After more than a decade leading Umatilla Electric Cooperative, I have informed the Board of Directors of my plans to retire at the end of this year. It has been an honor to serve our members, and I am proud of all we have accomplished together during this remarkable chapter in UEC’s history.
I have been fortunate to serve as only the fourth general manager and President/CEO in UEC’s history, following the leadership of Ray Woolley, hired in 1939; Russ Dorran, promoted in 1971; and Steve Eldridge, promoted in 1990. That continuity of leadership is something I have always deeply valued and respected.
When I stepped into this role, UEC was already a strong cooperative with deep roots in northeast Oregon. Since then, we’ve built on that foundation in meaningful ways. We’ve expanded our system to support long-standing agricultural operations by adding new irrigation capacity and new, energy-intensive industries. We’ve made significant investments in infrastructure and technology to strengthen reliability and improve how we operate. And we’ve worked hard to position UEC to meet rising demand while keeping affordability and service at the forefront.
But numbers and projects only tell part of the story.
What I’m most proud of is our continued focus on the people we serve. Whether it’s improving how we communicate, creating new ways for members to engage with their cooperative, or simply making sure we’re accessible when you need us—those efforts matter. That’s what being a cooperative is all about.
I’m also incredibly proud of our team. The employees at UEC bring a level of professionalism, dedication, and care that isn’t often seen, and it shows in the service we provide every day. The same can be said for our Board of Directors, whose leadership and commitment to our members guide every major decision we make.
The energy landscape continues to evolve, and UEC is not standing still. We’ve worked to stay thoughtful and balanced in how we approach power supply, technology, and service driven by economic growth. Because at the end of the day, our responsibility is clear: deliver affordable power which you can safely rely upon while supporting the communities we call home.
That responsibility doesn’t change with leadership, and I have every confidence UEC will continue to exceed your expectations.
Between now and January 2027, my focus remains on the work ahead and ensuring a smooth transition for the cooperative. There’s more to accomplish, and I’m committed to finishing strong alongside the team.
In the meantime, I simply want to say thank you.
Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me. Thank you for the opportunity to serve this cooperative. And thank you for being part of what makes UEC such a special organization.
It’s been a privilege.
Robert Echenrode
President/CEO