The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas named longtime employee Jonathan Oliver as chief operations officer for the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. of Little Rock.
Oliver has spent 28 years with AECC and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc., its sister cooperative in Little Rock.
AECI provides services to the 17 electric distribution cooperatives across Arkansas, and AECC is the generation and transmission cooperative that provides energy to all 17.
“Jonathan began his career with AECC as an intern while in college and has now held top leadership positions in AECC and AECI,” said Vernon “Buddy” Hasten, president and CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. “His experience provides him with a keen understanding of our organization and the electric industry as a whole.”
A graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, Oliver most recently served as vice president of the utility sales and services division of AECI. He’s a licensed professional engineer with degrees in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Oliver began at AECC in 1995 and worked in various engineering and management roles before being named vice president of power production and delivery in autumn 2008. He has expertise in utility engineering, operations and construction, the company said, as well as project management, strategic execution and business operations.
In a news release, Oliver said he was honored by the promotion.
“My career has been dedicated to working to improve the quality of life for Arkansas’ electric cooperative members,” he said. “My new role with AECC will provide opportunities to ensure that our members have reliable, affordable energy that is delivered in a responsible manner.”
Oliver’s appointment was the cooperatives’ second top management announcement in two days. On Thursday, former governor’s office aide Bill Gossage was named chief external affairs officer for both AECC and AECI.
Arkansas’ distribution cooperatives provide electricity to about 600,000 homes, farms and businesses in Arkansas and surrounding states.
