Cecil County
John Burke serves on the Board of Directors for Choptank Electric Cooperative, representing the members from Cecil County. His service began in March of 2010. John is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and has a certificate for Board Leadership from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). He is also a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).
John is also the Treasurer of the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board beginning in 2018, having previously served as Vice Chair and Secretary. He was also elected to the Board of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) in 2016, the energy provider serving Choptank and ten other Mid-Atlantic electric cooperatives.
John earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, where he majored in Industrial Relations and Organization Behavior. He attended graduate school at Temple University's MBA program with a concentration in finance. He served in the United States Navy from 1977 to 1981 and attained the rank of Quartermaster 2'd class.
John is an Associate Broker for Gunther McClary Real Estate, with offices in Cecilton and Rock Hall, conducting real estate brokerage primarily in Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's counties. He has served on several non-profit boards in Kent and Cecil counties with business, school, and community service focus. He and his wife, Terry, have two adult children, Christine and John III. They have lived in Warwick since 1993 and have been Co-op members since then.
John and his family enjoy boating on the Chesapeake Bay and traveling.
Ocean Pines District
Bob Thompson was elected to the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in April of 2017 to represent the Ocean Pines community. Bob currently serves as the Chairman of the Strategic Risk and Issues Committee and Chairman of the Employee Benefits Committee. He is Choptank’s voting delegate for the NRECA. He is focused on improving his knowledge through continuing education and training, obtaining his Credentialed Cooperative Director Board Leadership Certificate. Bob is currently working toward his Board Director Gold credentialling.
Bob is the Managing Partner and the CEO of D&B Construction and Development. The company specializes in Design-Build Construction for Commercial and Residential projects.
A savvy, innovative C-Level Executive, Bob is recognized for his 30+ years of operations management experience, leadership and financial abilities. He has been selected by numerous organizations to integrate key changes and expand market presence. Throughout his career, Bob has earned the reputation as a strong, dynamic leader by managing and motivating teams to reach exceptional levels of performance and maximize operational productivity.
Chief Thompson also distinguished himself with over 22 combined years of military service in the United States Air Force/Air Force Reserve. He served in various capacities within the Civil Engineering/Emergency Services career fields where his discipline, drive and exceptional leadership quickly propelled him to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant (E9).
Bob has previously worked for CoreLife, the Ocean Pines Association, 1st Mariner Mortgage as well as Licensed Investment Advisor. As a committed member of the local community, Bob currently serves as Chairman for the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.
Bob and his wife, Missi, have lived in Ocean Pines for over 33 years. They have three children – Rachel, Bobby, Nick and Son-In-Law Dan and the newest addition to their family is their granddaughter Caroline. Bob enjoys exercise, running, lifting, adventure racing and other recreational sports.
Worcester County
Donna Richardson West was appointed to represent Worcester County on the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in September of 2018 and was elected to a full term in April of 2019. She was also elected to the Board of the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives in December of 2020.
An Eastern Shore native, Donna is embedded into the local community. As the daughter of Fay and Roger Richardson, she has worked on her family’s farm her entire life and has seen all aspects of the business, where she provides support for daily operations. Donna is the Treasurer for Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church and is on the Board of Directors for Snow Hill Christian Nursery School.
Donna graduated from Snow Hill High School and attended Wor-Wic Community College.
Engaged to Kenneth Lambertson Sr., she has three grown children and nine grandchildren. In her spare time, Donna enjoys time with her family, being on the water either boating or jet skiing, travel, and watch sporting events.
Caroline County
Amy Ireland Brandt, a true local of Caroline County, graduated Valedictorian from North Caroline High School. As a junior at NCHS, she participated in Choptank Electric Cooperative’s Youth Tour, a week-long summer leadership program in Washington, D.C. designed to educate young adults on the cooperative business model as well as the legislative process of our government. Amy went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park.
As a Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years of experience in public accounting, Amy is a partner in Accounting Strategies Group, LLC. She oversees the accounting and auditing divisions, as well as the firm’s quality control. Accounting Strategies Group has offices in Preston and Centreville.
Amy serves on the Board of Directors for Queenstown Bank. She lives in Denton with her husband Nick and three daughters. Amy enjoys spending her time with family, watching her children participate in their many activities, and attending a variety of sporting events.
As a lifelong resident of Caroline County, Amy learned from a young age about the cooperative principles and its business model, which gave her first-hand experience in the Co-op world. She sees the importance of the cooperative to this community and would like to be a part of its continued success on the Eastern Shore.
Dorchester County
Doug Scott began his tenure on the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in January of 2013. Doug represents the Choptank members from Dorchester County. He was elected Chairman of the Board in May of 2023.
Doug has received the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate and the Board Leadership Certificate.
Doug is active in the family’s 1600-acre grain farm near Hurlock, Maryland, which is now managed by his son.
Doug is a board member of the Washington Cemetery Committee and holds memberships in the Maryland Farm Bureau and Unity Washington United Methodist Church. He previously served on the board of Mid Atlantic Farm Credit. Doug also holds a U.S. Coast Guard 50-Ton Master license.
Doug and his wife, Patti, enjoy spending time with their children, their children’s spouses and four grandchildren - enjoying all the opportunities the Chesapeake Bay region has to offer.
Kent County
Kristen Nickerson serves on the Board of Directors for Choptank Electric Cooperative, representing the members from Kent County. Her service began in August of 2023. She is currently serving on the Finance, Budget & Audit and Governance Committees. Kristen is actively participating in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Director Credentialing program.
Kristen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Wesley College and is a certified public accountant. She is a Managing Member in Grand View Farm, LLC., her family’s crop and swine operation in Kent County. In addition to her responsibilities managing the farm, Kristen is also the bookkeeper for Saw Mill Creek Construction, her husband’s local business.
Kristen is active with the Kent County Fair, the Still Pond United Methodist Church, and the Betterton American Legion Post Auxiliary. Prior to her appointment to the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board, she served on the Choptank Electric Trust Board. Kristen was the 2014 Monsanto Northeast Regional Farm Mom of the Year, traveling for interviews, discussion panels and promotional events.
Kristen and her husband, Albert, have two sons. They live on the family farm in Worton where they enjoy hunting, gardening, and raising Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.
Queen Anne's County
Bob Arnold was first elected to the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board of Directors in April of 2011, to represent the members of Queen Anne’s County. Bob was elected Vice President of the Board in May of 2023.
Bob is the owner of Arnold Farms, LLC, a vegetable growing business, and has been a Choptank Electric Member since 1988.
Bob serves on the Choptank Electric Executive Committee. He also serves on the Governance, and Rates & Regulatory Oversight Committees.
Bob has received the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, the Board Leadership Certificate and Director Gold Credential. Bob represents Choptank on the boards of the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives and Aero Energy.
In the community, Bob is active in his church and local schools. He is a past president of Queen Anne's County Farm Bureau. Bob was recognized by the Maryland Food Bank as “Farmer of the Year” for his contributions to feeding the hungry in Maryland. In 2020, Bob was the recipient of the Maryland Rural Impact Award as the Rural Community Volunteer.
As a CEC Director, Bob recognizes the vital role that Choptank plays in the communities it serves and strives to represent all its members fairly and equitably. Bob and his family reside on Double Creek Road.
Somerset County
Craig Mathies serves on the Choptank Electric Cooperative Board of Directors representing Somerset County.
Craig has been a county resident for over 50 years. Educated in the Somerset County Public School System, he graduated from Crisfield High School, and attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Norfolk Theological Seminary. He received his master’s degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in 2014, and his Doctor of Ministry from the Chicago Theological Seminary in May of 2022
Craig is the Pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Cambridge. He is also President of the Somerset County Commissioners, representing District 1. Earlier in his career, Craig worked in sales and finance in the automotive industry.
Active in many community and civic organizations, Craig is married to Clarice Mathies, a retired Somerset County educator. They have two children, Erica Mathies Jackson and Craig N. Mathies Jr. Craig’s mother, Shellie Mathies, is also a retired Somerset County educator.
Talbot County
Jeff Rathell was elected Chairman of the Board for Choptank Electric Cooperative in April of 2018. He serves on the Board as the representative of Talbot County. Jeff maintains Gold Level credentials as a Cooperative Director and earned his Board Leadership certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
Jeff also serves on the boards of Mid-Atlantic Cooperative Services for Aero Energy and Talbot County Farm Bureau. He has previously served on the Talbot County Solar Array Committee and the LEAD Maryland Foundation Board.
Jeff sells farm equipment and provides top-notch customer service for AG-Industrial, a farm and implement dealer with locations in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. He was born and raised in Cordova, Maryland and grew up working in the family farm equipment business. After graduating from Easton High School, Jeff obtained an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Maryland.
Community involvement is important to Jeff. He volunteers many hours each year at county fairs, tractor pulls and numerous other local events. Jeff also enjoys spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Wicomico County
The incumbent Choptank Electric Cooperative Board member for Wicomico County, Matt Holloway, was born and raised in Salisbury, Maryland. He attended Wicomico County Schools, graduating from Parkside High School in 2000. He went on to attend Virginia Tech and graduated in 2005 with a degree in Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences with a focus in Turfgrass Management.
In 2002, Matt and his brother and his father started Quantico Creek Sod Farms Inc, with over 100 employees and nearly 5000 tillable acres today. In 2010, Matt successfully ran for the Wicomico County Council where he served for 8 years. In 2011, Matt and his wife, Kate, started Baywater Greens LLC, a greenhouse that produced hydroponic lettuce and field grown heirloom vegetables for local restaurants and grocery stores.
In 2023, Matt sold his interest in Quantico Creek Sod Farms and Baywater Greens and started a new venture. Baywater Seafood, based out of Baywater Landing Marina, is an aquaculture farm in the Chincoteague Bay that specializes in Live Bay Scallops and Seaside Oysters. Baywater Landing Marina is a 36 slip marina that hosts commercial and recreational vessels as well as Airbnb houseboats.
Matt was also the Wicomico representative on the Critical Areas Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays for seven years and was the Agricultural representative for the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission. More recently, he was appointed to the Governor's Workforce and Development Board and is the Agricultural representative for the state of Maryland on the Career and Technical Education committee. He enjoys sailing and all things outdoors.