Pandy is new Grady EMC president and CEO

Grady Electric Membership Corporation has a new president and CEO whose last name is not Rosser.

Joseph (Joe) Pandy Jr., officially assumed leadership of the Grady EMC last Thursday. A veteran of electric utilities, Pandy has worked for both municipal power companies as well as other member-owned cooperatives similar to Grady EMC.

“I’m delighted to be here. My wife called the other day and said it was 28 degrees and that’s in the end of April. It’s been one of the worst winters in northern Michigan where we live than in some time,” Pandy said during an interview Monday.

Pandy comes to southwest Georgia after two short stints in Indiana and Minnesota. He served as the general manager for Peru Utilities from May 2016 through September 2017 in Peru, Indiana and he was the president and CEO of Arrowhead Cooperative in Lutsen, Minnesota from September 2017 until May 2018.

Pandy, 72, who will turn 73 in November, has had longer tenures including his service as general manager of Mountain Parks Electric in Grandby, Colorado from 2004 to 2015 and from 1989 until 2002 he served as the head of the Lansing, Michigan Board of Water & Light.

Pandy began his career in 1971 as the electric power superintendent for the city of Painesville, his hometown, before later heading up the Cleveland Public Power.

“Grady EMC is a first-class outfit. I’m coming here to fine tune it and improve on the success that already exists here,” Pandy said.

The new Grady EMC president complimented the management team and staff of Grady EMC for its record of providing reliable power at affordable rates. He said Grady EMC’s ability to recover from Hurricane Michael in record time was a testament to the organization.

“Nothing moves in our world without electricity. If Grady has 99.98 percent reliability I want five nines,” Pandy said.

“Our mission here is to be as good as we can be,” he said.

Although he has worked in larger organizations, like Cleveland with 5,000 employees, Pandy says smaller is better and he pledged to know the names of all of the employees within a month.

He has also set goals of making a difference in the community and reaching out to the membership.

Pandy is quick to note that the board of directors makes the decisions governing the cooperative and it is up to him and his team to execute on the board’s decisions.

“I am an at-will employee. I work at the pleasure of the board. The board extended me an offer for employment, but I do not have a contract,” Pandy said.

The new head of Grady EMC describes himself as a servant leader, who will also present the facts to the board and the best information available so that the directors can make informed decisions.

“My job is not just CEO, it’s coach. One of the greatest compliments I can receive is to be referred to as coach,” Pandy said.

Grady EMC Board Chairman Eric Cohen said, “Pandy brings 48 years of experience to Grady EMC. His vast knowledge of the industry will be an invaluable asset.”

Pandy holds a B.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Ohio University.

Pandy and his wife, Elizabeth, a native of Michigan, have two sons, Joey and Jimmy, they adopted from Russia as infants. The boys are now in college.

The Grady EMC CEO says his wife has found a home they hope to purchase in Thomasville, which he notes is in Grady EMC’s service area. The Pandys are Catholic and he says he has been active as an adult in the Rotary Club.

He grew up on the shores of Lake Erie and is an avid fisherman who also enjoys hunting, golfing and the other outdoor activities.

Pandy says he is one of five candidates the Grady EMC board interviewed for the position. He says he applied for the job late last year, but about that time Hurricane Michael struck and recovery efforts put off the board moving forward with its search for a new CEO to replace Thomas A. (Bo) Rosser Jr., who resigned last year. Rosser Jr. succeeded his father Thomas A. Rosser Sr., and his grandfather Adrian Rosser, both of who served as the head of Grady EMC.

“I feel blessed to have this opportunity at Grady EMC.” He also shared, “I try to live by the ‘Golden Rule.’ I hold my faith, family, friends, and freedom in the highest regard,” Pandy said.

Grady EMC Interim-CEO John Long has returned to his role as outside operations manager.

Speaking on behalf of the board, Chairman Cohen said, “We very much appreciate John Long’s efforts and his service to Grady EMC since his appointment last year. He led Grady EMC through Hurricane Michael, the most devastating storm to ever hit our system. He will continue to be a great asset to Grady EMC as he continues in his role as outside operations manager.”