Pros
The mission is honorable using the cooperative business model to provide electricity to 42 million people through consumer owned rural electric cooperatives. Also, the democratic process whereby the consumers elect the Boards of the cooperatives and the cooperatives elect the Boards of the National and Statewide organizations. I also enjoy working with the members, who are down to earth and really nice people and also working with most of the NRECA staff, that care about the mission and are really trying hard to make the organization successful. The benefits are fantastic, in particular the pension plan. Some of the executives and managers are competent and are trying hard in spite of being hampered by the CEO and her 2nd in command (the COO).
Cons
I agree with an earlier posting that said that in a little over one year NRECA went from one of the best places to work to one of the worst places to work This is due to the fact that the new CEO and her 2nd in command (COO) has no substance and experience in leading an organization the size and complexity of NRECA. Before joining NRECA two years ago the CEO was a Congresswoman and the Chief Operating Officer was her Chief of Staff. Currently decisions are being made by the CEO and COO on the basis of internal politics, favoritism and bad information. They simply do not have the experience and knowledge to make good business decisions that benefit our members. Nor do they have the experience to ask the right questions and to analyze the needed information to make a good decision. For example, the CEO promoted her former Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer position at NRECA. He has a degree in journalism and, as her Chief of Staff, managed a staff of approximately 12 clerical people. He simply does not have the experience, knowledge, or academic credentials to be the COO of an organization the size of NRECA with approximately 800 staff and an annual operating budget of over $300 million. Decisions like this based on favoritism as well as her general lack of leadership experience, people management experience and business knowledge have resulted in chaos at NRECA and a very demoralized staff. Most of the executives and managers are afraid to speak up and are just going along. Some very competent staff, both short-term and long-term staff, have left the organization. Many staff are currently looking for a new job. Many are staying because of the fringe benefits, in particular the pension plan. The culture has changed dramatically over the last two years whereby staff use to work together for a mission that they were passionate about. Now staff are just watching for themselves and are hunkered down trying to just survive. Staff engagement and morale is way down. The Board should ask the CEO for the latest Blessing White engagement study, which will prove the points that I am making here. The previous CEO left NRECA in great shape financially and with a very strong staff. The organization is slipping fast and I do not see much hope for positive change with the current leadership in the CEO office.