PRESS RELEASE: Board Trusteee Jack Nelson receives NRECA Director Gold Certificate
October 15, 2020, Overton, NV. OPD5 board trustee Jack Nelson recently fulfilled all the requirements earning the National Rural Electric Association (NRECA) Director Gold Certificate and lapel pin.
Director Gold is an NRECA certificate program geared toward directors who are committed to continuing their education beyond the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate (CCD), the Board Leadership Certificate (BLC), and who desire 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 CCD and BLC certificates, plus three additional training credits from the BLC courses. The Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, is a set of five courses that focus on basic governance knowledge and the essential skills required of electric utility directors. The program requires attendance and a demonstrated understanding of the basic competencies contained in five core courses:
- Director Duties and Liabilities
- Understanding the Electric Business
- Board Roles and Relationships
- Business Planning
- Understanding Financial Planning
Upon completion of all five CCD courses, directors are awarded the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate by NRECA.
The second part of the director education program is the Board Leadership Certification. The BLC covers a series of courses focusing in greater depth on specific industry and governance issues. These include issues such as:
- Risk management
- Power supply
- Parliamentary procedure
- Technology and policy development
Directors must first obtain the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate and then complete a total of 10 additional training credits for the advanced Board Leadership Certification.
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.
Mendis Cooper, OPD5 General Manager said “I want to recognize Jack for this achievement. I know this certificate is very important to him because it represents many hours of classwork, his dedication to OPD5, and its customers. I am also pleased to say that he has done a great job representing our communities by serving as a board member and board officer in two regional and statewide energy organizations. Congratulations Jack.”
Mr. Nelson was first elected to the OPD5 Board of Trustees in 2014.