Howard Electric Cooperative in Fayette will soon have a new CEO/General Manager. Richard Fowler announced his retirement effective in February after 31 years at the head of the cooperative. Howard Electric’s board named longtime employee Amber Overfelt as the new CEO on October 28.

Howard Electric is a member-owned Touchstone Energy Cooperative that serves approximately 3,600 homes, farms, and businesses throughout Howard, Randolph, and Chariton counties, and part of Boone County. It maintains more than 900 miles of power lines. It was established in 1936.

During his time as CEO, Fowler has overseen significant growth and improvement of the cooperative. In the first 50 years of Howard Electric’s existence, the cooperative returned $221,000 in patronage capital to its members. “In the last 30 years, we have returned to our member-owners over 3.6 million,” Fowler said. “Under Amber Overfelt’s leadership, I am confident that will continue for years to come.”

Since 2012, the Howard Electric Cooperative Community Foundation has donated more than $125,000 to more than 40 service organizations in HEC’s service territory. All funds for the foundation came from grants and other sources so that electric rates were not affected.

“As long as our investor, the Kansas City Community Foundation continues to invest our funds wisely, these donations to our community will continue for many years to come,” Fowler said.

In 2012 Fowler oversaw a computer conversion at the cooperative. “That allowed us to become much more efficient and offer to our members prepay services, smart hub, outage maps, electronic payment options, websites, and our Facebook page,” he said. “With better equipment and new technologies such as drones, we continue to be on the cutting edge.”

Howard Electric was the first cooperative in the state to offer LED lighting and the third in the nation to offer residential demand rates, both of which are being copied by co-ops across the nation. Howard Electric has also seen growth, with the addition of about 50 meters in each of the last two years. Yearly gross revenues exceed $7 million. 

Fowler also spearheaded the effort to bring an economic developer to Howard and southern Randolph counties in 2009. The HEC board put $10,000 towards this vision, which turned into $80,000 with the help of Central Methodist University, local banks, businesses, cities, and the county. Since 2007, more than $1 million has been revised with the goal of improving the local economy.

The cooperative employs 15 people, which Fowler said gives him the most pride. “We really do have some of the finest employees a CEO could ask for. I have frequently received compliments from members and other co-ops on the quality of these individuals.

“Amber especially shines in this area. I have and am receiving accolades from all over the state for her. Amber is highly regarded by her peers,” said Fowler. 

Overfelt has been with Howard Electric for almost 18 years. She was chosen from a field of 38 nationwide applicants. She joined Howard Electric in 2004 as a Propane CSR and was promoted several times: to Executive Assistant, to Manager in 2009, Office Manager in 2018, and Assistant Manager in 2020. 

“Richard’s leaving big shoes to fill,” Overfelt said. “Right now, the co-op is in a healthy position. We know there will be new challenges coming our way but we will work through those with the main goal of continuing to provide our members with affordable and reliable power.”

Overfelt said HEC is prepared for the future even as electric demand continues to rise. Area providers across the country are facing increasing demand challenges like the switch by many drivers to electric vehicles, and the ongoing demand for renewable energy. Right now about 25% of the power provided to Howard Electric members comes from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and hydro.

“We need to look at our lines and make sure they’re ready for that load if electric vehicles take off in Howard Electric’s service area,” Overfelt said. “Currently through our association with Central Electric and Associated Electric, we have the power supply to meet those needs. We continue looking out into the future to see what our future power needs are.”

Overfelt said projected power demand for use of EVs is something the cooperative is reviewing for the next five-year work plan. She said that system reliability is another concern for all providers, including Howard Electric. “We saw a little bit of that with the polar vortex last year. So we’re working to prepare that to make sure we have the power available when our members need it.”

In addition to her career at Howard Electric, Overfelt also serves as the chair of the Howard County Economic Development Board and was elected to the Fayette R-III Board of Education.

“Amber has become a leader in our community, and I am confident she can take Howard Electric to an even higher level of service to our community,” Fowler said.

A Fayette native, Overfelt graduated from Fayette High School in 1999 and completed her Associates of Applied Science in marketing from Moberly Area Community College in 2001. She and her husband, Troy, have two children, Gage Sulltrop, 16, and Kadence Sulltrop, 12.