Sep 30, 2023

Sunflower appoints new chief operations officers; Nelson announces retirement

Posted Sep 30, 2023 9:45 AM

Sunflower Electric

The Sunflower Electric Power Corp. board of directors appointed Corey Linville as senior vice president and chief operations officer of generation and power supply and Al Tamimi as senior vice president and chief operations officer of transmission, effective immediately.

Linville and Tamimi succeed Kyle Nelson, who will retire at the end of 2024 after 35 years at Sunflower.

Kyle Nelson, courtesy Sunflower Electric
Kyle Nelson, courtesy Sunflower Electric

Nelson joined Sunflower in 1989 and was promoted to senior vice president and chief operating officer in 2008. He served on the executive team, managed both the generation and transmission operations departments, and worked with Sunflower’s generation expansion task force since May 2001. He will assist with the transition of his duties to Linville and Tamimi during his remaining tenure at Sunflower.

“I cannot express enough gratitude to the Sunflower Board of Directors, both former and current members, for allowing me to spend more than three decades at Sunflower,” Nelson said. “It’s been a rewarding career filled with great people and amazing opportunities and challenges. I’ve taken immense pride in helping Sunflower meet our mission to provide wholesale energy services at the lowest possible cost to our member-owners. It will be hard to leave, but I’m confident Sunflower is in good hands with the recent appointments of Corey and Al.”

Corey Linville, courtesy Sunflower Electric 
Corey Linville, courtesy Sunflower Electric 

Linville joined Sunflower in 1993 and was promoted to vice president of power supply and delivery in 2013. A member of Sunflower’s executive team, his responsibilities have included system operations, resource planning, power contracts, market operations, and member services. As senior vice president and chief operations officer of generation and power supply, he will also lead generation operations and generation engineering.

Al Tamimi, courtesy Sunflower Electric
Al Tamimi, courtesy Sunflower Electric

Tamimi joined Sunflower in 2001 and was promoted to vice president of transmission planning and policy in 2015. Also a member of Sunflower’s executive team, his responsibilities have included planning and designing transmission and distribution facilities, along with engagement in transmission and market policy issues. As senior vice president and chief operations officer of transmission, Tamimi will also lead transmission operations and transmission engineering.

Linville and Tamimi concurred that Nelson’s impact on Sunflower, especially on the operations department, will long remain and are honored to succeed him.

“The decision by the Sunflower board illustrates their dedication and commitment to our member-owners and to the Sunflower staff,” said Steve Epperson, Sunflower’s interim president and CEO. “There is no question that Kyle’s retirement will leave big shoes to fill, so the board chose to make organizational structure changes early to ensure a smooth transition. I have no doubt the appointments of Al and Corey will do just that.”

About Sunflower Electric Power Corporation

Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, established in 1957, is a regional wholesale generation and transmission supplier dedicated to serving its members by providing reliable power at the lowest possible cost consistent with sound business and cooperative practices.

Sunflower’s member cooperatives include Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative, Inc., Dighton; Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc., Ulysses; Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Inc., Norton; The Victory Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., Dodge City; Western Cooperative Electric Association, Inc., WaKeeney; and Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc., Scott City, Kan. Southern Pioneer Electric Company, Ulysses, is also a member of Sunflower.

For more information, visit sunflower.net.