The search for a new San Bernard Electric Cooperative general man- ager is underway. The SBEC Board of Directors is leading the search with the assistance of Holmes Executive Search, a respected firm with considerable experience facilitating searches for electric cooperative leaders.

The board believes the firm’s assistance was needed and will prove valuable in finding the general manager best suited for the co-op’s members, employees and community.

The search for a replacement GM is extensive and will not be complete before current General Manager Billy Marricle’s retirement January 14. Therefore, the board named John Spiess, member services manager, as interim general manager at its November 2021 board meeting. Board members felt that Spiess, an 18-year employee of the cooperative, was a great candidate to lead the cooperative during this transitional period.

The board will meet in mid-January to interview the final round of general manager candidates and plans to name the new general manager in February and make a formal announcement in the March issue of Texas Co-op Power.

The SBEC board is grateful to Spiess for accepting this role and looks forward to working with him while he serves San Bernard EC’s members in that position.