There’s a vacancy at the top of Habersham EMC once again. Now Habersham has learned that CEO Bradley Hicks is no longer with the local cooperative.
Hicks, who came to HEMC from Texas, held the job for nearly two years. While HEMC officials and members of the board of directors won’t discuss why he departed, the member-owned cooperative did release this statement:
The Board of Directors of Habersham EMC announces that Bradley Hicks is no longer serving as CEO of the co-op effective September 11, 2019. HEMC Board of Directors and its dedicated employees assure its members that services provided by the co-op will continue without interruption. The Board will immediately begin the search process to employ a CEO for the co-op.
Hicks was the third person to head HEMC after former CEO and President Todd Pealock resigned in 2014 after 17 years at the helm.
HEMC Board of Directors Vice-Chair David Wall says things are still developing as far as the search for Hicks’ successor. “Everything’s covered,” he assures members. “People are not going to notice a difference as fas as day to day operations.”
Wall says the board was advised not to discuss personnel matters by their attorney, Janney Sanders of Toccoa.
“Brad’s no longer employed with HEMC at this point. It’s a personnel issue. It’s private and we can’t say anything more than that,” Sanders tells Now Habersham.
Sanders has represented HEMC for the past seven years. He says he understands that recent turnover in management raises questions but says privacy laws prevent him and company officials from discussing the matter.
Board members will soon begin searching for HEMC’s next CEO – the fourth in five years. [Ron Hutchins served as interim CEO between full-time CEOs Jonathan Cantrell and Bradley Hicks after Pealock left.]
“Just as they’ve done in the past they’ll be looking for, as quickly as possible, an interim CEO to step in and keep things moving along,” Sanders says, “and eventually they’ll hire a new CEO after a search process.”
Habersham EMC provides electricity and related services to over 25,000 members in Habersham, Hall, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens and White Counties
