Chuck Pinson is grateful that his father, Charles, guided his future career from the time Chuck was a small boy. Pinson recalls, "Dad pushed me toward being an engineer the whole way. He worked as a surveyor for E.G. Minton, a professional engineer, and saw that engineering was a good career."

After he graduated from Artesia High School in 1980, Chuck headed to New Mexico State University. His mother, LaRue, remembers pre-enrollment day in Las Cruces when she told her son, "Now is the time to say if it’s not what you want to do. ‘Nope, I want to be an engineer,’ he answered."

This past September, with quiet confidence and competence, Chuck Pinson answered the call of the Central Valley Electric board of trustees to take charge of the company. At age 39, Pinson became the youngest general manager in the history of the local cooperative.

Pinson looks back to Dec. 1985, when he graduated from New Mexico State University on a Friday and was at work on the next Monday driving a dump truck in Artesia.

Although he had earned his civil engineering degree, demand for engineers was at a low. After interviewing with Texas Utilities in Austin and several other companies, he headed home to Artesia to work while continuing to look for work in his field.

Pinson recollects that while he was working for John Joiner on the Good Samaritan project in early 1986, he met Mel Fryer and Frank Devine, both employees of CVE. When he inquired of them about openings at the co-op, "they directed me to see Howard Price — and that’s exactly what I did."

No engineering positions were available; however, Price needed a surveyor and hired Pinson on the spot. Pinson found himself running transit for power lines, dealing with right–of–ways and visiting with new customers regarding how they would receive service.

"Howard was chief engineer, then Mel Fryer, Shirley Millican and I were also in the department," Pinson remembers. When Price moved to the general manager’s position in 1993, Pinson took over as head of engineering, still working for Price up until the time Price passed away last year.

"Howard was the only boss I ever had," relates Pinson. "I worked under him my entire career and it was really a good thing — the bad thing was that he knew more about engineering than I did, so I had better be prepared for a presentation or he would blow holes in it.

"Howard taught me everything. As general manager, I wish I could have some of his knowledge."

Pinson is very knowledgeable and learning every day that the responsibilities of general manager are numerous and varied. One concern is deregulation. He says, "We are waiting — and watching the legislature and the PRC."

He cautions Artesians to also watch and be attentive during the deregulation process. He reminds that deregulation in California broke two companies, PG&E and Southern.

And he explains, "In January 2002, parts of Texas go to deregulation and if it fails, we (New Mexico) had better take a long, hard look. Deregulation goes into effect in New Mexico in 2007."

Pinson credits two former CVE general managers for the company’s stable relationship to receive power. "Our long–term arrangement until 2015 with Southwest Public Service is due to the efforts of Don Heathington and Howard Price. It is in place and is wonderful."

Discussions on deregulation and other topics of mutual interest to New Mexico electric
co-ops take place at monthly managers’ meetings in Santa Fe. Managers and board members also attend regional meetings and the annual national meeting of the Rural Electrical Cooperative Association.

When he gets time away from work, Pinson spends time with his wife, Leslie, and
children Braxton, age 14, and Shawni, age 9. He also enjoys hunting, fishing and playing golf. His mom jokingly says his highest marks in college were in golf.

Recently, he took a crack at bow hunting for the first time, bagging an elk while on an outing near Weed with his dad.

Asked how things are going after 90 days on the job as general manager, Pinson responds, "Things are going real well — I stress teamwork and unity — and no attitudes. People should look forward to coming to work."

And according to folks around CVE, Pinson is doing very well. Comments range from "he’s intelligent and has the engineering background for the job" to "we have confidence in him" to "he is just great!"

The feeling from Pinson is mutual. "…Our employees, in my eyes, are the best and the strength of this co-op. In 1998, the performance during the ice storm says something about a company. I want to give them their due — they are the best bunch of people!"

Pinson also praises the board of trustees. "They do a tremendous job in choosing the direction of our company. We have the best board in the state of New Mexico." Serving on that board are Darrell Atkins, Jack Case, Marion Cauhape, Brad Houston, Wesley Pilley, Brenda Ratliff and Chuck Wagner.

Pinson sums up his business philosophy at CVE, "Our whole purpose for existence is to try to do a good job for our customers. We are hands-on. When they call, they get a warm body and not a recording.

"Our members know we are really there, they trust that in the middle of a storm, we will work to restore their power."

In the end, it is a matter of trust. Members trust their co-op to provide excellent service, employees trust their manager to be competent and fair, and the manager trusts his board to provide sound advice and direction.