As part of NRECA’s 2022 Annual Legislative Conference, ˿϶Ƶ’s cooperative leaders honored with the Association’s Distinguished Service Award. “Senator Portman has been and continues to be a staunch supporter of the electric cooperatives, our business model and way of life,” wrote Patrick O’Loughlin, President and CEO of ˿϶Ƶ’s Electric Cooperatives, in a nomination letter to NRECA board members. “The senator has been a true friend to ˿϶Ƶ’s rural electric cooperatives.”
Portman has announced that he will retire in January 2023 after serving 12 years each in the Senate and House. from NRECA.
Pictured L to R above: Paul Berridge, (OREC Board Chairman and Trustee with Buckeye REC), Ed VanHoose (General Manager of Lorain-Medina REC and North Central REC), Pat O’Loughlin (President and CEO, OEC), U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Dennis Blakeman (Trustee, Buckeye REC), Wes Williams (Trustee, Buckeye REC), and Nick Wagner (Trustee, North Central REC).