Jacksonville-based First Electric Cooperative recently welcomed Mark Snowden as its new president and CEO following the retirement of his predecessor, Don Crabbe. Snowden will be responsible for leading and managing the cooperative’s almost 240 employees and 100,000-plus member accounts, as well as working with the Board of Directors to establish the strategic direction and operative policies of the cooperative.
“Due to Don’s leadership, the future for First Electric is well-positioned with great employees, a well-maintained and reliable system and a very competitive rate structure,” Board Chairman Rick Love said. “We now have state-of-the-art heavy equipment and communications systems, and we’re nearing the second half of distribution of high-speed internet via fiber optics to the homes of all members who request the service. Don has served with absolute fealty, working tirelessly to ‘improve the quality of life’ for our members. We’re excited for the future as we begin the next chapter in leadership at First Electric.”
Crabbe’s career in the energy industry spanned 47 years, beginning with the rural electrification program in 1976, when he served on the staff of Cotton Electric Cooperative until 1984. He was then hired as the Director of Cooperative Services for the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives. In 1991, he was named CEO of Central Rural Electric Cooperative, where he remained until he returned to Arkansas in 2005 when he was named President/CEO of First Electric.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to lead First Electric. My goal is to continue building on the cooperative’s strong foundation that has been established under my previous successors and Mr. Crabbe’s past 18 years of leadership,” Snowden said. “For me, that all starts and ends with delivering the most reliable, affordable services possible and being accountable to the families and businesses we serve.”
Snowden first joined the industry in 1998 at Cimarron Electric Cooperative in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. During his 24-year career at Cimarron, he gained experience in key account relationships, rate design, marketing and accounting and was selected as CEO of Cimarron Electric in 2008. After 14 years as CEO, he accepted a position at the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) in Dulles, Virginia, as senior vice president of Strategic Services Group.
Snowden’s work experience also includes leadership roles as director for CFC, trustee for the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC), past president of the OAEC Managers Association, alternate director for the Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) Board of Trustees and past president of the WFEC Managers Association. Snowden graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in finance.
“Being a part of the electric cooperative network for the past 25 years, I have always been impressed with and respected the work that the First Electric board and employees do. The quality of talent is incredible here,” Snowden said. “First Electric has grown to be one of the largest and highest performing cooperatives in the industry, and that has me so excited to be joining them.”
READ ALSO: A-STATE APPOINTS WHITE TO EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR, PROVOST
