The Board of Trustees of Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative (CVEC) has announced the appointment of Josh Holt as Chief Executive Officer.

Holt brings more than 22 years of electric cooperative experience and previously served as CVEC’s Chief Operating Officer since August 2020. In that role, he focused on operational efficiency, safety, and long-term planning to support reliable service for CVEC members.

During his tenure as COO, Holt helped reduce new construction lead times by 40 percent, restructured the Operations Department to improve productivity, and supported major initiatives including the completion of CVEC’s new headquarters and fiber-to-the-home projects.

“I appreciate the Board’s confidence and the opportunity to continue serving our members,” Holt said. “Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative has a strong foundation built by dedicated employees and thoughtful leadership. My focus moving forward is on safety, reliability, and responsible planning that ensures we meet today’s needs while preparing for the future of our cooperative and the communities we serve.”

In selecting Holt, the Board emphasized continuity in leadership along with his experience guiding CVEC through operational improvements and long-term planning efforts.

“Josh’s leadership experience, operational knowledge, and commitment to cooperative values make him the right choice to lead CVEC,” said Joe Semtner, president of the CVEC Board of Trustees. “The Board is confident in his ability to guide the cooperative forward while keeping our members’ best interests at the center of every decision.”

Before joining CVEC, Holt spent nearly two decades with Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Garden City, KS, where he held positions including Substation Supervisor, Substation Technician, and Journeyman Lineman. His experience includes project management, substation construction and maintenance, budget development, and coordination with large commercial and industrial accounts.

Holt holds a bachelor’s degree in Energy Management from Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND, and is a graduate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Management Internship Program. He also maintains Department of Labor certifications as a Journeyman Line Maintainer, Substation Technician, and Meter Technician.

Holt and his wife, Katy, live in Harrah, Oklahoma. They have two children, Aurora and her husband, Austin, and Jacob, plus two grandchildren, Phoenix and Valley.

About Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative Inc. is a nonprofit, publicly owned utility cooperative with a steadfast commitment to serving its members in the East Central Region of Oklahoma. Canadian Valley Electric provides essential electric utility service to over 25,000 accounts, catering to the needs of residential, commercial, and industrial members. This service area spans approximately 3,500 square miles, encompassing all or parts of the following counties: Oklahoma, Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Lincoln, Creek, Hughes, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, and McIntosh.