He worked at Phelps Dodge (now Freeport McMoRan) and worked at the Denver International Airport. After the Marine Corps, Phil graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western International University. He lived in Safford through the seventh grade and moved to Pima, where he graduated. Phil’s background in technology started when he entered the Marine Corps right out of high school. Phil is absolutely the right person for the job.” “Phil has the necessary skill sets and experience to lead the co-ops into a new era of renewable energy and technology. “After a fairly thorough talent search and interview process, Phil was selected to lead the cooperatives upon my retirement,” says Kirk Gray, retiring CEO and general manager. “As the business environment changes, technology will be critical to the utility industry, and we need to adapt.” Items of focus will be finding ways to be more efficient, improving communication, reducing outages and planning for the future. “My strength is technology and predictive maintenance,” he says. Phil believes each manager is selected in a time when the business has a need. “We need to keep rates manageable, through timely system upgrades, implementing technology and looking for efficiencies.” With Arizona energy rules changing, regulated utilities will have to focus on new renewable-energy mandates.
“It will have its challenges as the industry is changing,” he says. Raised in the Gila Valley, Phil comes back home after working for the Central Arizona Project for 24 years. “It’s a great opportunity to lead a cooperative such as Graham County Electric and Utilities that supplies essential services to our community,” Phil says. Phil was hired last February as the assistant general manager. Beginning in January 2021, Phil Cook takes over as CEO and general manager of Graham County Electric Coop and Graham County Utilities.
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