SECO Energy District 8 Members Elect New Trustee Martin Proctor
SECO Energy members residing in District 8 elected Martin E. Proctor as their representative to serve on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. The meeting and election were held within the District at First Baptist Church of Leesburg South Campus on February 13, 2024.
SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for and owned by its members. SECO’s service area is geographically divided into nine Districts. One Trustee is elected from each of the nine Districts to represent their fellow members on SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the Board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to monitor the financial status of the cooperative while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the membership at large.
The election was a contested ballot with two candidates, Mr. Martin Proctor, and Mr. Anthony Grove. As the newly elected Trustee, Mr. Proctor will assume the seat held since 2010 by William James, who is retiring from the Board of Trustees. Mr. Proctor will hold the Trustee position for a 3-year term. SECO’s Bylaws currently require that the cooperative hold District Meetings every three years at which time elections are held to determine representation for the district on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees. Florida Statute requires SECO to hold in-person elections, therefore, the cooperative continues to hold District Meetings as a means of electing Trustees. A drive-thru voting option was available for members for added convenience and to encourage participation.
A SECO Energy Foundation Board Vice President since 2023, Mr. Proctor is a District 1 Board Member of the Lake County Water Authority and is active with the Groveland Planning and Zoning. He is a graduate of Purdue University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He lives on Lake Emma, part of Palatlakaha Creek, with his wife of over 35 years.
After the meeting, Mr. Proctor was congratulated by Board Trustee and President Gerald Anderson and SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn. Proctor is grateful for the opportunity to serve his community in a new capacity, stating, “I want to thank my fellow District 8 friends and neighbors who attended the meeting and election. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees and expect to learn as much about the cooperative and industry as possible. Mr. James has served this District well; he mentored me and nominated me to the SECO Energy Foundation Board. This new role will increase my knowledge of the energy industry and cooperative, not-for-profit business model. I am excited for the challenge and the ability to work with and build communication with my future Board peers.”
Board Trustee Anderson added, “The Board of Trustees will look back fondly on the contributions of Mr. Bill James, and with the addition of a new Trustee we all have a duty to assist with his introduction to the industry so he can be equipped with the best tools to make a positive impact. I know our veteran Trustees will work shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Proctor to advance his familiarity with SECO’s unique processes, objectives and challenges ahead.”
SECO Energy CEO, Curtis Wynn also paid tribute to Mr. James and then welcomed Mr. Proctor, adding, “Mr. James has been a steadfast Trustee who has been a valued contributor. His dedication to SECO is admirable and respected by us all. Mr. Proctor comes with an impressive history of community service, not the least of which was his appointment as a founding SECO Energy Foundation Board Member. This experience, though relatively brief, will ease the transition into his new role as a Trustee with SECO Energy. We look forward to his future contributions and dedication to support SECO Energy.”
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Trustee Kusiak enjoys serving his fellow District 7 neighbors, stating, “Thank you to the sizable crowd of District 7 members who attended the District Meeting and for once again entrusting me to serve as your Trustee. It has been an honor to serve as the District 7 Trustee and to grow my knowledge base about the cooperative and the energy industry. I have enjoyed serving SECO Energy members and achieving the Director Gold Credential by continuing my education through the NRECA. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my community.”
