Phil Watkins retires after 27 years with SWEPCO, McCormack promoted

Phil Watkins, manager of energy efficiency and consumer programs for Southwestern Electric Power Co., is retiring after 27 years with the utility company.

On Wednesday (May 17), SWEPCO, a subsidiary of Ohio-based American Electric Power, announced Sherry McCormack has been named manager of energy efficiency and consumer programs for Arkansas and will succeed Watkins. The appointment is effective May 20.

In 2011, McCormack started at SWEPCO as principal energy efficiency and consumer programs coordinator, based in Fayetteville. Under the leadership of Watkins and McCormack, the company’s energy efficiency programs in Arkansas were named Energy Star Partner of the Year for three consecutive years.

“Sherry brings to her new position a wealth of knowledge and experience in the energy efficiency area,” said Brett Mattison, director of customer services and marketing for SWEPCO. “She is well respected by her peers and the Arkansas Public Utility Commission, and she will continue with the proven success of the Arkansas EE and Consumer Programs for Arkansas.”

Before joining SWEPCO, McCormack was the energy efficiency coordinator and planning analyst for the Empire District Electric Co., based in Joplin, Mo. Also, she was a business instructor at Crowder College in Neosho, Mo.

McCormack is a certified energy manager and a member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Energy Services Professionals. She served on the board of the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce and the Neosho City Council and was mayor pro-tempore for the city. She has a master’s degree in business administration from Pittsburg State University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Mississippi State University.