After 21 years, it is with heavy hearts that Nueces Electric Cooperative employees and Board of Directors wish John Sims, and wife Rose, farewell.

Sims has over 40 years of electric cooperative experience as general or executive manager of three rural electric cooperative utilities.  At Nueces Electric Cooperative, Sims led the Co-op through the development of a U.S. Department of Labor journey line technician apprenticeship program,  the successful acquisition of a fifty year maintenance contract with the U.S. Navy to serve Corpus Christi and Kingsville Naval Air Stations (and other area facilities),  the elimination of dually certificated territory with the local investor-owned utility (AEP), and the establishment of a Operation Round Up program and Nueces Charities, Inc. – the charitable giving foundation for NEC.

Also under Sims leadership, NEC became the first cooperative in Texas to introduce retail electric choice to its delivery territory members, and expanded the offering of retail power supplier services beyond the Co-op’s traditional boundaries to other electric choice areas of Texas. Sims’ industry recognition and awards include the Public Power Council “Sherlock Holmes” Award for the development of an innovative program to reduce employee absenteeism, four National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Pearl Awards, and two National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Community Network Service Awards.

Sims has served on state associations for rural electric cooperatives in Texas, Oregon, and North Dakota and served on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Texas Electric Cooperatives Association. Sims has served as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). He was an original member of the NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) Issues Committee; served on Board of Directors of PNGC (Pacific Northwest Generating Co.) and South Texas Electric Cooperative. Sims has served on Job Training & Safety Advisory Committees in Texas, North Dakota, and Oregon.

Most recently, Sims has led the co-op to join the renewable energy industry by partnering to build South Texas’ first community solar array. He also recently negotiated with a neighboring utility to purchase a strand of duel-service utility line, making NEC the first and only single-certified Co-op in the State of Texas.

John’s last day was Friday, October 16, 2015. Employees and directors had the opportunity to wish him well during a retirement party held at the Co-op. Upon his exit, employees lined up along the drive-way and utility buckets were raised to form an honor arch.

The Co-op will miss John’s leadership and guidance. He always kept the Co-op’s member-owners at the front of every decision and continuously reinforced and exemplified that Nueces Electric Cooperative is the Cooperative difference.

Sarah Fisher, Chief Compliance Officer, has been temporarily been placed as the interim C.E.O..

We wish you well John and Rose!