Patrick O’Loughlin, President and CEO of Buckeye Power and Ohio’s Rural Electric Cooperatives (OREC), has announced his plan to retire on January 3, 2025, after a decade at the helm. The boards of directors have named Craig Grooms, the current Chief Operations Officer, as his successor.
O’Loughlin joined Buckeye Power and OREC in 2002 as vice president of engineering and power supply and was appointed president and CEO in 2015. Prior to his tenure with Buckeye Power and OREC, he spent 19 years at Dayton Power & Light in various management roles.
The boards credited O’Loughlin with advancing the cooperatives’ mission to provide reliable, affordable, environmentally responsible power to its 25 member cooperatives. They noted his advocacy for cooperative principles both within Ohio and on a national level.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve Buckeye Power and OREC as CEO for the past 10 years,” O’Loughlin stated. “I am proud of the accomplishments we have achieved together and the positive impact we have made on the communities we serve. I am confident that Buckeye Power and OREC are well-positioned for the future and that Craig Grooms is the right person to lead the organizations.”
The boards expressed their gratitude for O’Loughlin’s service and leadership while congratulating Grooms on his new role. They also confirmed that O’Loughlin will work alongside Grooms throughout 2024 to ensure a smooth transition.
Grooms joined Buckeye Power and OREC in 2004, holding several leadership positions including Vice President of Engineering and Operations before becoming Chief Operations Officer in 2022. His previous experience includes roles at NRG Energy and Dayton Power & Light related to energy marketing, electric system operations, and natural gas system operations. He holds an MBA from Otterbein University, a Bachelor of Science in engineering technology from the University of Dayton, is a graduate of NRECA’s Management Internship Program, and is a U.S. Navy veteran.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Buckeye Power and OREC and to build on the strong foundation that Pat has established,” said Grooms. “I look forward to working with Pat, the boards, and staff, to continue delivering on our mission of providing safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible power to the member cooperative communities we serve. We have a very talented team in place and I am very optimistic about our future. We want to carry on the tradition of being a trusted partner with our cooperative members.”
