Back to Blog

The Changing Face of OPALCO

OPALCO’s General Manager, Randy J. Cornelius, is preparing to retire this fall after 12 years of service, and the Co-op is in good hands. OPALCO hires the best in the industry to serve our membership and follows a strategic succession plan to prepare for the future. In some cases this results in promoting from within. Assistant General Manager Foster Hildreth, in his ninth year with the Co-op, will step up into the role of General Manager beginning September 1st. This is an exciting transition time and there are a number of positions open as staffing shifts and the new team emerges.

The average OPALCO employee stays with the Co-op for about 12 years and in the last eighteen months, we’ve said fond farewells to Todd Shaner, Superintendent of Operations (33 years); Ginny Reagles, Member Services Representative (18 years); Jim Schubert, Member Services Engineer (10 years); Rex Stickle, Work Order Clerk (9 years) – see profiles on these retirees. There is another round of retirees on the near horizon in Engineering, Operations and Administration. This is a natural ebb and flow that OPALCO plans for – and it’s also a significant changing of the guard.

To replace these retirees, to plan for future transitions and to support the new team, OPALCO has a number of positions open including: Software Specialist, Member Service Engineer, Head Accountant, GIS Technician and – soon – Outreach Coordinator. Open positions and application materials are posted online.

Why do people stay so long at OPALCO? The ideals of a cooperative: fairness, participation, education and concern for community all begin with the member-owner-operators who keep the organization running smoothly. OPALCO pays a fair wage, based on the mid-range for our national utility industry.  OPALCO is able to provide excellent benefits by joining cooperative forces nationwide (900+ co-ops across the U.S.) with the National Rural Electric Association and provides opportunities for continuing education and professional growth.

Of the 15 Journeyman Lineman currently on staff, eight were trained through OPALCO’s Apprenticeship Program (another, who pre-dated the formal program, was trained in the ranks).  See story about our apprentice program graduates.

The Apprenticeship Program is a four-year statewide program that culminates in an IBEW Journeyman Lineman certificate. When available, openings for the Apprenticeship Program are posted online.

To apply for an open position at OPALCO, find all of the materials you need at www.opalco.com.
OPALCO is an equal opportunity employer.

You may also like...

tidal power

Rosario Strait Tidal Energy Project Update

September 30, 2025 is the last day to make public comments on the Rosario Tidal Energy Project as part of the public process with a pilot Draft License Application (DLA) … Read more

Find OPALCO back at their headquarters starting September 29

During the summer months, OPALCO worked on a critical maintenance project for the Eastsound headquarters. The roof of OPALCO’s 1970s built Eastsound headquarters office had reached the end of its … Read more

Quick Fact: Essential Public Facilities

ESSENTIAL PUBLIC FACILITIES is a legal category for hard to site public serving facilities that local codes can outline mitigation conditions but without outright prohibition. Essential Public Facility status ensures … Read more