Elmore County resident Justin Barrett has been appointed to the Board of Trustees for Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (CAEC) to fill the unexpired term for District 3, a position formerly held by Patsy Holmes for 30 years.

Barrett will attend the first Board meeting of his term on Feb. 28, 2023, and will serve until the election at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Members, at which time the membership will vote for trustees in Districts 3, 7 and 8.

Barrett currently serves as the Development Service Director for the City of Wetumpka as well as a managing member and partner of Bar Neal Farms, LLC. He is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Biosystems Engineering. During his career, he has served on numerous committees and held leadership roles for organizations such as the Alabama Cattleman’s Association, Agricultural Leaders of Alabama, Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood Leadership Academy, Elmore County Young Farmers (Chairman) and on the Advisory Council of Auburn University Biosystems Engineering. Currently, he serves as the Treasurer of the Elmore County Cattleman’s Association as well as part of the Executive Committee for the Alabama Public Works Association.

“We are happy to welcome Justin to the board,” said Van Smith, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and a deep concern for his community, and we look forward to his insight on how we can make our cooperative even better for all members.”

Smith stated that the selection process by the trustees began with a board committee who reviewed a list of all the members in District 3 (the southern portion of Elmore County). Letters of invitation were mailed to more than a dozen individuals to determine their interest in serving on the board, and from those members who responded, interviews by the full board were conducted.

Barrett and his wife Jordan have three children, Brantley, 10, Nealy, 8, and Hardy, 3. They are members of the Ridge Church in Wetumpka.  When not working for the City of Wetumpka, he spends most of his time working alongside his father on their farm, raising beef cattle.  “This is a great opportunity to serve my community,” said Barrett. “Serving with fellow community leaders on this Board of Trustees to lead development and opportunities for our members and citizens, as well as learning about and taking on the challenges of the utility industry, are challenges I’m ready to take on.”