Flint Energies’ Board of Directors announced today that Jeremy Nelms has been hired to serve as the Cooperative’s new CEO beginning October 1, 2020. Nelms will succeed Bob Ray who has been leading Flint since May 1, 2003. Flint Energies Chairman of the Board, Neal L. Talton comments, “We are sad to see Bob leave the Flint Family but understand his ties to the family farm and desire to continue its legacy as a fifth-generation farmer. We thank him for his 17 years of dedicated service, positive representation of the cooperative and friendship. We wish Bob and his wife, Karen, much happiness.” 

Currently, Nelms is the Executive Vice President/General Manager at Blue Ridge Mountain EMC (BRMEMC) in Young Harris, Georgia since August 2016. He also serves as Secretary/Treasurer of North Georgia Network Cooperative (NGN), a regional fiber optic internet service provider. Prior to leading BRMEMC, he was the Director of Engineering and Operations Services for Talquin Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TECI) in Quincy, Florida where he was a team member since 2006. Nelms was credited as being an integral component of deploying TECI’s $12 million Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) initiative as well as a high bandwidth, redundant, territory-wide telecommunications and tower upgrade project. He was the principal author and technical specialist for application development of the much sought-after Department of Energy Smart Grid Investment funding, then awarded to only one hundred electric utilities across the nation.

Academically, Nelms possesses both a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.S. in Wireless Engineering from Auburn University as well as an MBA from Florida State University. A licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.), Nelms is also a certified Professional Distribution Engineer by the Tennessee Valley Public Power Authority. Nelms is a native of Georgia, born in Newnan and raised in Watkinsville before moving to Cullman, Alabama. He currently resides in Blairsville, Georgia, with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two children, Bradlee and Mara. Talton continues, “We are excited to have Jeremy join the Flint Family. His educational background and knowledge of the electric industry will lead us into the future. The Board looks forward to working with Jeremy to provide our members with the best service possible.” 

Nelms concludes, “I am honored to be named CEO of Flint Energies and look forward to working with the board of directors and employees as we work to fulfill the mission of providing superior service for the Flint membership. Flint Energies has an outstanding reputation for vision, innovation, and leadership in the local community, state of Georgia, and nationally. That is a legacy that I plan to continue during my career of service to our members. My family and I look forward to the opportunity to become a part of the Flint Family.”