Firelands Electric’s Rick Bowers recently was selected as the cooperative’s new director of operations, according to a news release.
Bowers will fill the position when current director Don Englet makes his transition to general manager at the end of the month, the release said.
Hired as an apprentice in 2008, Bowers has more than 16 years of experience as a lineman.
After completing his certification at Marion Technical College in 2012, Bowers was promoted to journeyman lineman.
In 2023, he became a lead lineman responsible for running a crew that completed everything from routine line maintenance and outage restoration to constructing new services.
In the past, Bowers has volunteered to provide mutual aid to other electric cooperatives in the U.S. that faced thousands of power outages following hurricane-related storm damage, according to the release.
In 2016, he participated in a two-week rural electrification project in Guatemala, where he joined linemen from several Ohio cooperatives to bring electricity to the remote mountaintop village of La Soledad for the first time.
In December 2022, he graduated from Cooperative Leadership Edge, a statewide program designed to hone the skills of future co-op leaders.
In his new role, Bowers will be responsible for making sure that the energy needs of Firelands Electric’s members are met — and that their electricity remains safe, reliable and affordable, according to the release.
One of his primary duties will be working with the linemen, right-of-way workers and engineering staff to coordinate the maintenance of Firelands Electric’s power lines and other equipment, the release said.
Bowers will oversee the design and construction of the co-op’s distribution system, as well as plan for any upgrades that may be needed, according to the release.
Bowers said he is looking forward to stepping into the director of operations position.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with a great group of dedicated employees at Firelands for more than a decade and a half,” Bowers said in the release. “And I’m eager to continue to do so — as well as provide our members with exceptional service — for many years to come.”
Bowers and his wife, Natalie, live in the New London area and have two adult children: Alex and Sam.
When not working for Firelands Electric’s members, he likes to coach softball, fish and spend time with his two grandchildren, Vinny and Evie.
Firelands Electric, A Touchstone Energy Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative providing electric service to over 9,200 homes and businesses in rural areas of Ashland, Huron, Lorain and Richland counties.
For more information on the cooperative’s community programs, visit www.firelandsec.com/community.
