MIKE BJORKLUND

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER, FLORIDA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES ASSOCIATION, TALLAHASSEE

Bjorklund has led the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association since 2017. The statewide trade group is composed of 16 distribution and two generation and transmission electric cooperatives that serve rural and suburban areas in 57 Florida counties, providing essential services to about 2.7 million Floridians. FECA serves its members by keeping tabs on regulatory and legislative matters, organizing mutual aid after major storm events and operating a self-insurance fund.

EDUCATION: Troy University (BS)

NEXT BIG FOCUS: The large number of retirements across the executive and management levels of electric co-ops. Developing ways to leverage FECA's staff experience, while working in tandem with others across the electric co-op network to share the knowledge accumulated over the years, will help elevate the next generation of leaders and is a priority.

NEXT GEN ADVICE: Although young people have an endless amount of knowledge at their fingertips, that doesn't automatically translate into wisdom, which requires real-life experiences. For instance, knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, and wisdom is knowing not to include it in a fruit salad.

IN MY DOWNTIME: I enjoy movies with a happy ending. There's a great deal of drama and uncertainty in the world, and it is relaxing to sit down, watch characters tackle challenges, and everything works out for the best on the silver screen, usually in less than two hours.