West Carolina Annual Meeting highlights Leadership Transition, Strong Financial Performance, and Commitment to Community

August 12, 2025

Abbeville, SC – The 2025 Annual Meeting of the Membership marked a significant moment in West Carolina’s 73-year history as members welcomed new CEO Chris Townson and celebrated a year of growth, innovation, and community investment. Rain and strong winds didn’t keep members and guests from attending the August 11 meeting at the Abbeville Civic Center.

Board President Wes McAllister opened the meeting by honoring West Carolina’s legacy and reinforcing the cooperative’s shared vision. “Our people embody the heart, kindness, loyalty, and sense of home that enrich our daily lives,” McAllister said. “Together, our possibilities are limitless. With love in our hearts and a commitment to bettering ourselves, nothing can stop us.”

Three board seats were up for election this year, with the following results:

· Mike Thomas – Area 2, Iva

· Lee Logan – Area 4, Due West

· Darren Lewis – Area 7, Abbeville

In his first Annual Meeting address, Townson expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and acknowledged the leadership of his predecessors, including Jeff Wilson. “I am both honored and humbled to become only the fourth CEO/General Manager in this organization’s remarkable history,” Townson said. “Our mission is simple but powerful: to serve with heart, to work the dream, and to ensure that every member – no matter their zip code – has access to the future.”

Townson highlighted several achievements from the past year:

· Welcoming 8,276 new customers and surpassing 57,000 total customers

· Deploying 41,000 GigaSpire routers

· Blocking nearly 500,000 cyber threats through WiFi X

· Hosting dozens of streaming, digital defense, and WiFi X classes to help members and customers maximize their internet experience

· Continuing robust community investments including donations to local food pantries, scholarships, Meals on Wheels, and mobile mammography services

The cooperative also reported strong financial performance in 2024:

· Assets of $189.9 million

· Member equity totaling $115.8 million

· $31.1 million invested in plant assets

· $2.6 million in debt principal repaid

· $1.8 million in capital credits returned to members

· $61.7 million in capital credits returned to members since 2012

“Our people are both our fuel and our engine,” Townson said. “When you tie that to a strong financial foundation, that’s when a company’s true success can be measured. Every investment we make is for the benefit of the people and communities we serve.”

Looking ahead, Townson emphasized West Carolina’s commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and customer experience. “We’re not just building a pipeline,” he said. “We’re teaching our members how to use it, how to protect themselves, and how to have the best experience possible in their homes.”

Both leaders underscored that the cooperative’s growth is intentional — designed to ensure stability, enhance technology, and strengthen communities. “The stronger we become, the more we can reinvest here at home,” Townson said. “We’re here to build, to serve, and to stay. And together, with God’s help and your support, the best is yet to come.”our area. Together, our possibilities are limitless.”