027 to the Trustees. Following the presentation and discussion, Finance Committee Chairman Nichols presented the Finance Committee’s recommendation regarding employee salary increases. The recommendation provided for the annual salary increase to become effective January 1, 2027, and authorized management to proceed with preparation of the 2027 budget to include the effective date of annual employee salaries being changed from the first date of the year to be in October, subject to the Board’s approval of the 2027 budget. The Board voted unanimously to approve the Finance Committee’s recommendation.
Following the vote, staff members were asked to return to the meeting.
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes from the July 2026 Regular Board Meeting. Trustee Hipp moved to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee convened for its regular meeting on Monday, August 24, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The members of the committee are Trustees Johnnie L. Dickert, J. Craig Kesler, William Lominick, and John W. Nichols. All committee members were present, along with President and CEO Avery.
Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed cash disbursements for July. All expenditures were found to be in order, and the report was presented to the Board as information. The Board accepted the report by consensus.
Attorney Pope stated that he did not need an Executive Session.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the meetings, events, and activities he participated in during the month, including meetings with the Central Electric Power Cooperative and CEEUS, as well as visits with NEC’s industrial members.
Mr. Guy reviewed the July 2026 operational data in detail. Write-offs for March 2026 totaled $9,291.31. Trustee Hipp made a motion to accept this amount. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Mr. Davidson reviewed the Engineering & Operations reports for the month. He reported that preparations for installing an additional bay at the Belfast Substation were nearing completion. He also reported that sectionalizing equipment had been added to Bush River Circuits 2, 3, and 4 to improve system reliability and facilitate quicker outage restoration.
Mrs. Sullivan reviewed the Operational Support reports for the month. She reported that the right-of-way crews have completed the regular cycle maintenance for the Trinity Substation service area.
President and CEO Avery reviewed details regarding the NRECA Regions 2&3 conference scheduled for October 2026.
President and CEO Avery informed the Trustees that the ECSC Winter Conference will be held in December 2026. Seven Trustees expressed that they plan to attend.
President and CEO Avery informed the Board that, in connection with his upcoming retirement and leadership transition, Board approval was needed to designate Mr. Guy as NEC’s representative on the Central Electric Power Cooperative Board of Trustees upon his assumption of the role of Interim President and CEO. Trustee Kesler moved to appoint Mr. Guy to serve on the Central Electric Power Cooperative Board as NEC’s representative. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
President and CEO Avery reviewed summaries from Central Electric Power Cooperative's August 10, 2026 Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Meeting; August 10, 2026 Member and Energy Services Meeting; August 11, 2026 Engineering Committee Meeting; August 11, 2026 Power Committee Meeting; August 12, 2026 Executive Committee Meeting; and August 18, 2026 G20 Meeting. The summaries were accepted as information.
President and CEO Avery informed the Board that NEC had received a request to sponsor the SC Legislative Inshore Fishing Tournament. Following discussion, Trustee
Kesler moved for NEC to sponsor the event as a presenting sponsor. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
President and CEO Avery thanked the Board for its support during his 15 years of service as President and Ceo of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. On behalf of the Board, Chairman Dickert thanked Mr. Avery for his leadership and service to the Cooperative.
Mr. Avery will step down from his role as President and CEO and begin leave effective September 1, 2026. He will remain available in an advisory capacity as needed until his official retirement date of January 7, 2027. Mr. Guy will assume the role of Interim President and CEO effective September 1, 2026, while continuing to serve as the Cooperative’s Chief Financial Officer until a permanent President and CEO is selected.
The next scheduled Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the August 2026 Regular Board Meeting at 8:10 p.m.
___________________________________ ___________________
SECRETARY APPROVED
____________________________________
CHAIRMAN