Umatilla Electric Cooperative (UEC) is proud to announce that Cole Bode has been promoted to Vice President, Engineering, effective May 1, 2025.
In this role, Cole will provide both strategic and operational leadership across UEC’s engineering and regulatory compliance functions. His leadership will shape the cooperative's long-term technical direction and ensure alignment with evolving regulatory standards.
Since joining UEC in October 2018, Cole has been instrumental in driving some of the cooperative’s most significant achievements. His leadership and technical expertise have helped guide the utility through transformative advancements, while his dedication to mentoring and collaboration has created a strong culture of talent development across the organization.
In his previous role as manager of engineering, Cole successfully led the cooperative through a period of substantial growth. Under his leadership, UEC nearly doubled its system peak while maintaining industry-leading reliability. He also oversaw a strategic expansion of the engineering team, securing top-tier talent to meet growing demand and better position the cooperative for future success.
Among Cole’s most notable achievements, UEC has added twelve new substations since 2020. This milestone speaks volumes in his forward-thinking approach and the scale of progress accomplished under his guidance.
In addition to Cole’s industry skill set, he has completed extensive education supporting his position. Cole holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Power Systems from the University of Idaho. Along with his technical education, he holds a licensure as a Professional Engineer in the state of Oregon and is a graduate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's (NRECA) Management Internship Program.
“Cole has grown with UEC during a time of significant change, and that depth of experience makes him well-prepared for this next step,” said Robert Echenrode, President/CEO. “I’m confident in his ability to support our mission and help navigate the dynamic future for the members of our cooperative.”
Cole’s promotion reflects UEC’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence and long-term strategic planning, ensuring continued service to our members today and well into the future.