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Joe. E. Rone of Bonifay, a lifelong Holmes County resident, was appointed to the District 8 seat on West Florida Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees in July 2002. He retired as the business administrator
in the Financial Management Department at the Federal Prison in Marianna, Florida and previously owned and operated a small retail business in the community.

Mr. Rone has also served on the Wiregrass Federal Credit Union Board as Treasurer and Membership Chairman, was a member of the Bonifay Volunteer Fire Department and served as Treasurer of the Holmes
County Firefighters Association. He has also served as a Holmes County Chamber of Commerce board member and on the Holmes County High School Advisory Board. Mr. Rone currently serves on the Holmes County Development Commission. 92194001

He received his Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida State University, an A.A. degree from Chipola College, and is a 1978 graduate of Holmes County High School. He and his wife, Lee have been married 36
years and have two daughters, Christy and Emily and one son-in-law, Leo. Since being appointed and re-elected to serve on WFEC’s board, Mr. Rone has served as Secretary/Treasurer and is currently the President of the Board. He also represents WFEC on the Florida Rural Electric Credit Union board and has earned two levels of national accreditation from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association - a Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate and a Board Leadership Certificate.

The Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate (CCD) is a set of five courses that focus on basic governance knowledge and the essential skills required of cooperative directors. The CCD prepares directors to fulfill their fiduciary duty as elected officials serving on behalf of their membership.
Upon completion of all five CCD courses, directors are awarded the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate by NRECA.

The Board Leadership Certificate (BLC) is the second part of the director education program and consists of a series of courses focusing in greater depth on specific industry and governance issues. These include
issues such as risk management, power supply, parliamentary procedure, technology and policy development. A director can earn the BLC if they have 1) completed the CCD 2) Earned 10 credits from a choice of over 20 BLC courses. Directors may attend BLC courses at any time but the BLC will not be awarded until the CCD program requirements are completed.

The third certification offered by NRECA is the Director Gold, which recognizes directors committed to continuing their education beyond the CCD and BLC and who desire a tangible credential that demonstrates their ongoing commitment to advancing their knowledge and performing their
fiduciary duty to the best of their ability. Mr. Rone will be working to earn the Director Gold certification in the future.

One of the key strengths of the rural electric program is its commitment to education and professional development. Of more than 7,200 active directors in the rural electric program today, nearly sixty-five percent have earned their Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate (CCD). Many of these directors are now focused on earning NRECA’s Board Leadership Certificate (BLC) in order to stay current on the Issues affecting the future of their co-ops. The purpose of all NRECA director level education is to prepare directors to make informed business decisions in the boardroom that benefit the cooperative and its members.