After 31 years of dedicated service as president of the Howard Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, Dale Kirby is passing the torch to a new board president.

Dale recently stepped down from the board president position but will continue serving as a director, allowing members and fellow directors to continue benefiting from his three decades of experience and knowledge of the cooperative.

During his 31 years as president, Dale helped guide Howard Electric through significant changes in the electric industry while remaining focused on the cooperative's commitment to providing safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to its members. He also represents Howard Electric on the board of its generation and transmission cooperative, which provides wholesale power to the cooperative.

The board elected Bart Ballew as its new president. As Bart assumes this leadership role, he does so with the support of an experienced board and a strong foundation built by those who have served before him.  Continuing a family connection to Howard Electric's board of directors, Bart's father, Paul, previously served as Howard Electric Board President from 1973 to 1978.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Dale for the leadership, wisdom, and commitment he has shared with Howard Electric over the past 45 years,” said General Manager Amber Sulltrop. “We’re also thankful to Bart for his willingness to step into this leadership role and continue the cooperative's tradition of thoughtful, member-focused leadership. Howard Electric is blessed with a Board of Directors that understands every decision comes back to the people we serve—our member-owners—and remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and affordable electricity for generations to come.”