Co-Mo Electric draws 1,500 to 2018 annual meeting

<p>Democrat photo </p><p>David A. Wilson</p><p>Everley Scheidt gets her face painted before the 2018 Co-Mo Electric meeting starts. Her mother and grandmother are among those behind her.</p>

Democrat photo

David A. Wilson

Everley Scheidt gets her face painted before the 2018 Co-Mo Electric meeting starts. Her mother and grandmother are among those behind her.

TIPTON, Mo. - The 79th annual meeting of Co-Mo Electric Cooperative Inc. drew about 1,100 people from the "Co-Mo country" for the 2018 annual meeting May 24 in Tipton.

Members registered, enjoyed the performance of Cross Creek Band, and dined on the meal catered by Lutz's BBQ, before the meeting began. Board President Eugene Eulinger Jr. opened the meeting during which each of the six board members - two from each district - spoke to the membership.

The members exercised their democratic control by taking part in the election of directors. Warren "Bruce" Wolfe (District One, Pilot Grove) was elected to his first term and Gary Harris (District Two, Laurie) and Rodney Schad (District Three, Versailles) were re-elected.

Wolfe is a life-long Cooper County resident, and is currently store manager for Ag-Power John Deere, Sedalia. He is a farmer, and has previously served on the Pilot Grove School Board as president, as well as other local boards. He has a degree in Ag-Econ from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Harris and Schad were both re-elected to the board. Schad is also a Morgan County commissioner.

While some of the many children in attendance were able to go up in Co-Mo Electric cherry pickers to take a higher altitude view of the area and people, all were able to enjoy other entertainment, such as temporary tattoos, face painting and playing in a bounce house. Various booths were setup inside for the adults.

Sean Friend is the interim CEO/general manager. He takes over from CEO/General Manager Ken Johnson, who has been selected as the next Rural Utility Service (RUS) administrator. Friend will be taking on additional responsibilities until a new CEO/general manager can be hired.

Co-Mo Electric's board of directors already has started a nationwide search for the cooperative's next CEO/general manager. This process is expected to take several months.

In the meantime, the cooperative is in good hands, as Friend brings a vast array of skills and knowledge to Co-Mo Electric. A 2008 graduate of College of the Ozarks with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, he earned a Master's Degree in business administration from Columbia College in 2010.

He began his cooperative career at Intercounty Electric, Licking, in July 2008, being responsible for the cooperative's annual operating and capital budget, financial forecasts, RUS loan applications and more. He also was responsible for the cooperative's accounting department and member accounts department.

About CO-MO Electric Cooperative - Co-Mo's service area comprises approximately 2,300 square miles in Central Missouri. Co-Mo exists to fulfill its members' needs for superior electric and related services at fair and reasonable prices and support its communities through economic, civic and educational opportunities.