2025 CFC District Meetings, Elections Begin September 4

The first of five combined CFC District Meetings takes place Thursday, September 4, in Providence, Rhode Island. All of the annual business-of-CFC events take place in conjunction with the series of NRECA Regional Meetings.

CFC members in six districts (1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 10) will elect candidates to the board of directors. In addition, members in seven districts (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9) will ratify nominating committees tasked with choosing candidates for board seats up for election in 2026. 

CFC will host a luncheon for all NRECA Regional Meeting registrants following the district meeting. At the luncheon, CEO Andrew Don will provide attendees an update on how the U.S. economy is dealing with uncertainty and what the future may hold.

Board candidate profiles will be available on the CFC Member Website under the Events & Training tab. Look for CFC District Meetings web pages.   

Members Can Vote On-Site or By Mail Ballot

CFC will complete mailing the official notices of meeting and delegate registration information to its voting members by the end of August. Members can vote for proposed 2026 Nominating Committees and 2025 director candidates on-site during the District Meetings or by mail ballot. 

Voting members can cast ballots in person by appointing a voting and alternate delegate for the event, completing the delegate registration card and having an officer of their system sign it. Under CFC bylaws, no individual can represent more than one system.

Alternately, voting members can complete and sign the mail ballot, place the ballot in the return envelope and mail it to CFC. Voting members may vote on behalf of only one system and must use the original ballot provided. Mailed ballots are due to CFC headquarters at least five business days before the meeting.    

Following are CFC District Meeting details and board candidates:

CFC Districts 1 and 4 Meeting  

September 4 | Providence, Rhode Island 

District 1 Manager-Director Candidates

• Bryant Dillon, general manager, Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NY).
• Ruston Ogburn, general manager, Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative (PA). 

District 4 Director-Director Candidates 

• Bruce Everhart, director, RushShelby Energy (IN).
• Steven McMichael, board president, Indiana Electric Cooperatives (IN). 

CFC Districts 5 and 6 Meeting  

September 24 | Madison, Wisconsin

District 6 Director-Director Candidates

• Gary Fish, director, Sioux Valley Energy (SD). 
• Todd Hettich, director, Northern Electric Cooperative (SD).
• Ryan Maher, board chair, Moreau-Grand Electric Cooperative (SD).

CFC Districts 7 and 9 Meeting 

October 7 | Bellevue, Washington 

District 7 Manager-Director Candidates 

• Ryan Schilreff, general manager, Wyrulec Company (WY). 
• Lee Tafanelli, CEO, Kansas Electric Cooperatives (KS).

CFC Districts 2 and 3 Meeting 

October 22 | Biloxi, Mississippi

District 3 Manager-Director Candidates 

• Gary Smith, president and CEO, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative (AL). 
• Lewis Ward, general manager, Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative (AL).  

CFC Districts 8 and 10 Meeting 

October 28 | Round Rock, Texas 

District 10 Director-Director Candidates 

• Donnie Bidegain, board vice president, Farmers’ Electric Cooperative of New Mexico (NM). 
• John Graham, board president, Lea County Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NM).