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NRECA Legislative Conference Recap

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In last month’s Colorado Country Life, CREA’s Director of Government Relations, Taylor Ward, provided a recap of the association’s successful work during the recently completed session of the Colorado General Assembly.

While most of our political advocacy work for electric co-ops is done in Colorado, CREA also works with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association to promote the interests of electric co-ops in Washington, D.C. We work with the offices of Colorado’s two United States senators and eight representatives to protect and promote the electric co-op business model on a national level.

As part of our federal advocacy, each year CREA supports and organizes Colorado’s electric co-op participation in NRECA’s annual Legislative Conference in Washington. This conference brings together over 2,000 electric co-op directors and staff from across the country to meet with members of Congress and address co-op concerns and issues.

At this year’s gathering, approximately 50 representatives of Colorado’s electric co-ops joined the CREA team in meetings with our Congressional delegation. We were fortunate this year that Congress was in session the week we were in D.C., so we were able to meet with both of our senators as well as five of our eight members of Congress. We also met with terrific staff members from the other three offices when the representatives had scheduling conflicts.

We focused on five main issues in our meetings in D.C. First, we thanked the members for their support of recent federal laws that provide funding to co-ops to complete projects that will improve the reliability and resiliency of rural electric systems. Second, we asked the members to continue to support co-op investments in wildfire mitigation projects, grid hardening, and cybersecurity improvements. Third, we asked the Colorado delegation to continue to support federal legislation that will provide a better opportunity for co-ops to remove hazardous trees and reduce the threat of wildfires. The Fix Our Forests Act expands the width of electric utility rights of way on federal lands and expedites the permitting process for co-ops to clear vegetation from around power lines. Fourth, we reminded our representatives of the importance of hydropower in our energy mix and asked that they support adequate staffing for the Western Area Power Administration. Fifth, we asked the members to continue to support the Federal Emergency Management Administration and its work with co-ops in the aftermath of natural disasters.

The Colorado congressional delegation has a wide range of viewpoints on energy policy and other matters. However, we believe that the mission of Colorado’s not-for-profit, member-owned electric co-ops is one that everyone can get behind.

We’re very grateful to the directors and staff of our member cooperatives who made the trip to Washington, D.C., and we collectively appreciate the work our delegation does on behalf of the state and Colorado’s electric co-ops. There is more work to be done on all of these issues, and Colorado’s electric co-ops will continue to partner with our members of Congress in the coming months to help co-ops serve their communities with reliable and affordable power.

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.