Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative president and CEO Charles Dalton to retire after 35 years
July 6, 2017
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative President and CEO Charles Dalton has announced plans to retire in mid-January of 2018. Dalton is only the second person to hold the utility’s top job during its 77-year history. His predecessor, the late A.J. “Jud” Hurt, served in that position from the organization’s chartering in 1940 until his retirement in 1982.
When Dalton assumed the helm, the cooperative was supplying service to 29,000 members. Today, that number has grown to 66,000. While providing power to the state’s most-challenging terrain, the cooperative has developed an excellent record of service reliability. Through the years, Dalton has maintained a strong focus on safe work practices, as well as on employee training, which has produced a highly trained, professional workforce.
Under Dalton’s leadership, the cooperative created its annual charitable fund-raiser, Blue Ridge Fest, which has produced nearly $2.5 million in net proceeds since 1998. The funds have been divided among scores of local human-help agencies during that 20-year period.
Dalton has dedicated his time and energy to serve a number of boards and commissions. He spent two terms on the S.C. Highway Commission, and was elected chairman during each of those terms. Dalton’s additional commitments have included serving as chairman of the Better Business Bureau of Upstate South Carolina, Upstate SC Alliance, and membership on numerous other economic-development agencies’ boards. Further board service included the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, the Central Electric Power Cooperative, the Greenville Chamber, the Peace Center, the Upstate SC Chapter of Red Cross, and Greenville Health System’s Upstate Affiliate Organization board. In 2017, he and his wife, Libby, co-chaired the Upstate American Heart Ball, which raised a record-breaking $1 million.
Dalton served on the board of the co-ops’ nationwide branding organization, Touchstone Energy. In addition, he has been a member of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina board for many years, and served as chairman of the association’s Communications Committee, which publishes South Carolina Living magazine.
Dalton’s contributions to his alma mater, Clemson University, have entailed serving on the CU Foundation Board, the school’s Board of Visitors, and as a member of the Alumni Association Board. He has also been a member of IPTAY for more than 50 years, serving as its president for 2011-2013. In 2015, Clemson honored Dalton by selecting him to receive the university’s Distinguished Service Award.
“I’ve been privileged to work alongside a wonderful employee team. The professionalism and dedication they bring to their jobs each day have truly made my job easier. Their efforts have helped to fashion Blue Ridge into the effective organization it is today,” said Charles Dalton. “In addition, I’ve had a very supportive board of directors. That support has enabled me to concentrate on the details that I believe make for a successful operation. What’s more, we’re supplying some of the best people in the world with an essential service. In my view, when I consider all those factors, I couldn’t have asked for a more-rewarding job experience.”
Charles and Libby reside in Greenville. They have three children and three grandchildren.
“Charles has faithfully applied boundless time and energy, as well as insightful leadership, to the co-op’s operation,” said Kenneth Southerlin, chairman of the Blue Ridge board of directors. “His attention to detail and his penchant for seeing the big picture have kept this organization on a steady path of ever-improving service. We owe him a deep debt of gratitude.”
When Dalton retires in January, he will be succeeded by the cooperative’s vice president of engineering, Jim Lovinggood. As the second employee Dalton hired in 1982, Lovinggood has also served Blue Ridge for 35 years. He and his wife, Denise, make their home in Anderson County and have two children and one grandson.
“We didn’t need to look very far to arrive at the individual we see as best suited take this co-op into the future,” Chairman Southerlin said. “Jim has a proven record as a tireless and productive employee, and he possesses attributes that are similar to those of Charles Dalton. My fellow directors and I are full of enthusiasm and hope with regard to his ability to keep Blue Ridge moving in a positive direction.”
“When Jim assumes the CEO’s position early next year, it will undoubtedly be a seamless transition. Blue Ridge has a bright future, and Jim has made many contributions of his own to our success,” said Dalton.
“He reflects the character and the philosophy of our co-op organization, and I know he’ll exercise outstanding leadership on behalf of our employees and the members and communities we serve.”
About Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc., established in 1940, is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility that services about 66,000 members in the upstate of South Carolina. The cooperative supplies electric service in Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties. Blue Ridge started operations with 1,680 members inherited from the South Carolina Rural Electrification Authority, which was formed more than 80 years ago with the specific task of electrifying the state’s rural areas.
