Three longtime Utility Pioneers were elected to leadership positions on Pioneer Utility Resources’ Board of Directors.

Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association CEO Dave Lock leads as board chair, with Roanoke Cooperative CEO Marshall Cherry taking on the role of vice chair. Lisa Johnson continues serving as secretary-treasurer.

“Pioneer serves a vital and valuable role to rural electric co-ops and consumer-owned power utilities across the country,” said Lock, who joined the board in 2021. “Finding creative and interesting ways to share information with our members and consumers is Pioneer’s sweet spot, and I want to do my part in helping the co-op continue to succeed and thrive. Working with the talented PUR team and a fantastic group of fellow board members, I’m sure we can exceed expectations.”

Columbia REA CEO Scott Peters, who’s led the storytelling cooperative’s board since 2021, handed the gavel to Lock following the company’s meetings in June. Board organizational meetings are held annually.

“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to lead this talented board through all the changes Pioneer experienced over the last three years,” Peters said. “I’m grateful for the talented management and staff that make it all possible. I’m looking forward to Dave’s leadership going forward, I know the board will be in good hands with him at the helm.”

“The voices of Utility Pioneers, especially the board members who serve as stewards of our co-op, strengthen us,” Pioneer CEO Michael Shepard said. “We deeply appreciate Scott’s steady and insightful leadership over the past three years and look forward to working with Dave as chair and Marshall and Lisa in their leadership roles.”

The nine-member board, elected by the communication co-op’s members, represents the voices of 216 community-owned utilities, statewide associations and telephone cooperations across the United States.

2024-2025 Pioneer Board Leadership

Dave Lock | Board Chair

Lock serves as chief executive officer of the Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association, based in Tempe, Arizona. Grand Canyon is the statewide organization that represents the interests of Arizona’s rural electric co-ops before state and federal policymakers and the Arizona Corporation Commission. Grand Canyon also provides training, education, communications and other services to its members.

Most of Lock’s 40-year career has been spent working for or representing consumer-owned electric utilities. He served in city management capacities at three municipally owned utilities in Colorado. Then he gained regional utility experience, first as executive director of the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities, then as a senior manager at Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.

Marshall Cherry | Vice Chair

Cherry has served at Roanoke Electric Cooperative in northeastern North Carolina for three decades and has been the organization’s president and CEO since 2021. Before becoming president and CEO, Cherry served as the chief operating officer since 2014. Throughout his tenure at Roanoke Electric Cooperative, Cherry has gained broad experience in customer relations management, communications/public relations, information technology, organizational development, nonprofit management and economic development.

“I am honored to accept the role of vice chair of the board on behalf of all Utility Pioneers,” Cherry said. “Together, we will continue to lead the way in providing valuable resources that help utilities thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.”

Lisa Johnson | Secretary Treasurer

Johnson is CEO of Seminole Electric Cooperative Inc., one of the largest generation and transmission cooperatives in the country. Since starting with Seminole in 2013, she has been named to the “Florida 500” list of the most influential executives in the Sunshine State. Prior to Seminole, Johnson served as senior vice president and COO of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC).

Johnson joined ODEC in 2006 following an 11-year tenure with Mirant Corporation and Southern Company. She serves as a board member and chair of the Cooperative Research Network and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering and materials science from Duke University. She was elected to Pioneer’s board in 2020 and has served as secretary-treasurer for the last three years.

Utility Pioneers Lead Our Co-op

As a utility-owned communications cooperative, Pioneer Utility Resources depends on members to guide the co-op. Utility Pioneers from nine districts across the nation advocate for members and lead the co-op on Pioneer’s Board of Directors. Three-year terms are filled by member utility CEOs/general managers or board members. The board meets at least three times each year, virtually or in person, to oversee the co-op’s strategic plan and financial health. Learn more about the women and men who lead the co-op at pioneer.coop/utility-pioneers.

About Pioneer Utility Resources

Pioneer is a not-for-profit communications cooperative based in Hillsboro, Oregon. Formed in 1956, it provides agency-style communications services to consumer-owned utilities and affiliated organizations in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Marquee products and services include 11 consumer magazine brands reaching more than 1.3 million U.S. utility households. The cooperative also provides broadband marketing, social media engagement, responsive website design and hosting, podcast production and custom communications services. Pioneer is built to share members’ stories.

Pioneer also owns Efficiency Services Group, which specializes in support and installation services for utility energy efficiency efforts, primarily in the West, and NewsData, which publishes industry-leading, independent newsletters covering the utility sector in California and the Pacific Northwest. Pioneer is also the largest shareholder in General Pacific, a Fairview, Oregon-based electric supply company. Learn more at pioneer.coop.