Lock brings advocacy for co-op utilities, extensive government outreach experience to position
Tempe, Ariz. (April 15 2019) – David Lock has been named CEO of Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association, bringing 30 years of experience as an advocate of consumer-owned electric utilities to the position that will put him and the association at the forefront of speaking on behalf of the members of Arizona’s electric cooperatives.
Lock will take the position effective April 15, and he said he will work quickly to ensure GCSECA is working with lawmakers and regulatory agencies to “make our voices heard.”
“I am honored that the board of directors has given me this opportunity. I look forward to working collaboratively with our members and the talented staff at Grand Canyon to meet and overcome the challenges facing Arizona’s co-ops specifically, and the electric utility industry in general,” Lock said.
“I know how deeply the leaders of Arizona’s co-ops care about their organizations and their members. We will work together to look out for their best interests,” said Lock.
After starting his career as a journalist, Lock worked for three cities in Colorado – serving as the city/town manager of two of them, and as assistant to the city manager in another. All three cities own and operate their electric utilities as public power systems. Lock also has been an executive at a regional public power pool, spent 11 years as the Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities and most recently served as Senior Manager, External Affairs, for Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. At Tri-State, Lock’s team has been responsible for all of Tri-State’s interactions with Congress, as well as with state legislatures and governor’s offices in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.
Lock earned two bachelor’s degrees (communications and political science) from Hastings College and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado. He is married and has two grown daughters.
Jeff Larson, president of the GCSECA board of directors, called Lock “the ideal person for this position.”
“With the legislative and regulatory challenges our Arizona electric cooperatives face, we need someone who can work with policy makers to ensure our members at the end of the line are taken into account with every decision they make. We’re excited, and confident that David Lock will help us navigate that landscape and ensure our interests are represented,” said Larson.
About GCSECA
Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association Inc. represents Arizona’s Electric Cooperatives at the local, state and national level, with advocacy and education for lawmakers and regulators.
Arizona’s electric cooperatives formed Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association Inc. in 1950. The primary purpose was to create a nonprofit, nonpartisan group to give Arizona’s electric cooperatives a unified voice in state and national regulatory and legislative matters. Resource-pooling and cost-sharing by our members have combined to help make GCSECA a strong, efficient and effective statewide organization.
In addition to our legislative government relations and political advocacy programs, GCSESA offers annual education programs to include, board leadership training, linemen school and rodeo, meter school, Administrative Assistant workshops, online learning classes, publications and communications to electric cooperative leaders, legislators and community leaders through e-newsletters, print newsletters, our website, and social media.
