Mark Suggs, EVP and General Manager of Pitt & Greene EMC, was presented the 2017 Regional Award at last month’s National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Regions 1 & 4 meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Regional Award for Outstanding Service recognizes outstanding service to electric cooperatives by individuals at the regional and/or state level.
“While serving 34 years and most recently as president of the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, your leadership was guided by two key cooperative principles: Cooperation among Cooperatives and Concern for Community,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “As board president, your leadership enhanced member cooperative cooperation, communication, and improved the quality of life for members of rural communities.”
Although he holds a degree in architecture, Suggs has always worked in the electric utility industry. He began his career in the industry in 1976 as a field engineer for the Greenville Utilities Commission. In 1980, Suggs served as director of Utilities for the Town of Ayden before beginning work at the co-op a few years later.
“Your background also includes 40 years of generation, transmission and distribution business experience,” Matheson continued. “This knowledge enabled you to assist numerous sister organizations throughout the eastern half of the U.S. with natural disasters. It also enabled you to make Pitt & Greene EMC’s system more reliable for the members, and also improve the safety of the lineman working at those co-ops.”
Jim Matheson (right) presents the award to Mark Suggs