New leadership will guide the statewide association’s board of directors
During their annual meeting in Orlando, members of the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) today elected new officers to preside over the organization’s board of directors. Chip Merriam, vice president of legislative, regulatory & compliance for the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), will serve as the FMEA’s new president. Also elected were President-Elect Joel Ivy, general manager for Lakeland Electric; Vice President Mike Poucher, utility director for Ocala Electric Utility; and Secretary-Treasurer Allen Putnam, managing director of Beaches Energy Services in Jacksonville Beach.
“This year, FMEA proudly celebrates our 75th anniversary. As we look toward the future and the next 75 years, we have assembled a strong board of directors and officers who will help shape that path forward,” said Merriam. “I am grateful to each of the officers and board members for their service and commitment to Florida’s public power communities.”
Originally called the Florida Municipal Utilities Association, FMEA was established in 1942 in response to World War II fuel shortages. Today, the association actively represents and advocates for member cities’ interests on a wide variety of state and federal issues, provides education and training for members and serves as a clearinghouse for industry news and information.
Municipal electric utilities provide affordable, reliable electric service, and have been doing so for more than a century. As community-owned and locally managed organizations, these utilities are focused on serving local needs and interests while reinvesting back into the community for services, such as police and fire protection.
For more information on FMEA and Florida’s public power communities, please visit www.publicpower.com.
