EnergyUnited Leadership

THOMAS GOLDEN is the Chief Executive Officer at EnergyUnited EMC. Thomas provides the day-to-day leadership, management, and strategic implementation to achieve EnergyUnited’s vision of transitioning to a best-in-class Energy Services Cooperative. He has direct oversight and responsibility for creating and driving engagement across the organization in alignment with the strategic plan along with partnering with the rest of the senior leadership team to identify and develop growth opportunities, improve member value, enhance operations, and maintain superior safety and reliability performance.

Thomas’s experience as Program Manager of Technology Innovation at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI); Manager of Energy Market Design at the New York Independent System Operator; Senior Reactor Operator of Initial Licensing Program at Duke Energy’s Catawba Nuclear Station; and 12 years on active duty in the US Navy have all shaped Thomas into the leader he is today.

Throughout his impressive career, Thomas has helped shape company strategy and vision toward big thinking and embracing emerging energy trends. Thomas has been a speaker at numerous national conferences and Universities where he delivered a message of thought leadership and change management related to emerging technologies. He was honored as one of the fifty Smart Grid Pioneers of 2015.

Thomas continues to serve today in the Navy Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander.

Brett Alkins has been selected as the cooperative’s chief operating officer, effective August 29, 2022.

Brett Alkins joined EnergyUnited in 2015, first serving as C&I Sales Manager, then as Director of Sales and Marketing in 2016 and most recently as vice president of energy services. Prior to joining EnergyUnited, Brett served in Business Development roles for Clean Energy, Caterpillar, and Johnson Matthey.

With diverse experience across Energy, Materials and Manufacturing, Brett has led high profile teams and projects globally that have delivered sustainable growth. He is a Chemical Engineering alumnus of Clemson University and resides in the Lake Norman area of Charlotte with his wife and three sons.

Pam Britt, chief human resources officer, has been a member of EnergyUnited’s Executive Leadership Team since December, 2016. Currently, Pam leads a team of HR professionals who serve to support all EnergyUnited leaders, employees and Board of Directors in the cooperative.

Pam has over 18 years of experience in the utility space. Prior to working for EnergyUnited, Pam worked at Southern Company and Georgia Power both located in Georgia. Pam supported key C-Suite leaders within Southern Company and provided HR consultant support for their needs and strategic people issues. Pam also supported key regions in Georgia, the Georgia Power Customer Call center with over 600 employees and various Shared Services groups.

Pam holds her Master of Business Administration degree and her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management.

Steven McCachern is the Vice President Energy Delivery for EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation in Statesville NC. Steven has served in this role since June of 2021. Prior to this role Steven has served as Director of Engineering and Region Line Manager for EnergyUnited. Prior to the merger that created EnergyUnited Steven worked for Davidson EMC as Technical Services Coordinator and started in 1988 at Davidson as the System Engineer. Prior to Davidson EMC Steven attended UNC Charlotte where he received his degree in electrical engineering and worked at Duke Power as an Engineering Intern over the summers.

Steven is a registered Professional Engineer and currently resides in Mooresville and is married with two children.

Alec Natt is the Chief Financial Officer for EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation in Statesville NC. Alec has been serving as the CFO since 2000, and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team. In addition to the responsibilities of Finance and Accounting for the Cooperative, Alec is also responsible for coordinating and monitoring the power supply portfolio for the cooperative, risk management issues and government relationships. Alec also coordinates and reviews contracts on behalf of the cooperative.

From 1998-2000 Alec served as the CFO for a federal contracting company specializing in instrumentation of governmental facilities and prisons. From 1990-1998 Alec was the CFO and Controller for a bookbinding/digital imaging company. From 1982-1990, Alec worked in public accounting. Alec is a certified public accountant.

A graduate of Drexel University in Philadelphia, Alec resides in Mooresville and is married with two children.

LaQuisha Parks is the Vice President of Energy Services and Corporate Communications at EnergyUnited, the largest cooperative in North Carolina. She leads a diverse team of professionals who support customer care operations, billing, marketing, sales, economic development, and corporate communications. She oversees the development of programs and processes that will improve efficiencies, increase member satisfaction, and promote goodwill and seamless communications between the Cooperative and its members. Additionally, she is responsible for the brand strategy, ensuring the cooperative’s core value of community commitment continues through the EnergyUnited Foundation.

LaQuisha is a strategic operations executive with more than 20 years of experience in electric distribution, gas, operations, water, and retail propane. The majority of her career was spent at the nation’s largest investor-owned utility (Duke Energy) where she held leadership roles in engineering, field operations, and customer experience. The first African American female Operations Manager responsible for construction, maintenance and service delivery crews; LaQuisha later served as General Manager of Customer Operations for the largest region responsible for handling 4-9 million voice calls annually for over 3 million customers. As an executive leader, she was responsible for improving the customer experience and strengthening brand presence across six states.

LaQuisha is a recognized industry leader and is a former Regional Director for the American Association of Blacks in Energy, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. A lifelong student, she graduated from the African American Leadership Academy of Charlotte in May 2024, and serves on the Governing Board of Directors for the Academy.

LaQuisha is a proud NCA&TSU “Aggie” Engineering Alumni, where she serves on the Board of Visitors. LaQuisha also serves on the Board of Directors of the Energy Production & Infrastructure Center at UNC Charlotte, and the Economic Development Commission of Iredell County. She and her husband, Thomas, have one daughter.

Ryan Gardner enlisted in the US Army with an IT and Telecommunications occupation at age 18.

He later went on to earn an associate’s degree in Network Administration and Support from Forsyth Tech followed by a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Gardner-Webb University, and finally an MBA from Wake Forest University.

Ryan’s career has found him responsible for multiple data centers, team members, and infrastructural components. Ryan is passionate about technology and building high-performing teams. He enjoys mentoring and supporting team success and has previously taught IT classes as an adjunct instructor at Forsyth Tech.

In his personal time, Ryan volunteers as a football and basketball coach for his two sons, Jaxon and Blake.