Governance

DEC Board Chair Patricia “Pat” Dorey has served on the board since her first election in 2004. She previously served as the Board’s Assistant Secretary-Treasurer and was elected chair in 2021. Having graduated from the Millsboro Public School, Pat later attended college as an adult student and is an alumnus of both the University of Delaware and Salisbury State College, now Salisbury University. She taught in the Indian River School District for a few years before accepting an opportunity to return to the University of Delaware’s Parallel Program in Georgetown, where she served students and faculty in the administrative role of Assistant Dean for 18 years. Following her retirement from this position, she returned to the Delaware Tech campus in Georgetown and worked several more years as an educational counselor/advisor to prospective and current students.

During her time on the DEC Board, Pat has represented DEC at the statewide trade association known as the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. She serves on the RHI Board as well as the Educational Services Committee and Foundation Board of the VMDAEC and is a past Chair of the VMDAEC Board. To keep abreast of a rapidly growing and changing industry, Pat has earned CCD, BLD and Director Gold credentials during her tenure through attending conferences and other training opportunities as well as taking online courses offered through the NRECA.

Pat is married to husband Terry Dorey, and they have two children, Denise Bateman and Darren Dorey, and are additionally blessed to have five wonderful grandchildren. Pat and Terry are active members of Zoar UM Church in Millsboro, and she also enjoys service to the Delaware District and the Peninsula-Delaware Conference of the UMC.

Michael (Mike) Brown is a resident of Hartly and a veteran of state service, working for both the Delaware Forest Service and the Division of Soil and Water Conservation, serving in management positions at both agencies. Mr. Brown has a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Wilmington University and a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management from West Virginia University. Following his state service, he served 12 years as the Executive Director of the National Association of State Conservation Agencies, a national nonprofit that works to develop national soil and water conservation policy. In that role, he trained state personnel and conservation district board members on their governance roles in a variety of states across the country. He also sits on the Board of Supervisors of the Kent Conservation District. Mike owned and operated a small business, Clean Cut Tree Service, for over 20 years, and still maintains his ISA Certified Arborist certification. He retired December 31, 2022, and now commits more energy than ever to his role on the DEC Board of Directors.

Since joining the DEC Board 12 years ago, Mike has earned his Certified Cooperative Director credential, his Board Leadership Certificate, and Director Gold credentials from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). These are the most advanced NRECA credentials available to distribution cooperative directors. He currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the DEC Board of Directors as well as the Chair of the DEC governance committee. Mike was elected by his fellow DEC board members to serve on the NRECA Board of Directors for the 2020-2022 term. Two years ago he was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, DEC’s generation and transmission cooperative and the supplier of DEC’s electricity. He still serves in this critical role as the lone representative of DEC’s Board of Directors.

Mike lives with his wife of 20 years on their farm outside of Hartly in western Kent County. As an at-large director on the DEC Board, he has the privilege to represent all of our DEC member-owners.

Laura Phillips is a native Delawarean with over 40 years working in the financial industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Wilmington University. She has been on the DEC Board for 14 years and sits on the finance and audit committees. She holds the executive position as Secretary for the DEC Board of Directors and has earned her Certified Cooperative Director, Board Leadership and Director Gold credentials. Her priorities are keeping rates competitively priced, keeping the Cooperative financially sound, and maintaining a reliable electric grid. During her time on the DEC Board, Laura has helped implement measures that have assured Co-op electric rates remain some of the lowest in the region and that DEC continues to provide reliable power to our members. One way DEC has been able to offer affordable rates to members has been through the Board’s advocacy of strong financial controls and focus on controlling long-term debt. Our Board also supports investing in renewable energy projects like solar and landfill gas to provide a local, sustainable and stable source of affordable power for decades to come.

DEC supports solar projects that reduce dependence on energy produced outside the Delmarva area which also reduces the cost to transmit energy to our service territory. Through the installation of utility-scale renewable energy projects and efficiency programs, our Cooperative has lowered its carbon footprint by 45% since 2005. Laura has worked to ensure the Cooperative is proactive in using data and technology to provide new and innovative ways to improve system reliability. She has voted to approve investments in new infrastructure and advanced electrical equipment which has resulted in record years for reliability. Laura has been a strong proponent of DEC’s Beat the Peak Program, which has saved members $40 million since 2008.  During her time on the board, the Co-op has also returned tens of millions of dollars to members in the form of capital credits, helping DEC achieve some of the highest member satisfaction scores in the nation. 

William Haughey, Jr. retired after 15 years as the Executive Director & Community Manager with Tunnell Companies, L.P. in Long Neck, DE.  He previously had a 28-year banking career with an extensive background in banking and finance in the Kent and Sussex County areas.  Mr. Haughey  previously served on the Sussex County Advisory Board of WSFS Bank, as Vice President & Southern Regional Executive with the Bank of Delaware and PNC Bank and as a Vice President with Delaware Trust Company.  He is a native Delawarean and graduate of Milford High School.  Mr. Haughey has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Delaware and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Wilmington University.  He has served on several civic and charitable organization boards.  Mr. Haughey has attained the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification, the Board Leadership Certificate and three Director Gold Certificates.  Most recently, he completed a course on Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations.  

Charles Towles, Jr. is retired with over 40 years in the electrical industry. Charles has been a Board Member since 2006. He has attained the Director Certification and Gold Leader status level. Charles, and his wife Carol, reside in Smyrna.  They attend Asbury United Methodist Church in Smyrna and enjoy motorcycle riding with Christian motorcycle groups and driving their RV across the country. He is a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Moose Lodge and Masonic Lodge. Charles is a committed, experienced and dedicated team player, who believes in “putting members first.”

Bruce R. Walton retired as a Brigadier General with the Delaware National Guard after 36 years of service. He is a past member of the Caesar Rodney School Board, was the Deputy Principal Assistant to the Delaware Secretary of Agriculture from 1998 to 2005 and has a broad background in agricultural and community service. Memberships include the Delaware and Kent County Farm Bureaus, Delaware Fruit Growers Association and Gideon’s International. Mr. Walton has completed the Credentialed Cooperative Director program and the Director Gold program.

Jeff Chorman, a native Delawarean, is the current owner and operator of Chorman’s Aerial Spraying located in Greenwood. He graduated from Cape Henlopen High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Mr. Chorman has deep insights into the needs of Delaware’s farming community. With his extensive experience on various boards, including his role as Chairman of the Sussex County Board of Adjustment and serving on Delaware Electric Cooperative’s Member Committee, Mr. Chorman is well-equipped to serve our southern Delaware community. He is committed to ensuring reliable and affordable renewable energy sources for all members. Mr. Chorman feels his background in agriculture and business, combined with his dedication to service, will help to keep DEC’s service timely and rates affordable. Jeff currently resides in Milford with his wife and two daughters. 

Delaware Electric Cooperative incumbent board member, Mark Abbott, is a retired 30-year public school teacher. He resides in Georgetown, where he graduated from Sussex Central and is an alumnus of both Messiah University and Delaware State University. He has served the Woodbridge and Sussex Technical School Districts and Delaware Technical and Community College. He taught Special Education, Psychology, Personal Finance, Driver Education and Developmental Math. He is a former assistant scoutmaster with BSA Troop 95 in Georgetown. Mark and his wife, Melissa, have two children, Caleb and Nathanial. They are active members of The Grace Church of Milton. As he looks to the future, he is excited and humbled to continue to be able to serve you by advocating for safety, power reliability, economical renewable energy and reasonable rates for all DEC members. He also understands that legislative requirements must be balanced with DEC member needs. 
 

Former Nanticoke Healthcare executive Tom Brown joined Delaware Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors in January of 2021. A former educator and community leader, Mr. Brown holds a Master’s in Education from St. Mary’s and a Master’s in Finance from the University of Baltimore. He worked as a Senior Vice President at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where he was also President of the Nanticoke Physician’s Network. He retired from that post in June of 2020. As a DEC Board member, Mr. Brown has earned his Certification as a Cooperative Director from the NRECA.  Mr. Brown has an extensive history of volunteering, including Delaware Hospice, where he currently serves on the Board.

Hunter Emory is a dedicated member of DEC's Board, bringing his expertise and commitment to service since March 2021. As a board member, Mr. Emory serves on both the DEC audit committee and the risk review committee, where he provides important insights. In addition to his roles within DEC, Mr. Emory has served a two-year term on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Board, serving as vice chair of the insurance and financial service committee. In this fiduciary capacity, he helped to oversee the management of the $23 billion dollar employee benefit plan. As a staunch advocate for affordable electric rates, Mr. Emory has championed a fiscally conservative approach to debt-to-income allocations and worked to promote innovation within DEC's cooperative teams. His support for new infrastructure and advanced electrical equipment has led to several record years for Co-op reliability, with members experiencing fewer power outages and quicker restoration times.  

Furthermore, Mr. Emory is committed to DEC's investment in local renewable energy, such as solar and landfill gas, ensuring a sustainable and stable source of affordable power for decades to come. He has also advocated for the Co-op to prioritize local contractors in its bid process for contractual work, which proved to be an important factor in federal grant monies being reinvested in the local community. 

During Mr. Emory's tenure on the DEC board, the Co-op has achieved numerous accomplishments. The Co-op recorded year-over-year increases in customer satisfaction, culminating with a score of 90 in 2023, one of the highest in the nation. Additionally, in 2022, Mr. Emory supported implementing a more open and transparent election process, resulting in record turnout in the 2023 director elections. Beyond his contributions to the cooperative community, Mr. Emory is a successful entrepreneur, owning and operating The Emory Agency State Farm Insurance and Financial Services practice in Milford and Georgetown, DE. Mr. Emory provides personalized insurance and financial services to his clients. In his free time, Mr. Emory is an active volunteer in his community, supporting organizations such as the Georgetown Boys and Girls Club, local school district sports programs, and numerous non-profits. He resides in Lincoln, DE, with his wife, Jamie, and their two sons, Jake and Reece.

Mr. Emory feels his dedication to service, strategic leadership, and commitment to the betterment of his community make him a valuable asset to DEC and the broader cooperative movement.

Blaine Daisey served for 30 years as a Delaware State Trooper. During his time on the police force, he became a Master Corporal who specialized in conflict management, intelligence, and special investigations. Now retired, he has served as a board member of the Delaware Electric Coop for over 6 years. He is currently the Vice Chair of the Delaware State Police Federal Credit Union, of which he’s served as a board member for over 20 years. At DEC, he is the Chairman of the Risk Management Committee and serves on the Operations, Board and Member Relations Committees, respectively. He received his credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) Certificate in 2020, which has helped further advance his knowledge in Director duties and liabilities, electric business, and strategic planning, to name a few. In addition, he is on the DEC’s Board Budget Committee, helping to oversee the board’s budget annually. He has played a key role in implementing policies to help keep members’ electricity bills low, and has the numbers to prove it. During his time as a board member, DEC has achieved a customer satisfaction score of 90——one of the highest in the nation. In addition, DEC’s own Beat the Peak program has resulted in more than $42 million in savings for members since 2008. Blaine is continuously advancing his knowledge as a key decision-maker for our region’s power, most recently completing his Board Leadership Certificate to strengthen his abilities to govern the board effectively.

A Lewes native and lifelong Sussex County resident, Blaine is a Cape Henlopen High School graduate and Frostburg State University alumni, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Finance. He has lived with his wife and four children on the outskirts of Lewes since 2006. A loyal member to his community, he has volunteered as a youth swim and basketball coach. He also is a Life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc, and continues his involvement with the fraternity’s mission to assist the community with their needs. As a local, he is passionate about keeping things open and transparent for members, including being a part of the team that proposed and adapted changes that led to record voter turnout in the 2023 director election. And as a father, Blaine wants to ensure stable and affordable power for the next generation of Coop members, so he and the DEC have made sure to invest in local renewable energy projects, such as solar. He remarked, “I have been honored to protect and serve my fellow Delawareans as a State Trooper, and I’m thrilled to continue serving my community as a board member for the DEC to advance the future initiatives, such as, technology and renewables, as we continue to grow as a coop to meet the needs of our membership.”