Brett Perkins, CEO and General Manager of Tricounty Rural Electric Cooperative, has been elected to fill the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) Region 4 Manager-Director Board seat. The election took place on September 10 in Columbus, Ohio. 

CFC Region 4 includes cooperative territories in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Michigan. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, CFC is a $40 billion cooperative financial institution specializing in lending to electric cooperatives across the United States.

CFC exists because electric cooperatives are member-owned, not-for-profit utilities that don't have access to traditional investor capital the way publicly traded utilities do. Since 1969, CFC has served as the primary lending partner that funds the poles, wires, substations, and infrastructure rural co-ops like Tricounty depend on to keep the lights on and expand service. Its board — made up of cooperative directors and managers elected by their peers — sets the lending policy and strategic direction for that financing.

A seat on that board gives Region 4 a direct voice in decisions that shape borrowing costs, credit terms, and investment priorities for co-ops throughout Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Michigan.

Perkins currently serves on the boards of Buckeye Power, Inc., Cardinal Operating Company, and Buckeye Power Generating in Columbus, Ohio, where he sits on the Executive, Audit, Risk Management, Power Delivery, Legislative, Policy, and Nominating committees. He also serves on the boards of United Utility Supply in Louisville, Kentucky, and Regional Growth Partnership in Toledo, Ohio, and is president of the Ohio Cooperative Managers Association.

"I am committed to sound financial stewardship, strategic planning, and the long-term success of the electric cooperative business model," Perkins said. "I believe strong leadership, financial discipline, and a commitment to cooperative values are essential as we navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead. I am truly honored and humbled to represent Region 4 electric cooperatives on the CFC Board of Directors."