COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc., has named its longtime government relations chief, John Frick, as the association’s next president and chief executive officer. In a corresponding move, General Counsel Chris Koon has been promoted to executive vice president of the trade association that serves the Palmetto State’s electric cooperatives.

Frick, 50, currently serves as ECSC’s senior vice president for public policy. In that position, the lifelong South Carolinian has spent more than two decades guiding the state’s not-for-profit electric cooperatives through challenges and opportunities at the State House and in Congress.

Koon, 50, has spent more than 20 years coordinating the statewide legal strategy for South Carolina’s electric cooperatives. He currently serves as president of the S.C. Bar Association. In his new role, he will continue to serve as ECSC’s top lawyer while also ensuring local cooperatives receive the critical services the association provides.

“John’s hard work and sound judgment have earned the trust of our state’s co-ops and policymakers alike, and Chris has been the steady hand looking out for co-ops and their members in the judicial system,” said Chad Lowder, CEO of Tri-County Electric Cooperative and chairman of the ECSC board. “Both know co-ops. Both know and care about the people and communities we serve all over the state. At a time of significant change in our increasingly complex industry, our co-ops and their members will benefit from their keen instincts and experience.”

ECSC is a not-for-profit trade association that provides government relations, legal, communications, professional development and safety training support to the co-ops that collectively deliver electricity to 2 million South Carolinians in all 46 counties. Its board is made up of representatives from 18 distribution electric cooperatives, a generation and transmission cooperative, and a materials and equipment cooperative.

Frick, an attorney and adjunct professor teaching energy law at the University of South Carolina’s School of Law, grew up in Anderson and graduated from Chapin High School. His time on his high school debate team inspired his pursuit of a career in politics and government. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of South Carolina and a law degree from the USC School of Law.

Frick will be ECSC’s fifth CEO since the association was formed in 1941.

“I’m humbled by the faith that South Carolina cooperative leaders have placed in me,” Frick said. “Electric cooperatives represent the core of what makes South Carolina great – neighbors working together to make their communities better. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work hard every day for the people at the end of the line.”

Koon grew up in Chapin as the son of a nuclear engineer at what was then South Carolina Electric and Gas. His father, Al Koon, passed away last October after serving many years as Chapin’s mayor.

“My father was always disappointed that I chose law instead of engineering, so I hope this makes up for it,” Koon quipped. “He taught me the value of hard work and community service, and I hope I can do the same for others.”

Koon lost his first wife, S.C. Circuit Court Judge Tanya Gee, to cancer in 2016. Her unwavering positivity throughout her cancer battle had a profound impact on him, an optimism he tries to channel every day. Koon has since remarried to Kristen Jerome, and they have four children between them.

Before starting at ECSC in 2006, Koon served as a federal law clerk to U.S. Judge Matthew Perry Jr. and as an attorney at Nelson Mullins in Columbia. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and his law degree from the USC School of Law.

“Reliable and affordable power is everything to rural South Carolina,” Koon said. “We’re going to do everything we can to fight for our members’ interests.”

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The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc., is the state association of independent, member-owned electric cooperatives. More than 2 million South Carolinians in all 46 counties rely on power provided by 18 electric cooperatives to more than 900,000 accounts. Together, electric cooperatives operate the state’s largest electric power system with 78,000 miles of power line. Find more information at www.ecsc.org.