Medina Electric Cooperative announces a strategic reorganization of its leadership team and the appointment of a new Chief Member Relations Officer, effective January 2. These changes are driven by a commitment to operational excellence and a strategic realignment of departments to better serve the cooperative’s growing membership following several key retirements.

New Chief Member Relations Officer Appointed
Leading a new team is Katie Kothmann Haby, who has been promoted to the recently created role of Chief Member Relations Officer. A veteran of the utility industry with 16 years of experience, Haby has spent the last 13 years at Medina EC, demonstrating a deep understanding of the cooperative’s mission and its members’ needs.

Under this new structure, communications, business development and member services will be consolidated under Haby’s leadership. This move is designed to streamline member touchpoints and ensure a cohesive strategy for community engagement and growth.

Strategic Departmental Realignment
To further optimize operations and prepare for the future, Medina EC is realigning several key internal functions.

• Human Resources will move under the Chief Financial Officer, linking workforce development with long-term fiscal planning.
• Safety will transition under the engineering department to further integrate safety-first protocols into technical workflows.
• Facilities will move under operations, aligning physical asset management with field activities.  

Honoring a Legacy of Service
The reorganization comes as Patti Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer, prepares for retirement after a distinguished 27-year career with Medina EC.  Taylor is joined by several other dedicated team members also retiring this year; collectively these individuals represent over 176 years of industry knowledge and service to our members. Additionally, the cooperative is pleased to announce that Armando Castillo has been promoted to Manager of Southern Region Operations, filling a vacancy created by a concurrent retirement in the field.  

“While it is bittersweet to see long-time leaders like Patti move into a well-deserved retirement after nearly three decades of service, we are incredibly excited about the future of Medina EC,” said Trey Grebe, CEO. “By promoting proven internal talent like Katie and Armando, and strategically grouping our departments, we are ensuring that our cooperative remains agile, efficient, and—above all—dedicated to the members we serve.”

Looking Ahead
These leadership changes represent Medina EC’s proactive approach to a changing energy landscape. By aligning member-facing departments under a single chief officer and integrating support services like HR and safety into core operational hubs, the cooperative is positioned for continued stability and enhanced service delivery in the new year.