January 20, 2022

San Bernard Electric Cooperative Announces New General Manager

SBEC Board of Directors congratulates Michael “Mike” Ables on being selected for the cooperative’s General Manager position. Mike replaces General Manager Billy Marricle, who retired after a 40-year career at SBEC.

Mike is a 33-year career employee of SBEC, beginning in May of 1988 in the Electric Systems Department as a Right of Way Apprentice Technician. He was subsequently promoted several times, first to the ROW Superintendent in 1997, then Vegetation Control Manager (2009), Special Projects Director (2011), Energy Services Director managing the cooperative’s wholesale power contracts (2014), and SBEC’s Business Group Manager overseeing the Accounting, Benefits, Billing, Energy Services and Materials Departments (2018).

Mike also led San Bernard’s search for and implementation of our Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) System which was installed in 2012-2013.

After hearing of his latest promotion, Mike expressed, “I am both honored and blessed to be named the next General Manager/CEO of San Bernard Electric Cooperative and look forward to serving our employees and membership in my new role.” 

Along with nearly 34 years of cooperative experience, Mike holds a BA Degree in Business Leadership from the Forbes School of Business at Ashford University.

Mike and his wife, Tammy, are from the Bellville, Texas area and their two children, Mackenzie and Clint, grew up here as well. 

SBEC Chairman of the Board, Bruce Pilcik, stated: “The board utilized the Holmes Executive Search team in the process and was pleased with the quality of the 37 applicants from several states, especially the top four candidates. We are excited to pick a candidate from within the organization who knows the cooperative employees and membership.  The board is looking forward to working with Mike, the executive staff and all co-op employees to manage the cooperative and serve the cooperative members.”

San Bernard Electric Cooperative is an electrical distribution cooperative that serves approximately 20,000 members with 30,000 meters, in portions of eight Texas counties (Austin, Colorado, Lavaca, Waller, Montgomery, Harris, Grimes and Fayette).