After June 15, Rachel Johnson will take over as CEO of Cherryland Electric Cooperative. While she’s been an important part of the leadership team at Cherryland, and you may have seen her at events or heard her host the Co-op Energy Talk Podcast, you may not have had the chance to get to know Rachel on a deeper level. Let’s get to know your new CEO! 

Q: What energizes you?

A: I am innately curious and energized by ideas for the future and what could be. It’s one of the things I love about the electric utility industry. There are so many exciting innovations, driven largely by new technologies, that will change how we do business and engage with our members to meet their energy needs. My excitement for new possibilities is a good match for an industry undergoing transformative change. This energy transformation won’t be easy but that’s what makes it fun. We have an awesome team here at Cherryland, and I am very excited to work with them as we prepare our cooperative to succeed in the coming years and decades.

Q: Tell us about your family. Do you have any pets?

A: My husband and I don’t have kids, so our pets play an important role in our family. We have had five boxer dogs over the last 15 years and are currently lucky to have Hank in our family. He was found as a stray in Saginaw a few years ago, and he’s a dream of a dog. He’s loyal and funny and provides such simple, unconditional love. We could all learn so much about how to love well from dogs. Right now, Hank and I are working on teaching him to stand-up paddleboard with me. I haven’t managed to stand up without him tipping me into the lake, but maybe summer 2023 will be the summer we finally make it happen. 

Q: What’s on your bucket list?

A: I love traveling to historical places. Visiting and memorializing our shared histories changes us and keeps us from repeating the mistakes of the past. I’m hoping to make it to Poland to visit Auschwitz soon. Normandy is also on my bucket list. Here in the U.S., I would like to spend more time in the southeast. I’m thinking about making Savannah or Charleston my next trip. If anyone has any recommendations, send them my way! 

Q: What’s your favorite part about working for an electric cooperative?

A: The people, definitely the people. I’ve worked for Cherryland for over 10 years; there is nowhere else I would rather be. I love our industry because we provide a vital service to a modern economy and do it so well that most people take us for granted. While our job is keeping the lights on, our business model is what makes us unique. We keep power, decision making, and profits local, and every single person at the cooperative is deeply committed to serving our members. I am constantly inspired by the talent, passion, and dedication to our members exhibited by every single one of our employees.

 Q: What is something most people don’t know about you?

A: I love to read—fiction, nonfiction, all types of topics. I don’t really keep track, but I would estimate that I read close to 100 books per year. I generally average a few books a week. Here are a few books that I’ve really enjoyed reading so far this year:

    • “How Data Happened: A History from the Age of Reason to the Age of Algorithms” by Chris Wiggins and Matthew Jones
    • “Iron Curtain: A Love Story” by Vesna Goldworthy
    • “I Have Some Questions for You” by Rebecca Makkai
    • “The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas” by Jerry Dennis

The board of directors chose Rachel Johnson to become your next CEO because they felt her in-depth knowledge and experience, both at Cherryland and at the national level, make her the perfect person to lead the cooperative into this next chapter. Here’s a look at some of those impressive accomplishments:

Degrees:

  • B.A. in Business and Communications – Augustana University
  • M.A. in Communications Studies – Pepperdine University
  • M.B.A. – Davenport University

Accomplishments:

  • Co-creator of the Member Loyalty Index, which is now used by electric cooperatives across the country to measure membership engagement and loyalty. The Index identifies ways to develop and deliver an experience that builds a positive emotional attachment to the cooperative.
  • Organized and implemented Cherryland’s outage texting system.
  • Creator and host of the country’s first electric cooperative podcast, Co-op Energy Talk.
  • Developed Cherryland’s energy use and electric vehicle programs with a focus on decarbonization through beneficial electrification and emerging technology.
  • Designed and oversaw Cherryland’s first-of-its-kind, low-income solar program.

Community Involvement:

  • Traverse Connect – Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Government Affairs Committee
  • Northwestern Michigan College – Board of Trustees
  • Manistee Community Foundation – Investment & Finance Committee
  • IMPACT 100 TC – Founding Member

Want to learn more about Rachel? Drop her an email at [email protected] or click here to listen to the Get To Know Your New CEO episode on the Co-op Energy Talk Podcast!