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Old Dominion Electric Cooperative has selected the president and chief executive officer of Community Electric Cooperative in Windsor as its new chairman

CEC’s Steven A. Harmon was elected chairman of the ODEC Board of Directors. The board named Micheal Malandro as the board’s vice chairman and Gregory S. Rogers as its Secretary-Treasurer. All officers were elected to serve three-year terms.

The election of officers came during the cooperative’s annual meeting last week in Leesburg. ODEC is one of the nation’s largest and most successful generation and transmission cooperatives, according to its news release.

“It is a privilege and a blessing to serve as a steward for this organization and its customers and members. I am honored and humbled to serve as ODEC’s Chairman of the board,” Harmon said. “Our cooperative culture is one that promotes teamwork and unity. With these traits the board will be able to advise and guide ODEC through the many challenges of growth and change affecting the power generation industry.”

In addition to his role at CEC, Harom is CEO of the cooperative’s subsidiary, RECORE, LLC. 

Harmon has more than 40 years of experience in the power industry, beginning his career as an apprentice lineman, then journeyman lineman and advancing through various managerial roles to the helm of Community Electric beginning in 2013.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryan College and a masters of business administration from Auburn University at Montgomery.

The board’s new vice chairman, Malandro, has been president and CEO of Choptank Electric, based in Denton, Maryland, since 2019. 

“Having served as a board member of ODEC for many years representing two different distribution cooperatives, I have a deep understanding of the significant challenges our industry is facing and the varied needs of ODEC’s diverse membership,” Malandro said.

He said he looks forward to serving as ODEC’s vice chair as they work together to meet the growing needs of the communities they serve.

established by the leaders who have come before me.” said Mr. Rogers.

Malandro previously served as president and CEO of Prince George Electric Cooperative in Waverly, while also leading the cooperative’s broadband business, Ruralband. He is a Professional Engineer and holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from West Virginia University. He completed NRECA’s Robert I. Kabat Management program and is a veteran of the U.S. Army and West Virginia National Guard.

Rogers, who will serve as secretary-treasurer of ODEC, is president and CEO of Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative based in Rockingham.

“I appreciate the faith that my fellow board members have placed in me by electing me to be an officer of ODEC’s board,” Rogers said. “The energy industry is facing a period of dynamic changes, and I am eager to build on the strong foundation Mr.. Rogers joined the cooperative more than a decade ago, previously working at Allegheny Power for more than 20 years in multiple roles, the last being general manager of operations. 

He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech, and is a licensed professional engineer in Virginia. He is from Winchester, where he and most of his extended family still live.

ODEC is owned by and provides wholesale electric power to 11 local electric cooperatives that provide retail electric service to more than 1.5 million people in 70 counties in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.