A member of the OPD5 Board of Directors recently received his Board Leadership Certificate (BLC) from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) for completing a rigorous director’s training program.
OPD5 board member Dale Rust of Mesquite was presented the certificate during a board meeting held in Mesquite on Aug. 21.
This was the second NRECA certification received by Rust since he began his service on the OPD5 board in January 2023. He had previously received his Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate which requires new directors to complete 5 core courses teaching the basics of board service.
The BLC is the next level of NRECA certification. It recognizes individuals who have completed an additional 10 courses in more advanced, issues-oriented subject matter. These courses are meant to address the ever-changing demands on small electric utility board members including staying up to date on current trends in the industry, new governance skills and a solid knowledge of values, principles and successful business models for small utilities.
Rust said that he has relished the opportunity to continue in his professional development as a board member. “It has been really good serving on the board and I have enjoyed learning more about it through these certification programs,” he said.
Rust is currently retired from a career in industrial controls as a mechanical engineer. “I have a very curious mind and I enjoy seeing how things work,” he said. “So I am constantly learning, even now in my 80s.”
In the BLC process, Rust said he had taken classes in subjects like the effects that the proliferation of electric vehicles might have on utilities across the country, the details of good rate setting techniques, dealing with compensation and eventual succession of district management and more.
“All of these classes have helped me understand things better and prepared me to hopefully advise on how to spend district funds appropriately in making our system more reliable,” he said.
As a relative newcomer to the board, Rust said that he has been pleased with how things are managed at OPD5.
“My observation has been that OPD5 is a very well-run power company,” he said. “I have been very impressed with our General Manager, Mendis Cooper, and his leadership. And I feel that we have a good rate structure at the district.”
The NRECA is an association representing almost 900 small electric utilities which provide service to more than 42 million people across 48 states. These certification programs are available to more than 7,200 board members across the country.