In this episode, Jeff Hopeck interviews Michael Goodroe, CEO of Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation. Goodroe shares his lifelong journey in the electric cooperative industry, which began in 1974 when his father insisted he get a summer job. Starting at the lowest level on a right-of-way crew, he learned hard work, resilience, and teamwork—principles that guided his rise through engineering, operations, and management to CEO.

Goodroe credits his wife, Joan, with teaching him to view issues from multiple perspectives and to look for the good in others, turning challenges into growth opportunities. Under his leadership, Sawnee EMC grew from $50 million in assets and 22,000 members to $1.4 billion and over 200,000 members. He stresses that the organization’s success stems from consistent values—mission, purpose, and integrity—rather than chasing trends.

Reflecting on mistakes, he recalls a premature contract decision early in his career that taught him humility, risk awareness, and the importance of seeking diverse counsel. Today, he leads by values rather than gut instinct, emphasizing trust, transparency, and long-term thinking.

Goodroe’s central life lesson is adaptability: being at peace with change and using it for growth. Drawing from his family’s experience raising an autistic son, he advocates resilience and empathy—making the best of every situation for others’ benefit.

🎙️Host : @jeffhopeckbrand
🚀Guest: Michael Goodroe

Michael Goodroe
President & Chief Executive Officer, Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation (EMC)

Michael Goodroe serves as the President and CEO of Sawnee EMC, one of Georgia’s largest electric cooperatives, providing power to over 200,000 accounts across seven counties in the metro Atlanta area. With more than three decades of experience in the energy and utility sector, Michael has guided Sawnee EMC through a period of modernization, reliability improvements, and strong member satisfaction. Known for his collaborative leadership style, he’s focused on community engagement, innovation in energy efficiency, and maintaining the cooperative’s mission to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable power. Under his leadership, Sawnee EMC continues to rank among the top cooperatives nationwide for service reliability and customer trust.