Current Light Flashes

At September’s Board of Trustees meeting, Will Melton was officially selected to serve as WFEC’s Executive Vice President and CEO (EVP & CEO). He began his career with the cooperative in Feb. 1988 as a meter reader and steadily advanced through roles as a lineworker, crew leader, staking technician, and ops manager. Most recently, he served as Director of Engineering and Operations before becoming Interim EVP & CEO in June 2026.

However, Melton’s connection to WFEC began long before he ever imagined becoming CEO. “Members might be surprised to learn that my desire to work for WFEC began when I was just 15-years-old, watching two linemen restore power on Christmas Eve.” Those linemen were Dennis Glass and the late Ronnie Durden, who would later become mentors to Melton as he began his own co-op career. “Long before I thought about becoming CEO, I simply wanted to do work that mattered to me and be like those men,” he said. That experience continues to shape his perspective today.

“Every position I’ve held shaped me and each one taught me something that helped build character. Reading meters taught me to listen. Working on a line crew taught me accountability and trust. Leading crews and managing operations taught me that leadership means setting an example,” Melton said.

His experience in many roles has also given him a unique understanding of how each part of the cooperative works together. That perspective helps him understand employees’ challenges, make practical decisions, and recognize the important role every team member plays in serving WFEC’s members. 116417001

Looking ahead, Melton is focused on making WFEC more member-centered while strengthening 

the cooperative from within. He wants to improve communication, efficiency, and responsiveness while supporting employees and helping them grow.

“My goal is to leave things better than I found them,” Melton said. His vision is a cooperative where members feel heard, employees understand their roles, and everyone works toward a future built on safety, reliability, affordability, and service.

Melton said that making a difference to our members still excites him after all the years he’s been in the industry. “Whether we’re restoring power after a storm, solving a service problem, or finding a better way to operate, our work has a direct effect on people’s lives,” he said. “After all these years, I still take pride in knowing that what we do matters to the people and communities we serve.”

That commitment to serving members also continues to shape Melton’s leadership development. Recently, he completed the NRECA Management Internship Program (MIP), an intensive program for senior leaders and executives at electric cooperatives. He says the experience deepened his understanding of the business and financial side of the co-op, reinforced the importance of clear communication, and showed him how much cooperatives from across the country can learn from one another. Melton plans to bring those lessons back to WFEC while keeping the needs of its members at the center of every decision.

From reading meters to leading the cooperative, Melton’s journey is a testament to the opportunities, experience, and dedication that can grow at WFEC. As he steps into his new role, he brings nearly 40 years of firsthand knowledge and a deep connection to the cooperative and its members. With that experience and connection as his guide, he looks forward to building a better co-op to benefit every member now and in the future.