AVECC Board of Directors

Director: John Frank Pendergrass (Franklin County)

As a lifelong resident of South Franklin County, Director John F. Pendergrass has served on the Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Board for several years. He has held various leadership positions on the Board over the years and has committed to serving the cooperative's members. He has participated in all of the National Rural Electric Association's training programs for directors. He believes  Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative's progressive direction regarding high-speed internet for our members is highly important. He attended the University of Arkansas/Fayetteville and Arkansas Tech/Russellville. He is a cattle rancher and has held leadership positions at all levels of the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association and served on several committees of the National Cattlemen's Association. Inducting into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame for his work on various programs enhancing rural living was a highlight of his life.

 Director: Benny Birgance (Scott County)

Benny Brigance was born and raised in Scott County, Arkansas. He graduated from Booneville High School in 1965 and later from Petit Jean Vo-Tech as a certified welder.  In 1970, Benny married Richea Dickason, and they began dairy farming. They have two sons, Matt and Blain. Benny continued farming until he retired in 2014.  He is a member of several cooperatives, including Arkansas Valley Electric, Farmers Cooperative, Dairy Farmers of America, and Farm Bureau. He is a member of Long Ridge Baptist Church. Benny's favorite hobby is Amateur Radio and he holds an Extra Class licence. Benny was elected to  Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative board in 1975. He has served in several offices and also on the statewide board.

Director: Paula Caswell (Crawford County)

Director Paula Caswell was raised on the family farm at Hobbtown, Arkansas. Paula is the great-granddaughter of John Hobbs, who was one of the founding members of Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative. She attended Alma Schools and University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and helped farm the family commercial egg poultry operation. She currently resides in Hobbtown on the land of her grandfather and is accounting and bookkeeping manager at Kirkham Systems. She has been honored to serve as a director of Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative and to help establish WAVE, a subsidiary of AVECC, which supplies broadband services to AVECC member and local communities.

Director: Brandon Haberer (Franklin County)

Director Brandon Haberer grew up in Ozark on a cow/calf farm, where he attended Ozark High School.  After graduating from the University of Central Arkansas, Brandon began his banking career in Rogers, Arkansas.  Once having the opportunity to return to his hometown, Brandon seized on the chance and came home.  Today, Brandon is the CEO of Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, with a finance career that spans 30 years.  Brandon has strong roots in working and leading cooperative businesses and a deep understanding and belief in the cooperative business model that guides the member/owner conviction of Arkansas Valley Electric.  Brandon is proud to have been instrumental in establishing WAVE, a subsidiary of AVECC, which supplies broadband services to our members and surrounding communities.   

Director: Phillip King (Sebastian County) 

Director Phillip M King is a retired Sebastian County dairy and beef farmer.   King is a retired Farmers Mutual Insurance Company agent and still serves on the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company board. 

Director Phillip King is a Credentialed Cooperative Director with a Board Leadership Certificate and Director Gold Credential.  In addition to serving on the AVECC Board of Directors, he serves as a statewide board of directors for the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives. He is also a member of the OAEC budget committee.  Mr. King is proud to have been instrumental in establishing WAVE, a subsidiary of AVECC, which supplies broadband services to our members and surrounding communities.   

Director Philip Taylor (Johnson County) 

Philip Taylor grew up in Clarksville and graduated from Clarksville High School.  In 1985, he graduated from the College of the Ozarks, now the University of the Ozarks, and began his career at Phil Taylor Insurance Agency, a business established by his father in 1960.  

Mr. Taylor is a member of the Clarksville Lions Club and serves on the boards of the Johnson County 4-H Foundation, Clarksville Panther Foundation, and Johnson County Community Foundations. He is a Credentialed Cooperative Director with a Board Leadership Certificate and Director Gold Credential. Philip continues to support WAVE, an AVECC subsidiary that supplies broadband services to AVECC members and surrounding communities. 

Director: Sam Davis (Johnson County) 

Director Sam Davis managed a beef cattle operation in Johnson County for over 50 years, worked in retail for sixteen years, and has been an Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corporation (AVECC) member since 1971. In addition to serving as a member of the AVECC Board of Directors, Sam has also served as a member of the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) Board of Directors in Little Rock for fourteen years and, during that time, served as the Board Chair. He also served the Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI) Board of Directors for two years.

Director: Sean Holland (Sebastian County) 

In addition to serving as a Director for Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative, Mr. Holland is a Cattleman from Sebastian County. Sean has over 60 hours of continuing education directly related to the electric cooperative business model and fiber optic communications. He has achieved Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD), Board Leadership (BLC), and Director Gold Credential (DGC). Sean has served at the state-wide level on the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Inc (AECI) board, and its subsidiary, Today’s Power Inc. (TPI). Mr. Holland has been one of the earliest supporters of the Wave Rural Connect fiber to the home project, voicing to AVECC management and staff the importance and need of quality high speed internet for the members of Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative. As a Member/Director, Mr. Holland has addressed the concerns of CO-OP members from all 13 counties served. Sean and his wife, Katie, have three children.  

Director: Belinda Hutchinson (Crawford County)

Director Belinda Hutchinson resides in Alma, AR, in Crawford County. She has achieved Credential Coop Director, Board Leadership, as well as Director Gold over the past 19 years of service. Belinda is an independent contractor working with One Source Restoration. She currently serves on the AECC statewide board. She is honored to serve the membership in our rural community while Arkansas Valley Electric improves the quality of life with electricity and fiber.