OPD5 Trustee Earns Director Gold Certificate

Moapa Valley Progress

Overton Power District (OPD5) board trustee Mike Young has been recognized with a Director Gold Certificate and lapel pin from the National Rural Electric Association (NRECA). The distinctions were awarded at an OPD5 board meeting which took place on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

The Director Gold is a NRECA certificate program for directors who are committed to continuing their education beyond the standard certificates and to having a tangible credential that reinforces their stature as part of a group of experienced and educated directors.

To earn Director Gold, directors must first earn NRECA’s Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) Certificate, a set of five courses that focus on basic governance knowledge and the essential skills required of electric utility directors. The CCD program develops basic competencies with five core classes including Director Duties and Liabilities, Understanding the Electric Business, Board Roles and Relationships, Business Planning and Understanding Financial Planning.

The second part of the director education program is the Board Leadership Certification (BLC). This certification covers a series of courses focusing in greater depth on specific industry and governance issues including Risk Management, Power Supply, Parliamentary Procedure and Technology and Policy Development.

After obtaining CCD, board members must complete a total of 10 additional training credits for the advanced BLC.

The Director Gold Certification demonstrates to customers and other stakeholders, a directors’ ongoing commitment to advancing their knowledge and performing their fiduciary duty to the best of their ability.

“The power industry continues to change and evolve rapidly,” said OPD General Manager Mendis Cooper. “The OPD5 trustees have the task to understand and to keep up with these changes. It takes a great deal of time and dedication to keep pace. This certificate of achievement represents Mike Young’s commitment to OPD5 and the ratepayers. He is dedicated to continued learning and I appreciate the knowledge, perspective, and experience he brings to our board room.”

Mr. Young was elected to the OPD5 Board of Trustees in 2014 and currently serves as the Secretary-Treasurer.