Brinkley Steps Down Soon

by Laura Emery, Field Editor

resident and CEO of A&N Electric Cooperative (ANEC) Vernon Brinkley might be quiet and unassuming, but hes been a stalwart leader of ANEC for the last 31 years navigating the Cooperative through many changes while maintaining the respect of his employees and board of directors. Brinkley will step down as CEO in July and serve as senior advisor to the board of directors until his final retirement on Jan. 3, 2014. As he moves into retirement, he leaves behind a lasting legacy. A graduate of Old Dominion University, Brinkley started his career with Virginia Electric and Power Company in 1969. It wasnt long before Brinkley who was born and raised in Norfolk grew weary of moving every five years and decided he wanted to find a position where he could stay in one place. A position (as assistant manager)

A&N ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

21275 Cooperative Way P.O. Box 290 Tasley, VA 23441-0290 757-787-9750 800-431-2632 FAX: 757-787-9780 Ofce Hours: M-F, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. www.anec.com

President & CEO Vernon N. Brinkley Local Pages Editor Melissa Boldt Tangier Generation Station 757-891-2325

opened up at ANEC in 1974 and it couldnt have been more perfectly suited for the young Brinkley. His leadership abilities quickly became evident and he soon was promoted to president and CEO in 1982. Chairman of the ANEC board of directors Jim Collins has been on the Cooperative board of directors since Brinkley came to ANEC and says, Vernon was, and still is, a man of good spirits. He was always well-disciplined and had a broad knowledge of the industry. When he became CEO, he became a visionary for the Cooperative and was progressive in his recommendations to the board. Hes truly been married to the Cooperative over the last 31 years, and we will certainly miss him. Over the last 31 years, Brinkleys expertise and leadership have benefited cooperative organizations beyond the Eastern Shore. He has served on the boards of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) and Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC). For ODEC, over the years, Brinkley has been secretary/treasurer, vice chairman, and chairman of the board. He currently also represents Virginia, Maryland and Delaware electric cooperatives on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) board of directors. With his leadership roles outside of ANEC, Brinkley has never lost sight of the fact that behind every good CEO is a good staff. Vernons legacy will be that he was not just a president and CEO, but first and foremost a friend ... someone dedicated to those he served

Vernon N. Brinkley ANEC President & CEO

and led. He always had an open-door policy and made himself accessible to everyone. He always listened. That didnt mean he always agreed, but he would listen. Whether you needed to voice a concern, make a complaint or offer a suggestion, he listened to his employees, explains one longtime employee. When showered with accolades over much of the Cooperatives success during his tenure, Brinkley quickly deflects the attention and shifts the focus back to the strength of his staff. Though Brinkley has an affinity for the water, his role at the helm of the Cooperative hasnt always been smooth sailing. The Cooperative relocated and built a new headquarters campus in 2005, installed state-of-the-art technology in the headquarters and on the Cooperatives distribution system, and weathered the challenges that come with tripling the size of its organization after acquiring Delmarva Powers Eastern Shore of Virginia service territory in 2008.
A&N Electric Cooperative

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Brinkley is also proud of the fact that the Cooperative has only filed for two distribution rate increases over the span of his tenure. Rates were raised by 2.08 percent in 1983 and then by 6 percent in 1990, but have remained unchanged for the last 22 years. The fluctuation in rates over the years has been caused by the changing cost of energy we purchase to resell to our members. It is during that 22-year period that we dealt with some of our biggest challenges as a cooperative, so it really is impressive that we were able to keep the rates unchanged for our members. In 2012, ANEC filed a distribution rate case with the SCC, consolidating the rate of its legacy members and the members in the newly acquired territory. In this filing, the Cooperative lowered rates to its members by $500,000 per year. In a recent survey of electric rates paid by residential customers, ANEC rates were among the lowest of the cooperatives in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ANEC also has some of the best outage records in the state. A few years ago, we were number one. Last year, we were number two. Reliable service at an affordable price thats what we aim to provide our members, Brinkley says,

pointing out again that its in large part due to his supportive board of directors and skilled staff. If you look at our statistics, our employees serve more consumers than a vast majority of the co-ops in the country (based on an employee/consumers served ratio). We have a lean staff, which also keeps our costs down, he points out. When asked what hell miss about his job, he says with no hesitation at all that its definitely the people. You spend the better part of your life working with a group of people and so you, understandably, get close to them. The staff and board of directors are a great group of folks to work with. Ill also miss working for the membership. While you can never please everyone, its difficult because I always wanted to [please everyone]. Thats our objective here. When you cant please or help everyone, it bothers you, he explains. Outside of the people, hell miss watching the impact of technology in the electric industry. I always like to see the latest and greatest in technology, and to watch the impact the technologies have on our business operations, he says. Outside of the office, Brinkley is a man of many facets a lover of the

water, a skilled tennis player, a photography enthusiast, a weekend remodeler, a techie freak, an active member of his community, a true Southern gentleman, and a devoted father and husband. Hes been married to his wife Susan for 42 years and they have a 28-year-old daughter, Ashley Schavel. While Brinkley has enjoyed his tenure at the Cooperative, he is more than ready to embrace retirement. I want to be free to do what I want to do, and no longer be controlled by a calendar, he says. While hes done a good bit of traveling in his career over the years, hed like to do some traveling for personal enjoyment with his family including a trip to New England in the fall, a river trip in Europe next summer, and an Alaskan adventure soon after retirement. I want to see things and go places, as opposed to sitting in meeting rooms all day, he says, with a laugh. And there couldnt be a better place to retire. I have always been attracted to the water, so the Eastern Shore is the perfect place for me to retire. Its just an easy way of living here. The people here on the Shore are fine people and its a beautiful climate. It truly is the land of pleasant living.

Outside of the office, Brinkley is a man of many facets a lover of the water, a skilled tennis player, a photography enthusiast, a weekend remodeler, a techie freak, an active member of his community, a true Southern gentleman, and a devoted father and husband. Pictured to the right with his wife, Susan, and daughter and son-in-law, Ashley and James Schavel.
June 2013

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VERNON BRINKLEY

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President and CEO of A&N Electric Cooperative (ANEC) Vernon Brinkley might be quiet and unassuming, but hes been a stalwart leader of ANEC for the last 31 years.

FAREWELL WORDS
I have known Vernon, a.k.a. Slick, for quite a while. He is the epitome of what the cooperative community is all about: integrity, honesty, looking out for the welfare of the whole, and above all, a gentleman! My wife, Jackie, and I will surely miss Vernon and his wife, Susan, at meetings, but look forward to spending other time with them in retirement. Best wishes to them both as they start this new chapter in their book of life! Myron Rummel, CEO of Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative Its funny sometimes how life and fortunes can run full circle. In 1969 Vernon and I were employed and worked as engineers with the Virginia Electric and Power Company. After a few years our careers took divergent paths. I left to become the director of electric utilities for the city of Lumberton, N.C., and Vernon took an engineering position with A&N Electric Cooperative (ANEC) on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. In 1977 I moved back to Virginia to become manager of Community Electric Cooperative in Windsor and in 1982 Vernon became manager of ANEC. We have always been good friends, but over the last 31 years, working together in the cooperative program, we have been able to work more closely and have developed an even higher level of understanding and respect for one anothers opinion. Vernons contributions to the rural electrification program, not just on the Eastern Shore, but on a regional and national level, have been exemplary and proven what can be accomplished with the right leadership. Over the last 44 years, Vernon has proven to be an exceedingly good friend and colleague. The rural electrification program will surely miss his efforts and leadership. Jim Reynolds, former CEO of Community Electric Cooperative If they had a picture in Websters Dictionary of a Southern gentleman it would surely be Vernon Brinkley. He is extremely passionate about his work and his members, highly skilled in his profession, and an allaround great guy. Dan Walker, former ODEC employee Vernon Brinkley has been a stalwart member of the ODEC board for over 30 years. At the time of his retirement, he will be our longest-tenured board member. He has ably served in a variety of leadership positions on this board, including as chairman, from 2001 to 2004, during which time he guided us through a major bond issue and the construction of our combustion-turbine facilities in Louisa, Marsh Run and Rock Springs. On a personal note, Vernon served as chairman of the Board Search Committee that hired me as the president and CEO in 1998. He played a major role in guiding me through those early years. I am very appreciative of his leadership, guidance and friendship. He helped establish the basis for my, now, 15 years at ODEC. He and his wife, Susan, did much to help my family become a part of the cooperative family. That is the type of person that he is: open, honest, very friendly, with a serious nature about the work that the cooperatives are about in serving the consumer. His strongest belief has always been that the cooperatives must work together and stay together to be most effective for our memberconsumers. Vernon Brinkley will be missed at ODEC and our Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association. Jack Reasor, CEO of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative Vernon Brinkley is one of the most respected electric cooperative CEOs in the country. His commitment to the people of the Eastern Shore is legendary; his passion to serve them by providing the most reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost has helped improve the quality of life for every citizen of the Shore. Beyond being a great businessman, though, Vernon is also a fine human being, and in his retirement he will no doubt continue to contribute in many ways to the life of the Eastern Shore and all of her communities. Richard Johnstone, Executive Vice President of VMDAEC There is a reason that I have referred to Vernon over the past few years as the Senior Senator from the Shore. He is one of the most trusted and knowledgeable individuals in our group and his advice has almost always been proven to be the best course of action. But in addition to this intellectual side, he is just a generally fun person to be around and I will greatly miss seeing him on a regular basis. I wish Vernon a long and happy retirement with each day being full of contentment except for those days his Monarchs from Old Dominion take on my Virginia Tech Hokies. Greg White, CEO of Northern Neck Electric Cooperative I have gotten to know Vernon best while we both worked together as cooperative CEOs for over 18 years. Vernon is the ultimate gentleman with a natural respect for others. He is a great friend whom I will miss. Its great that Vernon and Susan have the excitement and adventure of retirement as their next step, after many years of hard work and preparation. I wish them both only the very best of health and happiness in their retirement years. Dale Bradshaw, CEO of Prince George Electric Cooperative

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A&N Electric Cooperative

BEAT THE PEAK

What is Beat The Peak?
ANEC pays a monthly demand charge based on peak energy use. These peak periods occur when members are using the most power. The Co-op can save members money by reducing how much energy is being consumed during those peak-use times.

How can YOU help?

ANEC will begin alerting our membership of when we are nearing a peak or a Peak Alert. We are asking that you turn off all unnecessary lights or appliances that may not be needed. Whenever possible, delay your major appliance use such as dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers. If you can, delay any hot water use.

We need your help. Together we can Beat The Peak. Thank you.

Director Election
Directors are elected from the membership to represent you on the Board. This is your Cooperative and there are several ways in which you can nominate your Director. Those methods are as follows: (1) A Nominating Committee, representing the areas to elect Directors, is appointed. The Nominating Committee will select a slate of candidates to be placed on the ballot at the Annual Meeting. This years Nominating Committee is scheduled to meet on July 8, 2013. Should you have a recommendation, you may want to notify a member of the Nominating Committee prior to its scheduled meeting. The members of this years Committee are included in this article. (2) Member Petition Nominations. Members may nominate additional individuals to run for election for any Director position for which Members are scheduled to vote at any Member meeting (Member Petition Nominations). Members may make Member Petition Nominations by delivering to the Secretary at least seventy-five (75) days prior to the Member-meeting a writing for each Member Petition Nomination (Member Petition): After verifying that the Member Petition complies with this Bylaw, the Cooperative shall post the Member Petition Nomination in approximately the same location as the Nominating Committee Nominations. All nominations are due in by July 9, 2013. No nominations shall be made from the floor at the Annual Member Meeting. Please visit our website for the complete version of A&N Electric Cooperatives Bylaws.

MESSAGES FROM YOUR CO-OP

REMINDER: It is quick and easy to pay your bill online, 24 hours a day, on our secure website at www.anec.com. Register using your account number, email address and a password of your choice. You can also sign up for automatic monthly payments from your checking account or credit card. Save paper and reduce costs when you sign up for paperless billing. Call our billing department if you have questions or need assistance with these options. Visit us at www.facebook.com/ ANElectricCoop and like us. The Cooperative office will be closed Thursday, July 4, for Independence Day. Have a safe and happy holiday!
June 2013

Proposed 2013 Nominating Committee

Michael J. Hazel P.O. Box 516 Onancock, VA 23417 Thomas Cardaci 23873 Bailey Neck Dr. Onancock, VA 23417 Gerald Davis 19216 Badger Lane Onancock, VA 23417 Richard Dryden 8104 Sunset Cove Drive Exmore, VA 23350 Martha P. James 3343 Broadwater Rd. Exmore, VA 23350 Phillip R. Custis P.O. Box 94 Nassawadox, VA 23413 Dennis K. Crockett P.O. Box 232 Tangier, VA 23440 Bruce Gordy P.O. Box 193 Tangier, VA 23440 Dr. Nina Pruitt P.O. Box 70 Tangier, VA 23440

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