Board of Directors

The Board is the policy-making body of the Cooperative. The directors serve on standing committees and hold regular board meetings to establish policy, review activities, and make decisions affecting the Cooperative’s well-being.

Directors are elected at Jefferson Energy’s Annual Meeting of Members held every year in July. Every year, three directors are elected for three-year terms. Candidates for the Board are nominated by a nominating committee or by petition.

North Region

(Glascock, McDuffie, Columbia and Warren counties)

Larry Hadden

Larry W. Hadden represents the North Region. He graduated from the University of Georgia and served on the Glascock County Board of Education for eight years; four of those years as Chairman. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1994. Larry is currently serving his third term as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. He has also served as Chairman of the Board for two terms. He has completed the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification and is working to complete the Board Leadership Certification. Larry lives in Gibson, Georgia and is a small business owner, and cattleman. He has two sons and two grandchildren.

You may contact Larry Hadden by email at larryhadden@jecboard.coop.

Joe Shurley

Edgar Joe Shurley represents the North Region. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1995. Joe has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for two terms. He has completed Director certifications including Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership and he obtained and maintains the Director Gold Certification. Joe is a small business owner and resides in Warrenton, GA. He and wife, Fae, have one son, Mark.

You may contact Joe Shurley by email at joeshurley@jecboard.coop.

Thomas M. Phelps

Thomas M. Phelps (Tommy) represents the North Region. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2021, and has completed Director certifications including the Credentialed Cooperative Director certification and is working to complete the Board Leadership certification. Tommy retired from First Citizens Bank as a Senior Vice President, Financial Sales Manager after 25 years. He is a graduate of Georgia College with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Tommy is an active member of his community and serves on numerous committees, boards, and civic organizations. Tommy and his wife of 35 years, Donna, live in Thomson.

You may contact Tommy Phelps by email at tommyphelps@jec.coop.

Richmond County Region

(Richmond County)

Ophelia McCain

Ophelia J. McCain represents the Richmond County Region. She was elected to the Board of Directors in 1995. Ophelia has served as Chair of the Board of Directors for two terms. She has completed Director certifications including Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership and she obtained and maintains the Director Gold Certification. Ophelia is a retired educator and resides in Augusta, GA. She has a daughter and five grandchildren.

You may contact Ophelia McCain by email at opheliamccain@jecboard.coop.

Eugene Tanzymore

Eugene Tanzymore, Jr. represents the Richmond County Region.  He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1999.  Eugene has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for one term and Chairman of the Board of Directors for one term.  He has completed Director certifications including Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership and he obtained and maintains the Director Gold Certification.  Eugene is retired having served over 30 years in law enforcement.  He is currently serving as the Associate Minister at Good Shepherd Baptist Church.  Eugene resides in Hephzibah, Georgia.  He has four children and two grandchildren.

You may contact Eugene Tanzymore by email at eugenetanzymore@jecboard.coop.

John Derek Partridge

John Derek Partridge represents the Richmond County Region. He was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2020. He has completed Director certifications including the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification and is working to complete the Board Leadership certification. Derek is a very active member of Hephzibah Baptist Church and the Hephzibah community, supporting alumni activities of Hephzibah High School, coaching little league baseball and participating in community public service activities.  He and his wife, Anne, have two children and seven grandchildren.

You may contact John Derek Partridge by email at derekpartridge@jecboard.coop

South Region

(Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Emanuel, Burke and Washington counties)

James Gay

James L. Gay represents the South Region. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1996. Jim has served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board since 2000. He has completed the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification and is working to complete the Board Leadership Certification. Jim and his family are lifelong farmers, and he lives on the family farm in Matthews, Georgia. He and wife, Connie, have two children and five grandchildren.

You may contact Jim Gay by email at jimgay@jecboard.coop.

Tim Garrett

Tim Garrett represents the South Region. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1984. Tim has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for four terms and Chairman of the Board for four terms.   He also serves as Jefferson Energy’s Member Representative on the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation’s Board of Directors.  Tim has completed Director certifications including Credentialed Cooperative Director and Board Leadership.  He is a graduate of Georgia Southern with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.  Tim and his family are lifelong farmers and live on their farm in Swainsboro, Georgia. Tim and wife, Judy, have three daughters and four grandchildren.

You may contact Tim Garrett by email at timgarrett@jecboard.coop.

Mark Davis

Mark D. Davis represents the South Region. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2012. Mark currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He has completed the Credentialed Cooperative Director and Board Leadership Certification. Mark is currently working on the Director Gold certification. Mark is a Certified Public Accountant and partner in the firm Jones, Jones, Davis & Associates. He lives in Louisville, Georgia with his wife, Wendy, and son, Carson.

You may contact Mark Davis by email at markdavis@jecboard.coop.

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