Baldwin EMC Holds 2011 Annual Meeting and Trustee Elections
Jimmy LaFoy Robert Kaiser
Baldwin EMC held its 2011 Annual Meeting and welcomed a new member to its Board of Trustees on Friday, Dec. 9. Robert Kaiser of Foley was elected to represent district five on the cooperative’s board. Jimmy LaFoy of Gulf Shores was also elected to another term as the representative for district seven. Bylaw changes were also approved by the membership.
Kaiser is a graduate of Foley High School and Southwest State Technical College where he received a degree in electronics technology. Before joining Baldwin EMC’s board, Kaiser worked for The Boeing Company, Alabama Power and Gulf Telephone Company (currently CenturyLink). Kaiser is married to Dianne Epperson Kaiser and is a father of three and grandfather of four. Kaiser fills the position left vacant by Jack Taylor, who retired from the board after nearly 30 years of service.
LaFoy has been a member of Baldwin EMC’s board since 2009. He is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and has been awarded a Board Leadership Certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. LaFoy also owns and operates an accounting practice in Gulf Shores. He is married to Shirley Bradford LaFoy and has two children and four grandchildren.
In addition to the election, Baldwin EMC’s Annual Meeting also served as a platform for addresses from Board President Peggy Vanover-Barnes and Chief Executive Officer E.A. “Bucky” Jakins, Jr. Vanover-Barnes praised the work of the co-op’s employees in 2011 and reminded members what they can expect from their Board of Trustees. Jakins shared highlights from the year, including the co-op’s five-year average customer satisfaction rating of 94 percent.
Following the annual meeting, Baldwin EMC’s board held a reorganizational meeting during which Vanover-Barnes and Trustees Tom Bradley and Tommie Werneth were re-elected to serve as president, vice president and secretary / treasurer respectively.