Executive Director

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Executive Director

Colorado Rural Electric Association

Denver, CO

Salary range to start:  $325,000 – $425,000

Please send your resume and cover letter to boardpresident@coloradorea.org
all submissions are confidential

Application deadline:  May 15, 2025

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Statewide Association Seeks Executive Director

The board of directors serving the Colorado Rural Electric Association based in Denver, Colorado, seeks a member focused leader to become the next executive director of the association.

CREA’s executive director is a leader responsible for guiding the association towards excellence in service and member collaboration. The executive director exemplifies the cooperative principles and CREA’s core values and mission to enhance and advance the interests of its member electric cooperatives through a united effort. Reporting to a 25-member board of directors, the executive director is responsible for leading employees to support its 21-member distribution cooperatives and one generation and transmission cooperative.

The ideal candidate will continue the association’s established and successful history of building and nurturing relationships with various stakeholders — including local electric distribution cooperatives, lawmakers, and regulatory agencies.

This position requires a dynamic leader with a strategic mindset, exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, and a commitment to fostering collaboration within the organization and with external partners.

About CREA

The Colorado Rural Electric Association is a not-for-profit, member-driven organization that represents and advocates for 21 distribution cooperatives and one Colorado-based generation and transmission association. Colorado’s electric cooperatives serve more than 1 million consumer-members living across more than 70% of the state’s landmass.

For 80 years, CREA has functioned as an essential resource for the state’s electric cooperatives and focuses on providing legislative advocacy, communications support, safety training, and education services.

CREA is positioned to continue its active participation in state and federal legislative processes and to advocate for the interests of its member electric cooperatives, ensuring Colorado’s co-op communities have a voice in influencing energy policy.

Beyond its advocacy efforts, CREA prioritizes safety and loss control training for its members and serves as the publisher of Colorado Country Life magazine — the state’s largest-circulation publication, reaching more than 175,000 cooperative members and legislators each month.

By prioritizing member service and promoting cooperative principles, the statewide association plays a pivotal role in ensuring that Coloradans who are served by an electric cooperative have access to reliable, affordable, safe, and sustainable electric service. 

 

At CREA, the executive director:  

  • Leads the organization in achieving its strategic goals and objectives.
  • Cultivates positive relationships with the board, member cooperatives, staff, and other stakeholders.
  • Shapes an organizational culture that empowers CREA teams to deliver outstanding service.
  • Continues a culture of excellence in member engagement and fiscal strength.
  • Develops and implements a compelling vision and strategic plan aligned with the board of directors’ long-term goals.
  • Advocates for the electric cooperative industry at state and national levels.
  • Works toward uniting the diverse association membership.
  • Manages day-to-day operations and activities of the association.
  • Manages the operations of the association in accordance with the viewpoints, objectives, and policies of the board of directors.
  • Frequently travels throughout Colorado and other states as necessary.

The ideal candidate will have verifiable experience in the following competencies:

  • Change Leadership and Risk Management: Proactively identifies, navigates, and manages organizational change and risk.
  • Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Encourages creative thinking and champions opportunities for innovation and process enhancement.
  • Strategic Vision: Maintains a long-term, big-picture perspective that anticipates future needs of the association and its members.
  • Member-Centric Focus: Champions a culture that prioritizes and responds to the needs of its member cooperatives.
  • Analytical Decision Making: Applies systematic, conceptual, and data-informed thinking to develop effective solutions that align with strategic goals.
  • Resilience and Adaptability: Remains composed and flexible in the face of challenges, ambiguity, or rapid change.
  • Financial Acumen: Understands budgeting, financial risks, and opportunities to support sound fiscal decision-making.
  • Effective Communication: Communicates clearly and actively listens to foster mutual understanding; strong presentation skills are a plus.
  • Inspirational Leadership: Motivates, influences, and aligns others with the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
  • Organizational Awareness: Understands the organization’s structure, culture, and dynamics to navigate effectively and influence outcomes.
  • Team and Relationship Building: Builds strong, collaborative teams and cultivates positive working relationships across the organization.
  • Integrity and Courage: Acts with integrity, consistency, and professionalism, even in the face of difficult decisions.

The following qualifications will help the ideal candidate stand out: 

  • An advanced degree or certification in law, political science, management, finance, economics, or engineering.
  • Working knowledge of electric utility operations, best practices for industry safety efforts, implications of local and regional power supply, and electric cooperative needs.

Benefits

  • Pension and 401(k) plan
  • Medical, dental, and prescription drug insurance
  • Long-term disability insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Supplemental AD&D insurance
  • Business travel accident insurance
  • Education assistance plan
  • Section 125 plan
  • Health savings account
  • Seven paid holidays and two personal days
  • Vacation and sick leave
  • Company vehicle

Colorado Rural Electric Association is an equal opportunity employer. CREA prohibits unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical disability, mental disability, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, veteran status, vaccination status, political belief, or any other characteristic to the extent protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Advocating in D.C. for Colorado Co-ops

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The Colorado Rural Electric Association spends many hours and resources representing the interests of its member co-ops before the Colorado General Assembly. Each year from January through May, CREA staff and contract lobbyists carefully follow all the legislative proposals considered by our state legislature to determine if they will have any impact on electric co-ops. This is a job that requires our attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week to make sure proposed new laws won’t have any negative impacts on electric co-op members.

In addition to our work at the state level, CREA also works with the national trade association — the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association — to promote and protect the interests of Colorado co-ops in Washington, D.C. While most of the policy action takes place in Colorado, there are many federal initiatives that are relevant to Colorado’s electric co-ops.

In 2021, the United States Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. One of the provisions of that law authorized electric co-ops to apply for grants and loans to help pay for distribution grid projects that will reduce the risk of wildfires and improve the resilience of electric co-op systems. In 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which included a loan and grant program specifically for electric co-ops. The funds authorized by this law were made available to electric co-ops to help them acquire new generating resources and improve the reliability of their systems.

Colorado’s electric co-ops collectively spent thousands of hours working with the appropriate government agencies and filing applications for these grants and loans. Over the last year or so, CREA’s member co-ops have been extremely successful in being awarded grants and loans that will be administered by the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Homeland Security. These grants and loans provide a historic opportunity for Colorado’s electric co-ops to invest in infrastructure that will serve their members at the end of the line with affordable, reliable electricity for many years into the future.

I recently traveled to Washington, D.C., with a group of Colorado co-op CEOs to meet with our members of Congress to emphasize the critical importance of these loans and grants to Colorado’s electric co-op members. Co-ops serve about 70% of Colorado’s land mass, and any help we can get to keep rates affordable and service reliable is much appreciated.

The grants and loans that have been committed to Colorado’s electric co-ops will benefit thousands of Coloradans, and we urge all officials of the federal government to honor these commitments.

Kent Singer is the executive director of CREA and offers a statewide perspective on issues affecting electric cooperatives. CREA is the trade association for 21 Colorado electric distribution co-ops and one power supply co-op.

Colorado Country Life Launches New Website

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March 6 – DENVER, COLORADO – Colorado Country Life, the official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association, launched a new website to make the magazine’s online presence more accessible, visually appealing, and informative for readers.

The web address is the same — coloradocountrylife.coop —  but the updated website has a modern look. The redesigned site complements the fresh look of the updated and rebranded print publication that launched in January 2025.

The website was built with electric cooperative members in mind. In addition to the new look and feel, the website has many improvements and upgrades, some of which include:

  • Enhanced Accessibility. The new site meets accessibility standards and now content is easier for screen readers to assist users who are blind or have low-vision.
  • Enhanced Search Capabilities. New search functions make it easier than ever to find content. With more intuitive navigation, articles, recipes, and more can be accessed in the search bar at the top of the homepage.
  • Searchable Archives. CCL magazine archives are now fully searchable. With this new feature, visitors can find exactly what they need from past issues with just a few clicks.

CCL and CREA welcome you to explore this new site and learn more about our work at coloradocountrylife.coop.

Colorado co-op members gather at CREA 80th Annual Meeting.2025

Celebrating 80 Years

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Eighty years! That’s how long the Colorado Rural Electric Association has been advocating for and providing services to Colorado’s electric cooperatives. Founded in 1945, our trade association has partnered with our member co-ops for decades to support their mission of providing reliable and affordable electricity to all corners of Colorado. We celebrated our 80th anniversary during the recent annual meeting of our members in Denver; here are some highlights.

Industry Updates

In addition to full-day education sessions focused on cooperative governance and power supply issues, we hosted an amazing group of speakers on a wide variety of topics: an economic update from CFC; an update on activities in the U.S. Congress from CoBank; a state political update from our CREA government relations team; a panel discussing data centers and their potential impacts on co-ops, and a co-op power supplier conversation.

The meeting was an opportunity for co-op directors and CEOs to hear the latest on what’s happening in the fast-moving electric industry.

Light Up Navajo

Attendees also heard from Walter Haas, the head of the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority. We have worked with NTUA for the last couple of years to send co-op lineworkers to the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona to help build electric lines to homes without access to power. Last year, line crews from seven Colorado electric co-ops worked with employees of NTUA to construct distribution lines to serve dozens of families. Haas made a special trip to Denver to thank our co-ops and CREA for their contribution to this work. We look forward to continuing our support of NTUA to help power the lives of the many Navajo citizens who are still living without electricity.

Legislative Reception and Breakfast

Our annual meeting is always scheduled when the Colorado General Assembly is in session so that we can meet with legislators and talk about issues that concern electric co-ops. We had great participation by the members of our legislature again this year and we had a chance to talk about the many issues facing our members, including the risks posed by wildfires on rural communities.

Our 80th annual meeting was a huge success due to the engagement of our members and the excellent work of the entire CREA team. We look  forward to another 80 years protecting the interests of Colorado’s electric cooperatives!

Kent Singer is the executive director of CREA and offers a statewide perspective on issues affecting electric cooperatives. CREA is the trade association for 21 Colorado electric distribution co-ops and one power supply co-op.

Wildfire Mitigation – A statewide viewpoint

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The recent wildfires in California are a heartbreaking reminder of the risks that face many communities in the arid western United States. While a combination of drought, high winds, and low humidity all conspired to create the conditions for this tragic event, it’s not clear yet who or what was responsible for igniting the fires. It has been suggested that electric utility facilities may have been the cause of at least one of the wildfires, although that has not been proven.

Whether or not the Southern California wildfires were caused by electric power lines, there is no doubt that utility facilities have previously been the cause of wildfires in California. Colorado’s electric co-ops are very much aware of these risks, and they do everything in their power to reduce the possibility that their facilities will cause a wildfire. Electric co-ops go to great lengths to clear vegetation from around their power lines and other facilities, and they are leaders in deploying new technology to anticipate and detect conditions where wildfires may be more likely.

Colorado’s electric co-ops also prepare wildfire mitigation plans that spell out in detail all the steps they take to lower the risks of wildfires. But even the most comprehensive wildfire mitigation plan does not guarantee safety. With thousands of miles of power lines across the state, many of which traverse remote forests and public lands, it is impossible to mitigate all the risks.

For that reason, CREA has been working on a legislative proposal that would recognize the work being done by Colorado’s electric co-ops around wildfire mitigation. The bill would provide some measure of liability protection for those co-ops that have implemented a state-approved wildfire mitigation plan. Without a bill like this, it may become impossible for Colorado co-ops to obtain adequate liability insurance to protect their consumer-members. Other states have passed similar legislation, and we’re hopeful that the Colorado legislature will consider this bill — if not this year, then in the 2026 session of the legislature.

Colorado’s electric co-ops need reassurance that if they do everything that is reasonably possible to mitigate the risk that their facilities will cause a wildfire, they will not be subject to lawsuits that could literally bankrupt them. Co-ops will always do everything in their power to protect the communities they serve, including investing time and money in measures to reduce the risk of wildfires.

Kent Singer is the executive director of CREA and offers a statewide perspective on issues affecting electric cooperatives. CREA is the trade association for 21 Colorado electric distribution co-ops and one power supply co-op.

US Senator John Hickenlooper and CREA Executive Director Kent Singer chat during the CREA Energy Innovations Summit.

CREA HOSTS 15TH ANNUAL ENERGY INNOVATIONS SUMMIT

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Industry leaders discuss the electric industry

The Colorado Rural Electric Association concluded its 15th Annual CREA Energy Innovations Summit. This year’s conference brought together more than 275 industry experts and leaders who discussed the latest developments in today’s dynamic energy landscape.

During the opening session, United States Sen. John Hickenlooper emphasized the importance of a bipartisan approach to energy and climate issues. He shared valuable insights from his experience with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and drew from his background as a geologist. At lunch, NERC Senior Vice President of Strategy and External Engagement Camilo Serna discussed with attendees the impact of coal fired power plant retirement on the North American power grid.

“Bringing together leaders and experts from across the U.S. and Canada for a day of shared knowledge highlights CREA’s commitment to excellence. Together, we are shaping the future of the electric industry, and it’s inspiring to see what we can achieve as a united community,” CREA Executive Director Kent Singer said.

Breakout sessions and panel discussions that facilitated engaging conversations and networking opportunities were available throughout the day. “The lineup of presenters at the 2024 CREA Energy Innovations Summit was the best I’ve seen in my many years of attendance at the event,” Mountain View Electric Association CEO Ruth Marks said.

A session covering advanced reactors explored the potential of new generation nuclear technologies as a sustainable solution for achieving carbon-free electricity. Another discussion focused on load growth and data centers, where experts from CoBank, E3, and RMI analyzed the soaring demand for data centers and its implications for resource planning. Additionally, a panel discussing barriers to EV adoption examined Colorado’s electrification goals and discussed strategies to combat range anxiety and improve charging station availability. “The topics were timely and relevant to Colorado cooperative issues of the day. From hearing about NERC reliability concerns to becoming better informed about emerging technologies, it was definitely time well spent,” Marks continued.

“As we wrap up the 15th annual summit, I’m encouraged by the collaboration and leadership we’ve fostered over the years” said CREA Director of Member Services and Education Julie Baker. “We are thrilled with the turnout and the level of engagement from our participants.”

The 2025 CREA Energy Innovations Summit will take place on November 3 in Westminster.

CREA Welcomes Taylor Ward

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headshot of Taylor WardDENVER, Colorado — The Colorado Rural Electric Association welcomes Taylor Ward as its new Director of Government Relations.

Ward joins CREA with a decade of experience in legislative and government affairs. Working primarily in the public sector, he has proven success in strategic advocacy and lobbying, legislative analysis, policy development, community engagement, relationship building, and coalition and stakeholder management.

“Taylor brings a wealth of experience in lobbying and legislative affairs to CREA,” CREA Executive Director Kent Singer said. “We’re excited to have him join our team in doing this important work for Colorado’s electric co-ops.”

Ward will be responsible for CREA’s legislative program and keeping the association’s members informed of legislative activities and issues important to electric cooperatives across Colorado.

“I am honored to join the Colorado Rural Electric Association and represent the interests of our state’s rural electric cooperatives. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work alongside rural communities and have been able to develop a deep understanding of the unique challenges they face. I am thrilled to continue this work at CREA,” Ward said. “I look forward to working closely with policymakers, industry leaders, and our cooperative members to ensure that we continue to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for the people of Colorado.”

About Colorado Rural Electric Association

CREA is the trade association representing 21 Colorado electric distribution co-ops and Tri-State G&T. CREA provides legislative, safety, education, and communication support. The mission of the CREA is to enhance and advance the interests of its member electric cooperatives through a united effort.

Colorado’s Electric Cooperatives Support Opportunities for Youth

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For more than three decades, the electric cooperatives of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming have conducted a fun weeklong experience known as Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp. Every July, selected high school students travel to Clark, Colorado (north of Steamboat Springs), after being chosen by their local cooperatives as participants. This year’s Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp was another huge success with 79 student campers, six ambassadors, and 13 counselors participating.

The annual CYLC provides an opportunity for the campers to learn about the fundamentals and operation of a co-op, electricity generation and safety, gain valuable leadership skills, and, of course, have a ton of summer fun.

The best way to learn about a co-op is to form one, and that is what the campers did. When students arrived the first day, they formed a camp co-op by electing a board of directors and hiring a general manager. Each camper was expected to take part in the workings of the camp co-op by seeking election to the board and by serving on one of the camp activity committees.

A presentation from HawkQuest taught campers about raptors and the electric cooperatives’ role in avian protection. The days were busy, but the evenings were also packed with fun — like a talent show. The amount of creativity showcased at the talent show was incredible this year; the night ended with many smiles and laughs all around.

During the week, students also attended talks about leadership and conflict management. Campers discovered the variety of co-op careers, watched a high-voltage electric safety demonstration, toured a power plant, and learned where electricity comes from through a presentation titled The Story Behind the Switch. The campers then took what they had learned and built generation and transmission models out of craft supplies. The winning team earned the coveted prized of being able to skip the line for lunch and dinner for the rest of camp!

There is plenty of time for fun and games. Glen Eden Resort has a volleyball court, swimming pool, a hot tub, and tennis courts that students enjoyed. There was a dance, a pizza party, a trip to the top of Mt. Werner, time to explore Steamboat Springs, and a rafting trip on the Colorado River.

A banquet on the final night of camp gave students an opportunity to say goodbye to their new camp friends; and they also finalized the election of the 2025 camp ambassadors. The three Western Division ambassadors for 2025 are represented by Y-W Electric: Anderson Filla, Alyssa Roberts, and Haylee Roseberry. Clancy Cummings, Tessa Inman, and Kase Kill were elected as the three Eastern Division ambassadors. These ambassadors will attend next year’s camp to help as student leaders.

Each local cooperative has its own qualifications for participation in the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp. Camp is open to students who are entering their junior or senior year of high school in the fall. If you know someone who may be interested in attending camp next year, see a local high school counselor or give your local electric cooperative a call.

Colorado’s Electric Co-ops Send Volunteer Crews to Light Up Navajo Nation

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In June and July, seven Colorado electric co-op line crews traveled to parts of Arizona to help electrify homes on Navajo Nation.

More than 13,000 families living on Navajo Nation do not have basic access to electricity at home.

An initiative between the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and the American Public Power Association, Light Up Navajo works to change that statistic and to change people’s lives. “It is hard to believe that in 2024 there are still families in the United States that have never experienced having electricity,” CREA Board President Steve Valdez said.

Some NTUA applicants have waited years for electricity at home. Challenges include infrastructure limitations, supply chain issues, and siting and permitting considerations. Melissa, a new NTUA customer whose home was connected in June, had waited one year for electricity. “I purchased my home last year and was trying to take care of my family,” she said. She and her kids lived with Melissa’s parents during that time. “Now my kids have electricity and we’re going to be forever grateful,” she said, expressing thanks to the Colorado crew that worked to connect her home.

CREA supported the project. “CREA is incredibly proud of the lineworkers from Colorado’s electric co-ops who helped bring light and power to residents of the Navajo Nation.” CREA Executive Director Kent Singer said. “We are thankful for the opportunity to improve the lives of our neighbors in northern Arizona.”

Since 2008, NTUA and volunteer crews have connected more than 7,500 homes to receive electricity. This year’s mission was to connect at least 150 homes. Volunteer crews surpassed that goal and helped connect 170 homes.

“Participating in projects such as Light Up Navajo are important because they exemplify the cooperative principle of Concern for Community,” Valdez concluded. “Volunteers banding together to improve quality of life is how co-ops got their start. Today, Colorado’s electric co-ops are still improving the quality of life in rural areas — it’s who we are.”

USDA announces funding for Solar-Storage projects

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Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Representative Yadira Caraveo (CO-8), and Colorado Agriculture Commissioner Kate Greenberg held a press conference June 17 in Fort Collins to discuss efforts to create additional income opportunities for producers and entrepreneurs by building more, new, and better markets; providing more options for consumers to buy healthy, locally produced products; investing in infrastructure and creating new jobs; and strengthening local and regional supply chains in Colorado and across the country.

Secretary Vilsack spoke about the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program, which is funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. Inflation Reduction Act investments provided the single largest investment in rural electrification since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. IRA investments include significant incentives to:

  • lower energy costs for rural communities and businesses;
  • protect the environment;
  • reduce pollution through clean energy;
  • create jobs and spur economic growth.

The press conference -— held at Poudre Valley REA’s headquarters — also included the announcement that PVREA will receive $9 million to create solar energy battery storage capacity.

“We see your efforts, and we’re making sure to bring public investment to help you achieve your goals on behalf of the people in Northern Colorado,” U.S. Representative Yadira Caraveo told PVREA and other attendees at the announcement.

PACE programs are designed to create an opportunity where wealth can be created within a rural community and stay within that rural community. Secretary Vilsack said Colorado understands the value of these programs and, as a result, is attracting significant investments from the USDA.

Vilsack also expressed appreciation to Poudre Valley REA. “There is an attitude here, at this rural electric association, an attitude of trying to be one step ahead … to continue to provide the safe, affordable, and reliable electricity that your customer base depends on,” he said. “As a result of that, you’ve seen rather significant expansion of opportunity over the 85 years that you’ve been in existence. You’re continuing that today, and USDA wants to be a part of it.”

Rep.-Yadira-Caraveo

Representative Yadira Caraveo speaks at the funding announcement at PVREA’s headquarters in Fort Collins in June. Photo by Kylee Coleman.

Secretary Vilsack also announced that Montrose-based Delta-Montrose Electric Association received funding for creating a photovoltaic system to produce additional electricity and to reduce emissions with the electricity it currently provides to its co-op members.

It is estimated this project will reduce emissions by about 10%.

“This is about more affordable electricity that can help spur and spawn opportunity, in the service area,” Vilsack said. “This is about lower energy costs at the end of the day, because as [electric co-ops] receive assistance from the federal government, [they] obviously don’t have to burden the rate payers with this.”

USDA Secretary Vilsack

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks about the PACE program at Poudre Valley REA June 17. Photo by Kylee Coleman.