Gary Fulks

General Manager
Mr. Fulks graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1971. He began his career with San Diego Gas and Electric Company working in Distribution Engineering and Substation Design. From 1974 until April of 2007, Mr. Fulks was employed by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. in various capacities in the Planning Department where he was Manager of Planning and Engineering from 1980-1996. In 1996 Mr. Fulks was then appointed to the position of Director, Engineering & Operations.

Mr. Fulks has served on the NRE Transmission Task Force, Southwest Power Pool Engineering & Operations Committee, Executive Committee of the Southeastern Electric Reliability Council Engineering Committee and the North American Electric Reliability Council Reliability Criteria Subcommittee. He has completed the Executive Leadership program at the Smeal School of Business at Penn State University. In 2002, Mr. Fulks received Associated’s highest award as recipient of the Excel Distinguished Service Award and was elected into the Academy of Electrical and Computer Engineers at the University of Missouri-Rolla.

In April of 2007, Mr. Fulks was selected by the Sho-Me Power Board of Directors as Sho-Me’s new General Manager, and now serves on the Board of Directors of Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Jill Keck

Executive Assistant
Jill graduated in 1983 from Draughon Business College as a legal assistant. She previously worked 18 years for Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. in the Engineering & Operations Division where she was the Senior Administrative Assistant from 1997-2007. Jill is also a member of the Missouri Electric Cooperatives Administrative & Secretaries Association.

Bill Schroder

Manager, Human Resources
Mr. Schroder began his career at Sho Me Power March, 1961, in the Accounting Department for 15 years and was Accounting Supervisor before developing the Human Resources Department. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Drury University with a BS Degree in Business Administration and a BS Degree in Economics. He received an Electronics Diploma from Devry University. He was certified as a Senior Professional Human Resources in 1993, and received a Lifetime Certification SPHR in 1996. He has been a member of the Springfield Area Personnel Association since 1986. He taught Electrical classes for the University of Missouri. He was Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board that developed and administered codes for Marshfield, and was elected to serve Marshfield City Council six terms. He is a Charter Member of Rotary since 1968, served as president and many offices in the club and in Rotary District 6080. He was awarded Lifetime Achievement in Community Service by the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce. He is a Veteran of the USAF where he was a Crew Chief of a T-28 plane and taught Engines, Electrical, Hydraulic and Mechanical systems.

John Richards

Chief Financial Officer
John studied Accounting at Missouri Southern State College and the University of Tulsa, graduating in 1975, and received his M.B.A. from Drury College in 1978. His work career started at KAMO Power, where he worked part-time while a student, and upon graduation was hired full-time. He came to Sho-Me Power later in 1975 as an Accountant and was promoted to his current position in 1979. John is a past president of the G&T Accounting & Finance Association and was a member of the Missouri Electric Cooperative Employee’s Credit Union Board of Directors for over 25 years, serving as Chairman for over a decade.

Jerry Hartman

Manager, Administrative Services
Jerry served in the United States Air Force from 1982-1986. He worked in Telecommunications for Empire District Electric Company from 1986 till 1998. He joined Sho-Me Power's Engineering Department in 1998 as Special Projects Administrator. Jerry received his B.S. Degree in Communications from Drury University in 2001, and his M.B.A. from Webster University in 2004. Jerry was promoted to his current position in 2007 and oversees Safety, Purchasing, Warehouse, Fleet, Right of Way, Information Technology, and Security.

Craig Thomas

Manager, Engineering & Transmission
Craig graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla with a B.S. in Engineering in 1984 and began his career with Sho-Me Power. He received a Master in Business Administration degree from Drury College in 1988. Craig also received his registration as Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering with the State of Missouri in 1991. At Sho-Me, Craig is currently overseeing the engineering design of substations and power lines and the maintenance of the transmission system.

Jeff Neas

Manager, Substations
Jeff graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1982. He began his career at Sho-Me Power in January of 1983 as the Superintendent of the Meter and Relay department. In 1987, Jeff received a Professional Engineering Certification in Electrical Engineering for the state of Missouri. Jeff was promoted to his current position in 1988 which involves managing the operations and maintenance of Sho-Me Power’s substations.

Mark Keeling

Manager, Telecommunications
Mark graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1989. He began his career with the Empire District Electric Company working in Distribution Engineering and became a registered Professional Engineer with the State of Missouri. He was promoted to Manager of Telecommunications and Relay Operations prior to moving to Sho-Me Power in 1996. Mark was elected as the Young Engineer of the Year for the Ozark Chapter of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers in 2001. In 2004 he received a M.S. in Telecommunications from Southern Methodist University. And in 2005 he earned a Six Sigma certification from Villanova University. He currently serves on the Information Management & Telecommunications member advisory committee for the Cooperative Research Network. At Sho-Me, Mark oversees the engineering and operations of telecommunications and fiber optics.

Tim Lewis

Manager, Sho-Me Technologies Marketing
Tim began his career in telecommunications while attending The College of the Ozarks. He worked in the Telecom Department as his on campus work study position and got hooked on the industry. After college, he started with Contel Telephone in Branson, MO as a “temporary substitute” in the service center. Shortly afterward, in 1987, he was promoted to a Test Acceptance Technician and worked his way to Cable Splicer and Central Office Technician. In 1995, along with two other partners, he launched a successful Audio/Video company in Indiana. Customers included Caterpillar, Delco-Remy America, Bob Dole Presidential Campaign and multiple venues at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. In 2000, Tim was back in the Telecom industry working for Cisco Systems as a System Engineer II in the Optical Networking Group. In 2002, Tim was recruited by Sho-Me Power to build a marketing department for their Telecom division, Sho-Me Technologies. Tim and his team have consistently exceeded sales and marketing goals year after year.