Electric cooperative association names new CEO

Published August 2, 2016 by Robert Powell, III

Richard G. Johnstone Jr. has been named president and CEO of the Glen Allen-based Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC).

Johnstone succeeds Jackson E. “Jack” Reasor, who remains president and CEO of cooperative power supplier Old Dominion Electric Cooperative. Until Johnstone’s appointment, Reasor also served as president and CEO of VMDAEC.

“The board and I felt that the time was right for the association to have a full-time president and CEO, because of the large and expanding array of industry issues facing the association as the cooperative services supplier,” Reasor said.

Johnstone, 60, has worked at VMDAEC for more than 31 years. Since 1999 he has served as executive vice president.

He joined VMDAEC in 1985 as manager of its communications and public relations department and editor of Rural Living magazine.  Before coming to VMDAEC, he worked seven years at the Virginia State Bar, principally as editor of the bar’s monthly magazine.

Founded in 1944, VMDAEC is the trade association for 15 customer-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperatives that serve Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.