The Co-op Champion: Celebrating Over 35 Years With Craig Borr

In the heart of the electric cooperative industry, where service to members and community is key, individuals like Craig Borr tend to stand out. With a career spanning three and a half decades, Craig has devoted himself to advocating for Michigan's electric cooperatives, driven by an impassioned dedication to members and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

A Passionate Advocate from the Start:

Craig's journey into the world of electric cooperatives started fresh out of college, when he was recruited by Wolverine straight from Central Michigan University. Beginning in communications, Craig's career trajectory was marked by a fervent dedication to the cooperative movement.

“Craig has always emphasized the need to deeply understand the members,” said Operations Supervisor Steve Robbins. “He’s committed to making sure he’s constantly communicating and having meaningful interactions.”

Our member co-ops are at the heart of everything Wolverine does and no one is living those values any more than Craig. Identifying opportunities for measured growth and investing in ideas like Wolverine Power Marketing – are all in service of, well, service. It was certainly why he expanded his role by taking the position of President and CEO of MECA.

“If you haven’t done something each and every day to serve our members then you need to take a closer look at your priorities,” said Craig. “Our members are what matters.”

Legislative Relationships:

That laser focus on building trust through consistency, is why Craig has also become an invaluable delegate in Washington D.C.

So much of the regulation of utilities is managed through a legislative process. So, it’s always been important for Michigan’s electric cooperatives to have a collective voice that makes sure our message is being heard on the Hill.

In the first fifteen years of Craig’s career, he made hundreds of trips to Washington D.C., not to mention the many visits to state legislators in Lansing. Understanding the intricate political landscape and building relationships with key leaders was an overwhelming task that Craig poured tireless effort into.

“The man never sleeps,” said VP of Administration Dawn Coon. “He is constantly making connections in his brain to better the organization. He reads every news story and puts facts together in a way I have never seen before.”

Others who have had the opportunity to see Craig in action agree. He has an impressive depth of knowledge about both state and federal legislation in the utility world. Spending extensive time in Washington, D.C., Craig has worked tirelessly to safeguard the autonomy of cooperatives. These experiences not only deepened his understanding of cooperative politics and operations, but also fueled his commitment to the cause. He has no trouble keeping up with the constant changes and pivots in the political arena.

“He walks as fast as he thinks,” said VP of Communications & Member Service Casey Clark. “I had trouble keeping up with him on a trip to DC. His mind is constantly spinning, taking in information and quickly turning that into effective action. He does such an amazing job representing our members.” 

Legacy and Continued Growth:

After thirty-five years, Craig’s desire to keep expanding the notion of what success is, celebrate it, and move on to the next big idea hasn’t slowed down one bit.

Clark notes, “Craig gets so excited about innovation – he calls it 'the art of the possible.' That’s what motivates him and makes him such a great leader.”

As for the future of Wolverine and MECA, Craig sees a bright future with plenty of optimism for things ahead.

“Any organization that doesn’t grow and challenge itself is dead,” said Craig. “Our people know that and live that every day.”