Charles Gorham

(JEFFERSON, Ga., April 5, 2013) – Charles K. Gorham is retiring from the Jackson Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) Board of Directors after 22 years of service.

A member of Jackson EMC since 1963, Gorham spent most of his professional career with Westinghouse, later ABB, in Athens, joining the board following the resignation of Aaron McKinney. He was graduated from Auburn University with an Engineering degree in Industrial Management, and received an M.B.A. from the University of Georgia.

“Charles was the first engineer to serve on the board of an engineering-driven organization,” noted Jackson EMC’s board chairman Otis Jones. “He not only brought that technical knowledge to his board appointment, but also an MBA’s keen eye for detail. I’ve never served with another board member who was more thoughtful on the issues, or more prepared for board meetings. He has served this cooperative’s members well and unselfishly, becoming a board member at the height of the tremendous growth we experienced in the ‘90s and the challenges that it brought with it.”

Shade Storey, a native of Jackson County, and Division Senior Vice President of Northeast Georgia Bank with 16 years of experience in the banking industry, has been appointed to fill Gorham’s unexpired term. “Shade brings to the board not only a strong financial background but also a solid understanding of Jackson County business issues, great strengths in a company such as ours that is impacted so much by both,” said Jones.

Storey holds a B.B.A. from North Georgia College & State University and a graduate degree in banking from Louisiana State University.

He is vice chairman of the Jackson County Water & Sewer Authority board of directors, chairman of the Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors, member and former president of the Jefferson Rotary, member of the Jefferson Boom Town Initiative steering committee, member of the Georgia Cattleman's Association and volunteer with Friends of the Boy Scouts campaign. He has served as Chairman of the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, as a student mentor at Jefferson Middle School, a Tree House Turtle Trek volunteer and as team captain for both Relay for Life and United Way.