January 4, 2021- PRVEPA welcomes new general manager
PRVEPA Welcomes Matthew Ware As Its Sixth General Manager
Columbia, MS- Beginning this month, Pearl River Valley Electric begins a new era of leadership under the direction of the cooperative’s sixth General Manager, Matthew Ware. Randy Wallace, the current general manager, will retire after a distinguished career spanning over 40 years.
A 22-year electric cooperative veteran, Ware will officially begin day-to-day managerial duties on Jan. 5.
Ware is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s of science degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in business administration. After college, he began working for Pearl River Valley Electric as a system engineer. Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, he assumed the role of district manager for the Wiggins office. He has served as manager of operations for the past five years at the headquarters office in Columbia.
“Over the course of my various positions at PRVEPA, the one thing that has stood out to me is the quality of our employees,” said Ware. “I have learned that it’s these folks that allow the cooperative to excel in so many areas. Our employees are dedicated to the cooperative and to its member-focused mission; and I think we have some of the best in the business working within this organization.”
Ware comes from a family with close electric cooperative ties. His uncle, Jack Ware, served as general manager at Singing River Electric in Lucedale and his father, Marcus Ware, was assistant general manager for Cooperative Energy.
“Electric cooperatives are an important part of my family. I ultimately want to continue the strong leadership of previous general managers and employees. It is their hard work and dedication that I will use as a guide for PRVEPA’s future.”
When he isn’t at work, Ware enjoys spending time with his wife Renee and his two boys cheering on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville. In addition, he likes going to the beach and playing golf with his sons.
Pearl River Valley Electric is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative that distributes electricity to more than 51,000 members in 12-counties in central and south Mississippi. It is headquartered in Columbia and has offices in Hattiesburg, Purvis and Wiggins.
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