COO Named at Blue Ridge Energies

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Renee R. Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge
Electric Membership Corporation,
Phone: (828) 758-2383, Pager 800-471-1323, 
or E-mail:  Renee Whitener

Lenoir, North Carolina (March 17, 2005) – Glenda Christian was recently promoted to vice president and chief operating officer of Blue Ridge Energies, LLC, where she has served as general manager since 2003. She brings with her nearly 19 years of industry experience.

Blue Ridge Energies is a subsidiary of Blue Electric Membership Corporation and serves over 15,000 heating oil and propane customers from offices in Lenoir, Hickory, Boone, and West Jefferson. Blue Ridge Energies is also a gasoline distributor with locations across western North Carolina.

“Glenda has done an outstanding job providing operational leadership for Blue Ridge Energies,” said Doug Johnson, chief executive officer of Blue Ridge Electric and Blue Ridge Energies. “She will provide the greater strategic direction needed as we work to successfully achieve our vision for the company,” he added.

In addition to providing propane to homes and businesses in Catawba and Watauga counties as well as heating oil in Caldwell and Ashe counties, Blue Ridge Energies expanded to provide propane service to Avery County last fall and will offer full propane services to Alleghany County starting this fall season. The company also offers gas logs, fireplaces, stoves, wall heaters and accessories in showrooms located in the Lenoir, Boone, and West Jefferson district offices of Blue Ridge Electric.

Christian has served in various management positions with Blue Ridge Energies since 1998 when the company first formed after Blue Ridge Electric and other partners purchased the former Beall Oil and Propane Company. Christian had served as director of propane sales and customer service and had been employed with Beall Oil and Propane since 1994. Christian began her career in the heating fuels/gasoline industry in 1986 with Lee-Moore Oil Company, Inc., in her hometown of Sanford, N.C.

A graduate of Appalachian State University, Christian was selected to serve as a state director for the Hickory-Catawba Valley Homebuilders Association after serving as vice president of the organization in 2004. She is on the board of directors for Lenoir Little League, Inc., where she serves as secretary and treasurer. She also volunteers as the liaison for Blue Ridge Energies’ school partner, William Lenoir Middle School. She is active in Relay for Life and March of Dimes. She and her son, Gavin, attend Lower Creek Baptist Church and live in Lenoir.

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