Our board is member run
As your local co-op, Piedmont Electric Cooperative is governed by a member-elected board of directors. The cooperative is divided into nine districts representing every section of our service area. Members are elected to the board in staggered three-year terms, with the elections conducted via mail-in and online balloting each spring.
David’s background includes employment with Orange Water and Sewer Authority. David later retired from the Town of Carrboro as Street Superintendent, where he worked with municipal infrastructure maintenance and planning. “I am honored with the opportunity to continue to serve the cooperative as they meet the many challenges of today by providing safe, affordable and reliable electric service while at the same time continuing to modernize the electrical grid to meet the member’s needs and expectations related to outage notification, outage restoration, renewable energy generation and energy storage,” David said.
David Poythress, Secretary, District 1
Randy Kinley has been a member of Piedmont Electric for 29 years and has served on the Board of Directors for 7 years. He has earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership and Director Gold education certificates. He has traveled with Piedmont Electric staff to Washington, D.C. and Raleigh to advocate issues for cost control. He and his wife Diane reside in the Hebron community of Orange County. They have four children. He is retired from Honda Power Equipment in Swepsonville with 29 years of service. Randy is a member of Eastside Baptist Church of Mebane where he serves as song leader and Sunday School teacher.
J. Randy Kinley, Chair, District 2
Cy has been a member of Piedmont Electric for the past 51 years. He has been a director for seven years and holds the certification of Director Gold. He resides with his wife, Janice, in the Milesville community of Caswell County. They have two sons who teach in Alamance County. Cy is an active members of Westside Fellowship in Elon and the Caswell County Historical Association serving as vice president. He is a retired teacher and FFA advisor working at Bartlett Yancey High School for 35 years. Cy currently works with his son to operate an apply tree business in the Camp Springs community.
Cy Vernon, District 3
Steve has been a member of Piedmont EMC for 39 years and has served on the Board of Directors for 7 years. He has a Board Leadership Certificate. Steve resides with his wife, Jane, and daughters, Sarah and Jessica, in the Prospect Hill Community of Caswell County. He is a property manager and part-time farmer. Steve is a member of Bethel United Methodist Church where he serves in various capacities, including Administrative Board Chairman. He is also a past Board Member of the Prospect Hill Volunteer Fire Department.
Stephen C. Long, District 4
Steven, a member of Piedmont Electric for 19 years, resides in the Woodsdale Community of Person County with his wife Ashley and their three children: Sam, Susan Claire and Margaret. Steven is a civil engineer employed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and in his career has designed and managed projects for the public and private sector. He is a member of Long Memorial United Methodist Church where he has served in various capacities including the trustees and finance committees. Steve has served on the Person County Board of Health since 2005 and is currently chairman.
Steven Bailey, Vice Chair, District 5
Darren Chalk, District 6
Jimmy Thomas, District 7
Kay Ferguson is a member of the Saint Mary’s Community in Hillsborough. She is the associate pastor of Lipscomb Grove Church. She graduated from Orange High School, NC A&T State University (with a degree in business) and a master’s degree from North Carolina Central. Reverend Ferguson has been affiliated with Piedmont Electric for 30 years. Employment with Orange County, Durham City and Piedmont Community College provided 30 years of experience in budgeting, personnel management, oversight and policy enforcement. Kay serves on the nominating committee of Piedmont Electric. She is married to John Ferguson.
V. Kay Scurlock-Ferguson, District 8
Richal has been a member of Piedmont Electric for 39 years and has served on the Board of Directors for 19 years. He is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and has earned the Board Leadership Certificate and Director Gold Credential from NRECA. Richal resides in the Hurdle Mills Community of Orange County with his wife Savannah. He is retired from Orange County Government. Richal also serves on the following boards: Farm Bureau Insurance, Soil and Water District Supervisor, Cedar Grove Fire Department, Farm Service Agency and Trustees of Lattisville Grove Church where he is currently chairman.
Richal Vanhook, Treasurer, District 9
Electric cooperative bylaws are the governing rules and regulations that outline how the cooperative operates and conducts its business. These bylaws define the rights and responsibilities of both the cooperative and its member-owners, providing a clear framework for decision-making, governance, and management. These bylaws ensure the cooperative operates democratically and in the best interest of its member-owners, adhering to cooperative principles.
As a locally owned and operated co-op, our board of directors is made up of members just like you! Because we’re run by people who live and work in our communities and who understand our local values, you can be sure our members’ best interest is always our priority. These board members provide guidance, oversight and help craft the strategic direction of the cooperative along with cooperative staff. This process sets us apart from other types of utilities and helps ensure that the local needs of Piedmont Electric members are heard and met.
As a cooperative, Piedmont Electric is governed by a member-elected board of directors. The cooperative is divided into nine districts representing all areas of our local community. Members are elected to the board in staggered, three-year terms with the elections conducted via mail-in and online balloting each spring.
Click here for past election results.
The Nominations Committee selects qualified candidates for the ballot from each district that is up for election that year. If you are interested in being considered for nomination, first, check the qualifications to serve as a director in Section 4.02 of the bylaws.
If you feel you meet these qualifications, email Piedmont.Board@pemc.coop with your name, address and interest in a director position to verify your membership and qualifications and determine if your district is up for election this year. If your district is up for election that year, our attorney with send your information to the Nominations Committee for consideration. Likewise, if your district is not up for election that year, you will be notified by our attorney as to what year your district will be up for re-election. In addition, if you are qualified, you can follow the instructions in the bylaws to be nominated by petition. Again, you should email Piedmont.Board@pemc.coop to verify membership and to learn the particulars of the petition process.
For a summary of the matters discussed and action taken during board of director meetings, select one of the months below.
Board meetings are typically held on the third Monday of the month at 3 p.m. at the co-op’s Hillsborough office. Members wishing to attend a board meeting should read Board Policy 430 and complete the form below.
Contact the Board of Directors
If you would like to send a message to the board, please complete the contact form below or email Piedmont.Board@pemc.coop. Members wishing to attend a board meeting or are seeking nomination to the board of directors should reference the relevant sections above.
Piedmont Electric, as a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative, strives to maintain the four tenets of Touchstone Energy: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to the community. We are headquartered in Hillsborough, NC and serve parts of Alamance, Caswell, Durham, Granville, Orange and Person counties.