We hope to see you on Friday, November 1, 2024, for our Annual Meeting!
Baldwin EMC Headquarters | 19600 State Highway 59 |Summerdale, AL
Registration and voting will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 9 a.m., when the business meeting will start.
The annual meeting is a special time for co-op members to gather, hear from co-op leadership and vote to elect board members and decide on bylaw revisions.
Chief Executive Officer Hunter Robinson and Board President Peggy Vanover Barnes will address the membership. Attendees will also be placed into drawings for bill credit giveaways!
All members who vote either by mail or in person will receive a $5 credit on their electric bill.
Just a reminder: mail ballots must be returned by October 28. If you do not vote by mail, you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting.
Your Board Trustee Nominees:
Joseph Coleman
Trustee Nominee – District 2
Nominated by Committee
Joseph (Joe) Coleman has served as the trustee for District 2 since July 2007 and is a Credentialed Cooperative Director through the National Rural Electric Association (NRECA). He is also NRECA Board leadership certified.
Joe is a lifelong resident of Baldwin County and a veteran of the United States Army. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of West Florida.
Joe was a long-term employee of Solutia, formerly Monsanto Chemical Company, where he worked in various supervisory and management positions as well as electrical maintenance before retiring in 2001 after more than 30 years of service. In addition to serving on Baldwin EMC’s Board, Joe serves on the Board of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.
Joe and his wife Rebecca live in Loxley on property originally purchased by his grandparents in the 1940’s. The Colemans have three children and one grandson.
STATEMENT:
I have had the privilege of serving on the Baldwin EMC Board for the past seventeen years. This role has allowed me to take part in the planning, hard work and dedication required to provide the high level of reliable electrical service we all enjoy.
Baldwin EMC, our employees and members have seen some interesting times during my tenure. We have been through many highs and lows in our area but thankfully, at this point in time, things are looking very positive. The County is experiencing steady growth, job availability is growing, and Baldwin County continues to be one of the most desirable areas in the state to live. This growth of course means Baldwin EMC must continue the planning and hard work necessary to provide the service, reliability and financial strength our members expect. I am proud to be part of this effort.
My service on the Board is a privilege and a duty I enjoy. I am grateful for the confidence that my fellow Board members, Baldwin EMC employees and members have placed in me. I will continue to do whatever is necessary to ensure safe, reliable and affordable electrical service to all of Baldwin EMC’s members.
I ask for your continued support and the honor of representing you in the future.
Tommie WernethTrustee Nominee – District 4
Nominated by Committee
As the Trustee from District 4, Werneth represents one of the fastest-growing parts of Baldwin County during a time of unprecedented development. Werneth’s leadership has helped Baldwin EMC navigate tremendous growth, expand and enhance infrastructure, maintain reliability and recover from natural disasters, all while maintaining stable and competitive rates.
For the past 28 years, Werneth has dedicated herself to staying informed about the electric utility industry through continuous education and representation within statewide and national co-op associations. She currently serves as Past Chairman of the board for the Alabama Rural Electric Association, the trade association for the state’s electric cooperatives. Werneth is also a Credentialed Cooperative Director through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and has successfully completed the
requirements for Board Leadership Accreditation. Her exceptional commitment to advancing her knowledge recently earned her NRECA’s Director Gold credential, one of the highest levels of achievement for an electric cooperative board member.
Werneth’s roots in Baldwin County were planted more than 45 years ago, when she and her husband Ed built their first home on Cotton Bayou. In addition to her work with Baldwin EMC, she is committed to giving back to her community through her roles on the leadership boards for local agencies such as “The Friends of the Arts,” which supports the Coastal Arts Center in Orange Beach, and the American Heart Association’s “Art for Heart” fundraising program.
Of all the titles Werneth has carried, the ones she is most proud of are those of wife, mother, and grandmother. She and her husband share a daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren. The Werneths are active members of St. Thomas by the Sea Catholic Church in Orange Beach.
STATEMENT:
It has been a tremendous honor to serve on Baldwin EMC’s Board of Trustees. During my tenure, this co-op has persevered through many changes and challenges and emerged as a leader within the communities we serve. I am proud to be a part of the success story that this co-op is and will continue to become.
But even more importantly, I am proud that for the past 28 years, YOU, our members, have been my primary focus when making all decisions regarding Baldwin EMC. I have never forgotten my responsibility to stay informed about the ever-evolving electric service industry, and I remain committed to be a diligent steward for our members. I appreciate your vote and ongoing support.
Jimmy BoydTrustee Nominee – District 4
Nominated by Petition
Nominee for District 4, Jimmy Boyd is a local business owner. Boyd has served on several boards for both his community and profession. As a graduate of Mississippi College, Boyd earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management/Marketing. For more than 30 years, Boyd has owned and operated his own businesses.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:• Chairman, Baldwin County Board of Equalization
• Orange Beach Water Authority Board of Directors, Secretary/Treasurer
• Orange Beach Planning Commission
• Orange Beach Board of Adjustments
• Baldwin County Board of Realtors Committees
• Government & Community Relations
• Realtor/Broke /Owner Portside Realty
• Real Estate Political Action Committee
• Baldwin County Board of Realtors
• Government Affairs Committee
• Commercial Property Management
Boyd has been married 32 years to Dana Boyd, a traveling RN. They have two children, Barcley and Bailey. Other family members include parents, John and Pat Boyd from Fairhope, sister, Deanie Buck of Bellator Realty in Fairhope and ONO Island, and brother, Jeff Boyd an Orange Beach City Councilman. Boyd has a deep-rooted passion for Baldwin County.
Boyd has a passion for helping troubled men in Baldwin County with his support of Youth Reach and Big Fish Ministries. He has a love for the outdoors and passion to protect the environment for the future of our children and grandchildren. Go green when possible!
STATEMENT:
The electric industry faces many changes including solar power credits, electric cars and green alternatives, all of which I support. I want to be a part of the changes coming to Baldwin EMC.
#1 Goal is ultimately keeping your rates low while providing uninterrupted service. I want to thank Peggy Vanover Barnes – President, Tommie Werneth, Vice President and our other five board members for a job well done! My goal is to serve as the trustee for District 4 when the time is right, and my intent is simple… to serve as diligently as trustee, Tommie Werneth. I want to thank Tommie Werneth for everything she has done to keep our lights on. As a business owner, my schedule offers the flexibility to allow the time required to carry on her legacy. Baldwin EMC is a leader in our community because of the efforts of our Board and
their placement of our CEO. Thank you all, for your years of service.
Please contact me with your questions at:
251.747.1173 or jboydbamabayou@yahoo.com.
Attitude of Gratitude for the gift of Life!
Thank You, Jimmy Boyd.
Peggy Vanover BarnesTrustee Nominee – District 6
Nominated by Committee
Peggy Vanover Barnes is the incumbent trustee for District 6, and currently serves as President. Vanover Barnes has served on the Board of Trustees since 1988. Before being elected President in December 2008, she also served terms as Secretary/Treasurer and Vice President. She is a Credentialed Cooperative Director through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and is Board leadership certified. Vanover Barnes was honored with the 2019 Pathfinder Award by the Alabama Rural Electric Association (AREA) for her extraordinary service on behalf of electric cooperatives and is currently serving as Chairman of the AREA Chairmen’s Council.During Vanover Barnes’ years on the Board, Baldwin EMC has maintained a strong financial position and maintained stable, competitive rates, placing Baldwin EMC among the lowest-cost providers of electricity in the region. An active businesswoman in addition to her service on Baldwin EMC’s Board, Vanover Barnes owned an investment firm for more than three decades. She is credited with pioneering the investment industry in Baldwin County and is a former Vice President and Manager of A.G. Edwards & Sons. For 20 years, she was also President and Chairman of the Cindy Haber Center Board (formerly the MRDD Board) which serves 17 counties. Vanover Barnes is a member of First Baptist Church of Robertsdale.
Vanover Barnes is a native of Baldwin County and a graduate of Robertsdale High School. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Faulkner University in Montgomery. Vanover Barnes is married to Kenneth Barnes, and they have six children, five of whom reside in beautiful Baldwin County.
STATEMENT:
For the past 36 years, I have taken my responsibilities as a Board member and Board president very seriously. I’m proud of the accomplishments during my time of service and the direction in which our cooperative is moving. With an eye on serving our members, we continue to evaluate and implement new technology, maintain exceptional reliability ratings, and keep costs among the lowest in the country. These are just a few reasons why Baldwin EMC’s levels of member satisfaction are among the highest ratings when compared to other electric utilities on a national scale.
In changing economic times, Baldwin EMC has maintained a strong financial position and returned more than $30.5 million in capital credits to members during the past 10 years. As we move toward a new and challenging future, I will maintain my commitment to a cooperative that keeps its members’ needs first and foremost.
The past couple of years have been extraordinary for Baldwin EMC, as for all our members. I’m very proud of the employees and their accomplishments, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue participating in the leadership that has made Baldwin EMC an outstanding example throughout the entire industry. I would be honored to receive your vote and privileged to continue serving you.