Blue Ridge Electric Board of Directors Announce New Officers

For Immediate Release

Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener

Lenoir, NC (January 31, 2002) – The Board of Directors of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation has announced newly elected officers of the Board.

The officers were elected at the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting, held Saturday, January 26. An election of new officers was necessary after the sudden and unexpected passing of Johnnie Austin, who had served as President for 21 of his 31 years on the cooperative’s Board of Directors.
Elected as President was John Woodruff, of Alleghany District, who has served on the Board since 1968 and had previously served as Vice President.

Kenneth Greene, of Ashe District, was elected Vice President. Greene, former Secretary-Treasurer, has been a Board member since 1988. G.C. Norris, of Watauga District, was elected Secretary-Treasurer. On the board since 1981, Norris formerly served as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer. Jeff Joines, of Caldwell District and a board member since 1998, was elected Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.

The Board has selected an ad hoc committee to appoint a Watauga District director to fill Johnnie Austin’s term, which expires at the cooperative’s 2004 Annual Membership Meeting. The new director will join Watauga District directors G.C. Norris and Joy Coffey.

For more information on the Watauga District directors’ seat, contact Beverly Finney, Senior Vice President, Public and Employee Relations, at (828) 264-8894 or (828) 758-2383.