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Mission & Management

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Formed in 1939 with a loan from the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SWECI) is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative located in Southwestern Illinois. Southwestern Electric Cooperative serves nearly 24,000 residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial member accounts in parts of Bond, Clay, Clinton, Fayette, Effingham, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Shelby and St. Clair Counties.

Headquartered in Greenville, Illinois, the co-op maintains nearly 3,500 miles of power line and employs more than 80 people.Southwestern Electric also owns a 47-megawatt peaking plant. 

Southwestern Electric's board of directors has worked diligently to reduce the cost of service by buying wholesale power at competitive prices so that retail rates remain stable. At the same time, our cooperative works to increase its membership base by promoting residential, commercial and industrial development, thereby spreading out the fixed cost of service.

OUR OBJECTIVES

Southwestern Electric Cooperative exists to serve its members in the best manner possible. The cooperative will:

  • Strive to provide the best possible service to all members within its service territory.
  • Provide energy at the lowest sustainable prices while holding true to the highest standards of service.
  • Develop a stable financial structure, maintain a sound organization, and train leadership on a long-range basis.
  • Promote the safe and efficient use of electricity, electrical appliances, and electrical equipment.
  • Work to stimulate and support initiatives that will promote economic development.
  • Keep members informed about the organization’s operations, plans, problems and progress.
  • Develop the democratic process as it applies to members, encouraging their participation in cooperative affairs.
  • Ensure that no person shall—regardless of race, color, religion, sex or national origin—be barred from participating in the cooperative’s democratic process.
  • Develop understanding and support of cooperative objectives, plans and programs.
  • Provide leadership and cooperate with community and civic groups in fostering programs that contribute to the area’s development.
  • Work to improve the standard of living for all members. 

Southwestern Electric Cooperative's offices are handicap accessible and ADA compliant.

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Your directors are responsible for establishing policy, ensuring members' needs and concerns are given fair and timely treatment, and guiding the overall direction and financial stability of Southwestern Electric Cooperative.

The board of directors consists of nine Southwestern Electric Cooperative members − three from each voting district. District I includes the co-op’s service territory in Macoupin, Madison, and St. Clair Counties. District II includes Bond, Clinton, and Montgomery Counties. District II includes Clay, Fayette, Effingham, Marion, and Shelby Counties.

Southwestern Electric Cooperative's Board of Directors meets monthly. Special board meetings may be called by resolution of the board, by three directors, or by the board president. We've posted board meeting minutes below. You'll find board meeting minutes here.

District I

Sandy Grapperhaus

Sandy Grapperhaus

Sandy Grapperhaus


Board Treasurer

Sandy Grapperhaus has served as vice president of Southwestern’s board of directors since 2018. She chairs the cooperative’s Business Development & Marketing Committee, and serves on the Executive Committee, Policies & Bylaws Committee, and Technology & Cybersecurity Committee. She has earned a Credentialed Cooperative Director designation from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. She and her husband, Dan, live on a small farm between Troy and Collinsville.

Marvin Warner

Marvin Warner

Marvin Warner


Marvin Warner was elected to the board in 2020. He served as an educator in Highland Community Unit School District 5 (CUSD5) for 33 years. During the last 18 years of his career he was an administrator, serving as superintendent of schools during his final four years at Highland CUSD5. After his retirement from Highland, Warner worked for the Regional Office of Education in Madison County, coordinating professional development for educators. He retired from the Regional Office of Education in December 2017 after 10 years of service. Marvin Warner has been a Southwestern Electric member for 15 years. He lives northwest of Pocahontas with his wife, Teresa. 

William Jennings

Bill Jennings

William Jennings


Bill Jennings was elected to the board in 2018. He was elected treasurer by Southwestern’s board in September 2019, and earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association soon after. Jennings chairs the cooperative’s Member & Community Engagement Committee and serves on the Executive Committee and Cyber Security Committee. He has been a Southwestern Electric member since 1993. Bill Jennings lives northwest of Alhambra with his wife, Patty. 

District II

Jerry Gaffner

Jerry Gaffner

Jerry Gaffner


President of the Board

Jerry Gaffner has been a member of Southwestern Electric for more than 20 years. He brings a background in agricultural business to Southwestern’s board, and is currently chairman of the board of HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville. Gaffner served as president of the Illinois Milk Producers’ Association from 2002-2008, and as an elder on the Greenville First Christian Church board from 2003 to 2010. He’s also served on strategic planning committees at the University of Illinois and at Bond County Community Unit School District #2. He resides on his farm northwest of Greenville with his wife, Sherri. They have three children, Jonah, Abby and Hannah.

Brad Lurkins

Brad Lurkins

Brad Lurkins


Brad Lurkins’ rural roots run deep. His ties to Bond County agriculture reach back four generations, to 1908, when his family established their farm in Pleasant Mound Township. Lurkins grew up on the farm and resides there still. He’s been a member of Southwestern Electric Cooperative for 35 years. Lurkins was elected to the board in 2023. Prior to his election, he served on the cooperative’s Nominating Committee for eight years. Lurkins serves on the Cyber Security Committee and Scholarship Committee. Brad Lurkins and his wife, Tammy, live on their family farm southeast of Greenville. They have four children and four grandchildren.

Ted Willman

Ted Willman

Ted Willman


Ted Willman has been a co-op leader for more than a quarter century. He served on Southwestern's Nominations Committee for 13 years before being elected to the board in 2001. He’s earned the Credentialed Cooperative Director designation and a Board Leadership Certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and serves on Southwestern's Business & Economic Development Committee and the Scholarship Committee. A farmer since 1976, he resides south of Greenville.

District III

Annette Hartlieb

Annette Hartlieb

Annette Hartlieb


Board Secretary

For Annette Hartlieb, being involved in Southwestern Electric Cooperative is a family tradition. She grew up on a farm north of New Douglas and was raised on Southwestern lines. Annette chairs the cooperative's Business & Economic Development Committee and serves on the Executive Committee and Cyber Security Committee. She earned Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in 2019. Annette and her husband, Dennis, live southwest of Vandalia with their children, Alexi, Bryce and Mason.

Ann Schwarm

Ann Schwarm

Ann Schwarm


Ann Schwarm brings to her role on the board a diverse professional background, with experience in agricultural communications, program development, education and small-business management. She retired from the Regional Office of Education in 2016 with 21 years of service. She has served as a director since 1993 and president of the board since September 2016. Ann and her husband, Gene, live on a farm in rural Loogootee.

Jared Stine

Jared Stine

Jared Stine


Vice President of the Board

A member since 2009, Jared Stine grew up on Southwestern lines. He has served on the Southern Illinois University Ag Leadership board since 2009, the St. Elmo Community Unit School District 202 board since 2013, and chairs the St. Elmo Christian Church board of directors. He also served on the Illinois Wheat Association board from 2014 to 2018. Jared and his wife, Krista, live with their children, Sydney, Anna, and Wade, south of St. Elmo, where they operate a fifth-generation grain farm.

        YOUR MANAGEMENT TEAM

  • Michael Barns, Art Director

  • Victor Buehler, Chief Operating Officer

  • Blake Carlson, Systems Administrator

  • Dylan Casey, Engineering Supervisor

  • Susan File, Vice President of Member Services

  • Veronica Forbis, Manager of Billing

  • Nathan Grimm, Media Specialist

  • Marissa Horn, Human Resources Administrator

  • Laura Huge, Accounting Manager

  • Craig Jennings, Vice President of Engineering

  • Seth Jones, Engineering Supervisor

  • Carrie Knebel, Vice President of Human Resources

  • Julie Lowe, Energy Manager

  • Daniel Page, Forestry Manager

  • Joe Richardson, Vice President of Communications

  • Brooke Scott, Executive Assistant

  • Neil Sperandio, Manager of Operations

  • Nathan Taylor, Chief Financial Officer

  • Bobby Williams, Chief Executive Officer

  • Glenn Williams, Vice President of Information Technology

  • Michael Willman, Vice President of Operations

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ABOUT US

Based in Greenville, Ill., Southwestern Electric is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative serving 24,745 residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial members in 11 counties along the I-70 corridor between St. Louis, Mo., and Effingham, Ill.

Southwestern Careers
Southwestern Newsroom

Southwestern Electric is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

RESOURCES

Southwestern Electric is a member-focused, not-for-profit utility. Our bylaws guide our business and daily operations. As your accountable energy partner, our mission is to improve the lives of the people and communities we serve.

Southwestern Bylaws
Southwestern Rates
Our Annual Report

CONTACT US

You can reach us at (800) 637-8667. We respond to outage calls around the clock. Our office hours are Mon - Fri., 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

You're welcome to visit our office at:

525 US Route 40
Greenville, IL 62246

©2025 Southwestern Electric Cooperative. Your Accountable Energy Partner.

  • Home
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    • EV Charger Rebates
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  • News & Information
    • News Releases
    • Outage Information
      • If You Lose Power
      • Outage Map
      • Outage Safety
      • How We Restore Your Power
    • The Southwestern
    • Board Meeting Minutes
    • Video
  • Safety
    • Indoor Electrical Safety
    • Outdoor Electrical Safety
    • Generator Safety
    • Storm Safety
    • Cyber Security
  • Careers
  • About Us
    • Mission & Management
    • Financial Information
    • Careers
    • Service Area
    • Contact Us