Nebraska Public Power District CEO Named CFC Board President

Norris Public Power District General Manager and CEO Bruce Vitosh grew up on a dairy farm in southeast Nebraska, where he lives today. He understands the importance of reliable and affordable electricity and what a power interruption meant for the cows’ milking schedule. He brings the experience of growing up on public power district (PPD) lines, and 30 years of management accounting and PPD management to the CFC Board of Directors as its next president. 

“It is truly an honor to be selected as the president,” Vitosh said. “I appreciate the trust and support of the CFC directors who are committed to continuing the CFC tradition of service, integrity and excellence. The future of CFC is bright under the leadership of CEO Andrew Don and his senior staff, along with the professionalism and dedication of CFC employees.” 

Nebraska is the Only State Served Solely by Publicly Owned Utilities

Nebraska is the only state in the country served solely by publicly owned utilities. Public power utilities are community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities that are similar to electric cooperatives. The main differences between PPDs and cooperatives are that PPDs do not have to account for capital credits or issue patronage refunds, directors are elected through the local political election process, and PPDs do not have a seat on the generation and transmission organization’s board of directors since its directors are also elected through the political process. 

“In the electric cooperative and public power district industry, we manage the business to provide safe, reliable and low-cost power,” Vitosh said. “In doing so, we have tremendous support from neighboring public power districts, our power provider, the Nebraska Rural Electric Association and also from the national electric cooperative network partners, like CFC.” 

Vitosh’s journey to the electric cooperative network took a fortuitous turn when a director from the local PPD informed him of an accounting position at Norris on a trip to his sons’ high school basketball game.   

After researching the benefits of a career in the public power industry, Vitosh was convinced to apply and was selected to be the manager of finance and Accounting. Four years later, when the general manager retired, the Norris Board of Directors selected him as the next general manager and CEO in 2012. The system provides electricity to 26,000 customers throughout six counties. 

Auditing and Leadership Roles Prepared Vitosh to Manage Norris

A Certified Public Accountant, Vitosh worked as a senior auditor at Deloitte & Touche after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also held leadership positions at NEAPCO and American MicroTrace Corporation, both manufacturers, prior to joining Norris.  

Those experiences helped solidify his love for the rural utility industry because of the cooperative business model. “In the manufacturing industry, margins were thin and competition was fierce,” Vitosh shared. “I appreciate the mentors that took time to help me learn about the electric industry. Working cooperatively is a big change and a welcome improvement from the manufacturing industry.” 

He was elected to the CFC board as a manager-director in 2016 to represent CFC District 7 and was reelected in 2019 to serve his second, three-year term. He will leave the board when his term expires following the 54th CFC Annual Membership Meeting in 2023. 

Vitosh always had a desire to volunteer and be actively involved in local and state organizations. “CFC has an outstanding reputation, which piqued my interest when there was an opportunity to be elected to the CFC board,” he said. “Being a CPA and having an accounting background, along with my leadership experiences, I thought I could add value to the boardroom.” 

CFC Board Experience Demonstrated How CFC Supports Its Members

Once elected to be a director, he gained a greater understanding of what CFC does for its members. “I have a better appreciation for all of the value-added services CFC employees provide its members,” Vitosh said. “I am impressed with the many instances that I have seen and heard about of how CFC did what was necessary to help a member when they desperately needed financial assistance after a major storm or when they ran into other financial difficulties.”  

One of his most rewarding experiences on the CFC board, so far, was working through the retirement of long-time CEO Sheldon Petersen, participating on the search committee and helping select Andrew Don as CFC’s current CEO. “I’m proud of CFC’s accomplishments early in Andrew’s tenure as CEO,” Vitosh added. 

When out of the office, he serves as Treasurer on the Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center board, plays the trombone in his church brass choir, actively responds to fire and medical calls with a local rural volunteer fire department and is a member of Kiwanis serving as chair for a regional high school basketball tournament that is filled with tradition and has been held annually since 1930.