Getting to Know Your Board Members: Karissa Rushing
Posted on February 25th, 2022
I love introducing you to our board members and showcasing their role in the co-op.
Karissa Rushing has served on the board since 2014 and represents members in the Benton district. She is a Saline County native. Karissa owned a small business for almost a decade. The former Miss Arkansas has a background in advertising and public relations and has worked with nonprofit organizations in planning and development. She is currently an administrator at Fellowship Bible Church in Benton where she manages business operations, organizational planning and special events. She’s in the University of Massachusetts’ Sustainable Food and Farming degree program and runs a suburban homestead with her husband.
The utility industry requires a vast knowledge and understanding of the electric business. What training is required to be part of the board of directors?
Since the utility industry is changing so rapidly, training covers many areas and is ongoing. We must have a working knowledge of the electric business, understand government policies that affect how we operate and stay abreast of current events and new technology that will impact the co-op.
First Electric launched Connect2First in Aug. 2021. What did the decision process look like to move forward with that project?
Because high-speed internet service is as critical now as electricity was in the 1940s, we spent years looking at how we could offer it to our members. Four things we focused on in our decision-making:
- Offering internet service could not interfere with or take away from our electric service.
- The investment in equipment and infrastructure must be a benefit to all.
- We had to offer a quality product.
- We had to provide excellent customer service with local technicians and call center support.
Our focus is to offer all First Electric members reliable, affordable internet service and customer satisfaction.
What do you enjoy most about serving on the board of directors?
I chose to live in the community where I grew up and where most of my family still lives. I’m committed to serving our members not just in the Benton district, but in all the First Electric districts. The co-op is truly service-oriented, and I’m privileged to have a small role in such a great organization. We live it out – from the boardroom to out in the field. It’s about our members – how we can better serve and make our communities stronger and better.
Sincerely, Rick Love