Nominating Committee Selects Board Candidates
Posted on May 24th, 2023
On Thursday, March 25, 2023, the Nominating Committee of First Electric Cooperative met at the cooperative’s office in Jacksonville. The purpose of the meeting was to review and select First Electric members as nominees for election to the cooperative’s board of directors to serve a six-year term.
The committee selected Robert Maertens of Benton as the nominee for the Benton district, and Brock Brewer of Stuttgart was nominated for the Stuttgart district to be voted on by way of mail-in ballots. Ballots will be mailed to all members on June 2.
Committee members present during nominations: Cody Calhoun, Benton; Dearl Dixon, Austin; Ginger Hawkins, Perryville; Tommy Majors, Jacksonville; Dick Hoffman, Alexander; and Mark Sandage, Keo.
*At press time, these were the candidates selected by the Nominating Committee for a vote by the members.
Robert Maertens
Bob Maertens has served on the First Electric Board of Directors since 1974. Bob and his wife, Tamara, previously owned and operated a retail business in Benton that his father, August Maertens, opened in 1921. Mr. Maertens retired from the business and turned the reins over to his son.
As a director of First Electric Cooperative, Mr. Maertens takes continuing education classes, is a Director Gold Credential, and a Credentialed Cooperative Director, and has received his Board Leadership Certificate. He is one of two directors who represent First Electric in the Benton district.
Mr. Maertens enjoys being a director for First Electric and feels the board members are family. He believes in the importance of the cooperative form of business and its commitment to local communities. Serving on the board of First Electric allows him to give back to the community.
Bob and Tamara have been married for 53 years and have two children and seven grandchildren. The Maertens attend Zion Lutheran Church, where Mr. Maertens’ grandfather was a founding member in 1882.
Brock Brewer
Brock Brewer is a lifelong resident of Humnoke, where he still resides with his wife of 25 years, Mandy. He owns and operates 4B Planting Company, a family business he manages with his wife and his brother, Britt Brewer.
Brewer is a proud fourth-generation farmer. Their farm specializes in growing rice, corn and soybean on the family’s 3,000 acres. The farming operation requires Mr. Brewer to have a wide set of business skills. He oversees the day-to-day operations and must forecast crops, review and plan the financial strategy, maintain and purchase equipment and communicate with vendors and employees.
Mr. Brewer said, “Joining the Board of Directors at First Electric is important to me, because I love our local communities and our way of life. I believe my farm management experience will be an asset. I want to do my part, and I think that helping to provide affordable electricity along with great service is a way of doing that.”
Mr. Brewer added, “When I think of First Electric, I think of great service, being able to call my local office and talk with someone who understands and cares about my needs. I see these folks out in the wet, cold and heat working hard to keep our wells running and lights on. They do this so we can focus on our work.”
The Brewers have two children, Lofton and Lexie. Lofton attends Carlisle School District, where Mandy serves on the school board.
ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the members of First Electric Cooperative will be held on Thursday, June 29, 2023, in the Office of the Cooperative at 1000 South J.P. Wright Loop Road, Jacksonville, Pulaski County, Arkansas, beginning at 10 a.m. for the following purposes:
- To pass on reports for the previous fiscal year;
- To elect two (2) directors for the cooperative to serve a term of six (6) years; and,
- To transact such other business as properly may come before the meeting.
This will be a business session only. Any member planning to attend the Annual Meeting, who has special needs, is asked to contact the co-op at 800-489-7405 prior to the Annual Meeting for assistance.
Respectfully,
Karissa Rushing, Secretary/Treasurer