CHOPTANK ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE - Key Persons

Craig Mathies serves on the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board of Directors representing Somerset County. Craig has been a county resident for over 50 years. Educated in the Somerset County Public School System, he graduated from Crisfield High School, and attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Norfolk Theological Seminary. He received his master's degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in 2014, and his Doctor of Ministry from the Chicago Theological Seminary in May of 2022 Craig is the Pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Cambridge. He is also President of the Somerset County Commissioners, representing District 1. Earlier in his career, Craig worked in sales and finance in the automotive industry. Active in many community and civic organizations, Craig is married to Clarice Mathies, a retired Somerset County educator. They have two children, Erica Mathies Jackson and Craig N. Mathies Jr. Craig's mother, Shellie Mathies, is also a retired Somerset County educator.

Donna Richardson West was appointed to represent Worcester County on the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in September of 2018 and was elected to a full term in April of 2019. She was also elected to the Board of the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives in December of 2020. An Eastern Shore native, Donna is embedded into the local community. As the daughter of Fay and Roger Richardson, she has worked on her family's farm her entire life and has seen all aspects of the business, where she provides support for daily operations. Donna is the Treasurer for Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church and is on the Board of Directors for Snow Hill Christian Nursery School. Donna graduated from Snow Hill High School and attended Wor-Wic Community College. Engaged to Kenneth Lambertson Sr., she has three grown children and nine grandchildren. In her spare time, Donna enjoys time with her family, being on the water either boating or jet skiing, travel, and watch sporting events.

Job Titles:

• Chairman
• Board Member of the Washington Cemetery Committee
• Chairman, Dorchester County

Doug Scott began his tenure on the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in January of 2013. Doug represents the Choptank members from Dorchester County. He was elected Chairman of the Board in May of 2023. Doug has received the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate and the Board Leadership Certificate. Doug is active in the family's 1600-acre grain farm near Hurlock, Maryland, which is now managed by his son. Doug is a board member of the Washington Cemetery Committee and holds memberships in the Maryland Farm Bureau and Unity Washington United Methodist Church. He previously served on the board of Mid Atlantic Farm Credit. Doug also holds a U.S. Coast Guard 50-Ton Master license. Doug and his wife, Patti, enjoy spending time with their children, their children's spouses and four grandchildren - enjoying all the opportunities the Chesapeake Bay region has to offer.

Job Titles:

• Treasurer
• Treasurer, Cecil County

John Burke serves on the Board of Directors for Choptank Electric Cooperative, representing the members from Cecil County. His service began in March of 2010. John is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and has a certificate for Board Leadership from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). He is also a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). John is also the Treasurer of the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board beginning in 2018, having previously served as Vice Chair and Secretary. He was also elected to the Board of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) in 2016, the energy provider serving Choptank and ten other Mid-Atlantic electric cooperatives. John earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, where he majored in Industrial Relations and Organization Behavior. He attended graduate school at Temple University's MBA program with a concentration in finance. He served in the United States Navy from 1977 to 1981 and attained the rank of Quartermaster 2'd class. John is an Associate Broker for Gunther McClary Real Estate, with offices in Cecilton and Rock Hall, conducting real estate brokerage primarily in Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's counties. He has served on several non-profit boards in Kent and Cecil counties with business, school, and community service focus. He and his wife, Terry, have two adult children, Christine and John III. They have lived in Warwick since 1993 and have been Co-op members since then.

Job Titles:

• Kent County Director

Kristen Nickerson serves on the Board of Directors for Choptank Electric Cooperative, representing the members from Kent County. Her service began in August of 2023. She is currently serving on the Finance, Budget & Audit and Governance Committees. Kristen is actively participating in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's (NRECA) Director Credentialing program. Kristen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Wesley College and is a certified public accountant. She is a Managing Member in Grand View Farm, LLC., her family's crop and swine operation in Kent County. In addition to her responsibilities managing the farm, Kristen is also the bookkeeper for Saw Mill Creek Construction, her husband's local business. Kristen is active with the Kent County Fair, the Still Pond United Methodist Church, and the Betterton American Legion Post Auxiliary. Prior to her appointment to the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board, she served on the Choptank Electric Trust Board. Kristen was the 2014 Monsanto Northeast Regional Farm Mom of the Year, traveling for interviews, discussion panels and promotional events. Kristen and her husband, Albert, have two sons. They live on the family farm in Worton where they enjoy hunting, gardening, and raising Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

Job Titles:

• Executive
• Vice President of Engineering

Sverduk has been Vice President of Engineering since 2019. He was Delaware Electric Cooperative's Manager of Metering and Power Supply. Sverduk has been with Delaware Electric since 2011 where he was originally hired as a Systems Engineer. Before joining Delaware, he led research in underwater electromagnetic sensor and sensor systems for the Office of Naval Research and Naval Surface Warfare Center in Carderock, Maryland where he was an electronics engineer. Sverduk earned a Bachelor's of Science in Engineering with an electrical concentration from Messiah College and is a licensed Professional Engineer in both Delaware and Maryland. Sverduk is a recipient of the prestigious Robert I. Kabat Management Program.

Job Titles:

• Chief Financial Officer
• Executive
• Vice President

DeSantis has been Vice President of Corporate Services since 2015. Most recently, her title was changed to Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Previously, she was the Manager of Finance & Regulatory Affairs for Choptank Electric and she has 27 years of diverse experience in finance, accounting, and regulatory affairs. DeSantis graduated with honors from Wesley College with a BS in Business Administration and completed her Masters of Science in Accounting and Financial Management in 2014 from the University of Maryland University College.

Job Titles:

• Secretary
• Secretary, Wicomico County

Matt Holloway serves as the Secretary of the Board and is the incumbent Choptank Electric Cooperative Board member for Wicomico County. Born and raised in Salisbury, Maryland. He attended Wicomico County Public Schools, graduating from Parkside High School in 2000. He went on to attend Virginia Tech and graduated in 2005 with a degree in Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences with a focus in Turfgrass Management. In 2002, Matt and his father started Quantico Creek Sod Farms Inc, and today they employ over 50 employees and till nearly 2,500 acres. In 2010, Matt successfully ran for the President of the Wicomico County Council where he served for 8 years. In 2011, Matt and his wife, Kate, started Baywater Greens LLC, a greenhouse that produces hydroponic lettuce and field grown heirloom vegetables for local restaurants, as well as large grocery stores. Matt was also the Wicomico representative on the Critical Areas Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays for seven years and was the Agricultural representative for the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission since 2014. He enjoys sailing, surfing, and downhill skiing on his own time, and is an avid duck hunter.

Job Titles:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Executive
• President

Mike Malandro is the President and CEO of Choptank Electric Cooperative and President of Choptank Fiber, a wholly owned subsidiary, located on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Mike has worked in the electric utility industry since 1999 and has been with Electric Cooperatives since 2003. An alumnus of West Virginia University, he earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and furthered his education through the NRECA Management Program at the University of Wisconsin. As a licensed Professional Engineer in both Virginia and Maryland, Mike brings a wealth of expertise to his field. A veteran of the U.S. Army and the West Virginia Army National Guard, Mike's dedication to service is evident. His leadership extends to his role as Vice Chairman on the Board for Old Dominion Electric Cooperative and as a member of various associations, including the Virginia Maryland Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, Virginia Maryland Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives, and Mid-Atlantic Cooperative Solutions. Mike is deeply invested in advancing technology in rural areas, a commitment reflected in his directorship on the Board of the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative where he serves as Audit Committee Chairman.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• President

Job Titles:

• Executive
• Vice President of Human Resources
• Manager of Human Resources

Bishop has been Vice President of Human Resources since 2015. Bishop has been the Manager of Human Resources since 2008 and joined the Cooperative in 1998 as a General Ledger Accountant. She graduated from Delaware State University with a B.S. in Accounting.

Job Titles:

• Chief

Bob Thompson was elected to the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in April of 2017 to represent the Ocean Pines community. Bob currently serves as the Chairman of the Strategic Risk and Issues Committee and Chairman of the Employee Benefits Committee. He is Choptank's voting delegate for the NRECA. He is focused on improving his knowledge through continuing education and training, obtaining his Credentialed Cooperative Director Board Leadership Certificate. Bob is currently working toward his Board Director Gold credentialling. Bob is the Managing Partner and the CEO of D&B Construction and Development. The company specializes in Design-Build Construction for Commercial and Residential projects. A savvy, innovative C-Level Executive, Bob is recognized for his 30+ years of operations management experience, leadership and financial abilities. He has been selected by numerous organizations to integrate key changes and expand market presence. Throughout his career, Bob has earned the reputation as a strong, dynamic leader by managing and motivating teams to reach exceptional levels of performance and maximize operational productivity. Chief Thompson also distinguished himself with over 22 combined years of military service in the United States Air Force/Air Force Reserve. He served in various capacities within the Civil Engineering/Emergency Services career fields where his discipline, drive and exceptional leadership quickly propelled him to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant (E9). Bob has previously worked for CoreLife, the Ocean Pines Association, 1st Mariner Mortgage as well as Licensed Investment Advisor. As a committed member of the local community, Bob currently serves as Chairman for the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce. Bob and his wife, Missi, have lived in Ocean Pines for over 33 years. They have three children - Rachel, Bobby, Nick and Son-In-Law Dan and the newest addition to their family is their granddaughter Caroline. Bob enjoys exercise, running, lifting, adventure racing and other recreational sports.

Job Titles:

• Vice Chairman
• Vice Chairman, Queen Anne 's County

Bob Arnold was first elected to the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in April of 2011, to represent the members of Queen Anne's County. Bob was elected Vice President of the Board in May of 2023. Bob is the owner of Arnold Farms, LLC, a vegetable growing business, and has been a Choptank Electric Member since 1988. Bob serves on the Choptank Electric Executive Committee. He also serves on the Governance, and Rates & Regulatory Oversight Committees. Bob has received the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, the Board Leadership Certificate and Director Gold Credential. Bob represents Choptank on the boards of the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives and Aero Energy. In the community, Bob is active in his church and local schools. He is a past president of Queen Anne's County Farm Bureau. Bob was recognized by the Maryland Food Bank as "Farmer of the Year" for his contributions to feeding the hungry in Maryland. In 2020, Bob was the recipient of the Maryland Rural Impact Award as the Rural Community Volunteer.

Job Titles:

• Executive
• General Counsel
• Vice President

Originally hired in 2018, Dahl served as General Counsel to oversee legal matters relating to the Cooperative. This included assisting with regulatory and government affairs. Most recently, Sarah was promoted to Vice President and General Counsel. As part of her new role, Dahl will oversee the Member Services and Legal / Regulatory Departments. Dahl graduated from Clemson University and the University of Richmond School of Law and is licensed to practice law in Maryland and Virginia. After law school, she joined the civil litigation firm of Setliff & Holland in Richmond, VA. Dahl then worked in the Enforcement group at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) before joining the NERC compliance group at Duke Energy in Raleigh, NC in 2013.

Job Titles:

• Executive
• Vice President of Technical Services

McGaha has been Vice President of Technical Services since 2019. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Maryland Broadband Cooperative. He previously served as Vice President of Information Technology for Prince George Electric Cooperative and lent his technical leadership to the award-winning fiber project, RURALBAND. He spent 15+ years as President and CEO of a technology consulting firm specializing in cross-functional enterprise-level projects. McGaha has been awarded a fellowship at Indiana University for the completion of its leadership program.

Job Titles:

• Executive
• Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations

Connelly has been Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Relations since 2019. She served previously as Executive Director for the Maryland Farm Bureau, a grassroots organization that serves over 26,000 members. Her extensive experience includes serving as Legislative Director for three members of the House of Representatives and being part of multiple rural and statewide government coalitions. Connelly holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from American University.

Job Titles:

• Executive
• Vice President of Operations

Lockerman has been Vice President of Operations since 2013. Originally employed at co-op in 1986, he served as a lineman and serviceman and was named Manager of Regional Operations in Denton District in 2011. Lockerman has completed the prestigious Robert I. Kabat Management Program exclusively designed for rural electric cooperative CEOs and top-level management.