2026 90th Annual Meeting 

The 90th annual meeting of Cullman Electric Cooperative is scheduled for Sept. 12, 2026, at Northbrook Church. The meeting will open the doors for activities at 9 a.m. which will conclude when the business meeting begins at 11 a.m.

“The annual meeting is a celebration of the unique role members play in a cooperative business,” said Cullman EC board chairman Robert Tidwell. “We look forward to hosting our members and encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the festivities.”

Registration packets were mailed to all Cullman EC members starting the week of Aug. 3rd. Members can sign the registration card, fill out the ballot and submit both using the return-mail envelope included with the packet. The signed registration card and completed ballot must be received by the independent auditor by no later than Sept. 10 at 4:30 p.m.

Cullman Electric Cooperative is a member-owned cooperative serving more than 48,000 member accounts in Cullman, Winston, Lawrence and Morgan counties. Members that register and vote by mail or in person are eligible to win one of 10 bill credits between $100 and $500.

Members who do not register or vote by mail can do both in-person at the meeting, starting at 9 a.m. at Northbrook Church. All members who attend the meeting in person will receive a $20 power bill credit when they register for the door prize drawings. This year’s prizes include a Blackstone 30” Flat Top Grill, MetaQuest 3S VR Headset, RTIC 52-quart Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler, Turtlebox Ranger Speaker, or a 2026 Cullman County Fair All-Inclusive Package.

“I encourage all co-op members to participate in the annual meeting,” Tidwell said. The mail-in voting and registration process is simple and convenient, and has allowed the co-op to establish a quorum at every annual meeting over the past 25 years.”

This year’s annual meeting will include:

• Free hot dogs, popcorn & drinks

• Live music from one local group will begin around 9:30 a.m. outside.

• Video game trailer, Inflatable obstacle course and slides for children

• North Alabama Electric Vehicle Club Car Show

• Free health fair hosted by Cullman Regional & blood drive hosted by LifeSouth

• Hard hats and information on energy savings

• Cullman EC bucket truck photo booth and line demonstration with co-op linemen.

Three positions on the Cullman Electric board of trustees are on this year’s ballot. Incumbent board members Chad Alexander (District 8) and Lynda Carter (District At-Large) are running unopposed. In District 7, incumbent J. David Hembree is running against Bart Crabtree and Kenny Griffin.

J. David Hembree, is the incumbent trustee from District 7. He has served on the Alabama Rural Electric Association’s Board of Directors, and represented Alabama on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board of Directors. He is a NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director and has also earned his NRECA Board Leadership certification. Hembree, a self-employed cattle and hay farmer in Cullman County since 1972, holds an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Wallace State Community College, with further studies at Athens State University. The Logan resident is a member of the West Point Masonic Lodge and volunteers for the Juvenile Justice System for first-time offenders. He served 22 years as a trustee of Jones Chapel School. Hembree and his wife, Diane, have three sons, 11 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. “It is an honor to serve Cullman Electric Cooperative and its members. I want to continue the board’s work to help Cullman EC remain one of the best electric cooperatives in the state,” said Hembree.

Bart Crabtree has dedicated most of his professional career to public service. This career began as a Home Health Aide serving Cullman County in the 1980s and 90s. Service continued as the Public Health Administrator for Cullman, Lawrence, and Limestone counties and the Medical Emergency Manager for Redstone Arsenal. Roles also included Senior Analyst for FEMA Region 4 and Continuous Improvement Advisor for the National Preparedness Division’s Continuous Improvement Program. Crabtree leveraged this professional experience to build a successful consulting and training practice specializing in emergency management, continuity of operations, and the protection of critical infrastructure. Dedicating more than 30 years as a noncommissioned and commissioned officer across the U.S. Army, Coast Guard, and Air Force, Crabtree transitioned to small-farm winery owner. Since 2022, operations management and winemaking for Sipsey Winery, a family-owned and operated agribusiness enterprise in Cullman and Winston counties, has been a primary focus. “I believe my unique combination of lifetime public service, strategic planning, and deep roots in our community will allow me to be a strong, reliable voice for all members,” said Crabtree.

Kenny Griffin is a third-generation Cullman County cattle farmer who has also worked in education, insurance sales and private business. He is starting his 13th year as assistant principal at Fairview Middle School, where he also serves as the school’s athletic director. Griffin graduated from West Point High School and Wallace State Community College before earning his secondary education degree from Athens State University. He also holds a master’s degree in education leadership from the University of Alabama. Kenny is the son of the late Kenneth “Red” Griffin and Connie Griffin, and has two children — son, Kennedy, and daughter Ana-Spencer Griffin. “I want to use my experience in agriculture, business and education to represent the interests of cooperative members, support responsible growth and help ensure the cooperative remains financially strong and responsive to the needs of our community,” said Griffin.

Chad Alexander currently represents District 8 on the Cullman EC Board of Trustees. While serving on the board, Alexander has earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director certification and his Board Leadership certification from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. A lifelong resident of Addison and graduate of Addison High School, Alexander has owned and operated businesses since 1991.  Today he owns several retail firework stores and operates a guide service on Smith Lake specializing in crappie fishing.

Lynda Carter currently serves as the at-large board member. She is a retired teacher, teaching 6th grade at West Point Elementary School, Fairview Elementary School and Cullman Middle School.  After retiring she continued working part-time in the Homebound Programs of Cullman County and Cullman City Schools. Carter has successfully completed the curriculum of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association to become a Credentialed Cooperative Director, has earned her NRECA Leadership Credentials at the Director Gold level.