Jesse Shekleton has over twenty-nine years combined experience in safety, operations, engineering, team building, and business development in the distribution electric and broadband utility industry including over 11 years in field operations as a journeyman lineworker and more than 18 years in key management and team leadership roles. Most recently, Jesse has guided efforts at JCE Co-op to successfully secure multiple sources of Federal and State FTTP grant funding for the Co-op’s rapidly growing Broadband business unit. JCE Co-op is an energy and broadband cooperative located in Northwest Illinois that provides electric, natural gas and broadband services to more than 31,000 rural locations. Through years of experience, Jesse has acquired vast industry knowledge of finance, risk management, compliance, safety, engineering, operations, and process improvement. Accomplishments include successful completion of many strategic initiatives including the acquisition of an investor-owned utility electric service area, merger with a neighboring co-op, launch of a fiber optic broadband business unit, several multi-million-dollar fiber optic grant awards, and the integration of new technologies to enhance smart grid, safety, operational efficiencies, and improve the overall quality of life for the Co-op’s rural membership.