WAKEENEY — Western Cooperative Electric Cooperative president Larry Evans announced that Darrin Lynch has been selected to serve as the next general manager. David Schneider, current general manager, will retire May 31.  
Lynch will begin his duties May 1 and comes to Western Cooperative after working for Sunflower Electric Power Corporation in Hays for 11 years, most recently as the manager of financial planning and analysis. While at Sunflower, Lynch was responsible for developing corporate budgets, wholesale member rates, load forecasts, long range financial forecasts, and was involved in a number of special projects ranging from debt restructurings to corporate acquisitions. Prior to joining Sunflower, Lynch worked for Kennedy & Coe, CPA, Colby.
“The Western Cooperative board selected Darrin from among 23 well qualified candidates following a national search,” Evans said. “The board spent a great amount of time analyzing excellent resumés of all who applied, but several factors made Darrin the right person to lead Western. In addition to having local ties, he has an excellent education and financial background, along with the invaluable experience of working with rural electric cooperatives.”
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve Western and carry forward the torch of honorable, trustworthy, and humble leadership passed from Dave Schneider. Having grown up in a small Kansas community, I look forward to serving in a small community and rural region where a good name and a firm handshake mean a great deal. My wife, Tricia (Berg), graduated from Trego Community High School in 1991. She is thrilled about this transition as she is simply “moving home.” We look forward to making WaKeeney our “new home” together and creating fond memories with the Western Cooperative Electric family and the community,” said Lynch of his new opportunity.
Schneider retires from Western after 35 years of service, the last 23 as general manager.
Lynch holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Fort Hays State University with an accounting major. He received his CPA certification in 1997. He is a native of Glasco, and is a member of Crossroads, a southern gospel singing group and the Hays First United Methodist Church choir. Darrin is married to Tricia, a native of Collyer.
Western Cooperative Electric Inc., headquartered in WaKeeney, serves more than 11,700 customers in 13 counties in west-central Kansas. The cooperative employs 55 people who deliver electric service to the cooperative members through 3,900 miles of distribution line. Western is one of the cooperatives that owns and receives wholesale power from Sunflower Electric Power Corporation and Mid-Kansas Electric Company, LLC.