FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | 2/22/2024
Cass County Electric Cooperative welcomes Paul Matthys as the new president and chief executive officer.
Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) is thrilled to announce that it has named Paul Matthys its next President and CEO.
Matthys, who started at CCEC in November 2000, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to CCEC. During his 23-year tenure at the cooperative, Matthys has held the positions of energy management and conservation advisor, manager of energy services, and key accounts executive. Since 2015, he has held the position of vice president of member and energy services. In this role, he was responsible for providing leadership and guidance to CCEC's marketing, economic development, member services, legislative, community, member and public relations, and communication functions.
“After hiring the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to conduct a regional candidate search, the board of directors decided Paul Matthys was the best candidate to be the next CEO and lead Cass County Electric Cooperative into the future,” notes current Board Chair Glenn Mitzel.
During Matthys’s time at CCEC, he has successfully overseen initiatives such as implementing EV charging stations in the Fargo-Moorhead area, introducing a time-of-day rate to members which allows them to save money on their electric bills, and launching the ability to allow members to use Prepay on their monthly bill. Matthys also has been an involved member of the community, serving on the City of West Fargo Economic Development Advisory Committee, City of Fargo Sustainability and Resiliency Committee, Ex-Officio, and currently serves on the Fargo-Moorhead West Fargo Chamber Board of Directors and the Fargo-Moorhead West Fargo Chamber Public Policy and Advocacy Committee.
“I am delighted to announce the board of directors picked Paul Matthys as the next President/CEO of Cass County Electric Cooperative. Paul is well-positioned to lead the cooperative with his previous experience as vice president of member energy services, his extensive knowledge of the cooperative, and his commitment to supporting the employees and members. Paul's current community involvement with the FMWF Chamber and West Fargo economic development are a testament to his commitment to community and passion for continued growth and prosperity for the members,” states current CEO Marshal Albright.
Matthys holds an associate degree in electrical technology from North Dakota State College of Science and is a master electrician. He is a Certified Key Account Executive (CKAE) and Certified Energy Manager (CEM). Matthys has also completed FMWF Chamber Leadership, Gettysburg Leadership Experience, and the NRECA Management Internship Program (MIP).
Upon his appointment, Matthys says, “I am very grateful to the Board of Directors for granting me the exciting opportunity to be the next chief executive officer and to lead Cass County Electric Cooperative. The safety of our employees is my number one priority, and providing reliable service and stable electricity costs to our members is vital to me.”
Matthys was raised on a farm near rural West Fargo and currently lives on the Sheyenne River near Kindred, ND, with his wife, Angie, and their three children. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and assistant coach to the Kindred trap and baseball.
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About Cass County Electric Cooperative
Headquartered in Fargo, N.D., Cass County Electric is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving nearly 58,000 services in a 10-county area in southeastern North Dakota. Cass County Electric Cooperative has five service centers in Fargo, Kindred, Valley City, Lisbon, and Arthur, North Dakota. Cass County Electric Cooperative's wholesale power supplier is Minnkota Power Cooperative.
For more information, contact:
Kaitlyn Hartman, Communications Coordinator
khartman@kwh.com
701-356-4453