Warsaw, Va. — Northern Neck Electric Cooperative (NNEC) members elected one of their peers to serve on NNEC’s Board of Directors at the co-op’s 88th Annual Meeting on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Members voted either by returning their proxy designation card or by attending the meeting in-person.
- Richard W. Gouldin, Jr. was elected to represent Richmond County.
“Serving as a director for 33 years has been one of the greatest blessings of my life,” said Rusty Brown, retiring chairman of the board of directors. “I’ve watched this cooperative grow and adapt while always staying true to its mission — making life better in our community. As I step down, I do so with deep gratitude for the trust our members have placed in me, the friendships built, and the opportunity to give back to the community that raised me.”
Also at the Annual Meeting, Richard McLendon, president and CEO, provided an update on the co-op’s accomplishments from 2024, which included:
- Investing $9.3 million in system improvements to enhance reliability and support growth
- Enacting capital credit retirements to its members totaling more than $895,000
- Maintaining the co-op’s excellent reliability rate of over 99%
- Employees volunteering over 1,000 hours in local communities
- Supporting broadband expansion by preparing nearly 12,000 poles for fiber attachment
“At Northern Neck Electric, the power isn’t just in the lines — it’s in the people,” said McLendon. “From our frontline employees to our members and their families, everyone plays a role in keeping our cooperative strong. My focus as CEO will always come back to one question: How does this decision affect the membership as a whole? That principle has guided my 41 years in cooperatives and will continue to guide me here.”
“Thank you for being engaged members and for continuing to place your trust in Northern Neck Electric Cooperative,” McLendon added. “Together, we are not only keeping the lights on, but also building a stronger, brighter future for the Northern Neck.”
