A&N Electric Cooperative President and CEO Butch Williamson announces retirement plans

After nearly a decade of dedicated leadership at A&N Electric Cooperative, President and CEO, Butch Williamson, has announced plans to retire effective July 31, 2026, leaving a legacy of over 45 years in the electric utility industry.

“After much thought and reflection, I want to share my intention to retire from A&N Electric Cooperative,” Williamson shared. “I am providing this extended notice to allow A&N’s board ample time to carefully consider and determine the approach it believes is best suited to select my successor.”

Williamson will issue a formal announcement to cooperative members during the organization’s Annual Meeting on August 28, 2025.

Williamson began his utility career on May 1, 1980, as a summer laborer at his local electric cooperative in South Carolina and eventually became a lineman apprentice. That experience sparked a lifelong passion for serving cooperative members and building stronger communities. He joined A&N Electric Cooperative on May 1, 2016, bringing with him a deep understanding of cooperative values and servant leadership.

“This decision has not come easily – in fact, it is one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make,” Williamson said. “What has made this career so rewarding is not just the work, but the people. Every success I’ve had is a direct result of the individuals I’ve had the pleasure to work alongside. I am incredibly grateful for the friendships, mentorships, and shared commitment that have defined my journey.”

Williamson’s retirement comes as A&N Electric Cooperative celebrates 85 years of serving the Eastern Shore of Virginia. What began in the 1930s as a grassroots movement by local citizens – who went door to door to gather support and secured federal funding through the Rural Electrification Administration – has grown into a vital electric utility serving close to 40,000 homes and businesses across Accomack and Northampton counties to include Tangier and Smith Island Maryland.

Under Williamson’s leadership, the cooperative has continued its commitment to reliability, affordability, innovation, and community-focused service. In 2023, Williamson received the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Service Award for his tireless service to Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

More details about the leadership transition will be shared as they become available.