Management Alliance
After a year of research, discussion and careful assessment, the boards of Slope Electric Cooperative, Oliver-Mercer Electric and Mor-Gran-Sou Electric recently signed papers to formalize their management alliance, converting it from temporary to permanent.
The new alliance, called Innovative Energy Alliance, LLC, took effect January 1, 2008 and will be managed by Alliance Co-Managers Clayton Hoffman and Donald Franklund. Hoffman has served as general manager and CEO of Oliver-Mercer Electric for 25 years, and Franklund has served as general manager and chief executive officer of Mor-Gran-Sou Electric for 13 years.
As of March 1, Oliver-Mercer Electric and West Plains Electric consolidated and are referred to as Roughrider Electric Cooperative. Hoffman says both alliance co-managers will discuss all aspects of managing the cooperatives. Combining Franklund’s experience with line crews and engineering and Hoffman’s strengths in business and marketing, Hoffman says they share a complimentary relationship. Together, they will oversee more than 12,000 miles of power line, approximately 13,200 members and 98 cooperative employees.
John Lee Njos, chairman of the Slope Electric board and director of Innovative Energy Alliance stated "The alliance is helping all three co-ops to bring technology together to save costs and help to build a stronger cooperative."
Franklund says it is vital that each cooperative prepare for the future. "Directors at all three cooperatives see a changing rural landscape and are concerned about what lies ahead. This management alliance is a bold step toward managing our cooperatives’ future, so I applaud their efforts."
