Rob Hochstetler
President and Chief Executive Officer
Rob Hochstetler, a steadfast and visionary leader with more than three decades of experience in the energy industry, has served as president and CEO of Central since 2014. Over the years, Hochstetler has amassed a broad range of experience, starting as a plant engineer and evolving into a leader adept at managing complex facilities and navigating corporate strategy, safety and environmental stewardship. He also serves as an active-duty lieutenant colonel in the South Carolina State Guard.
Hochstetler joined Central after serving as Vice President of Power Production for Hoosier Energy in Indianan. Hochstetler has an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and graduate degrees in business, statistics, strategic management and public administration. Rob and his wife, Linda, have been married for more than 30 years and have six children and one grandchild.
Rob Hochstetler
President and Chief Executive Officer
Rob Hochstetler, a steadfast and visionary leader with more than three decades of experience in the energy industry, has served as president and CEO of Central since 2014. Over the years, Hochstetler has amassed a broad range of experience, starting as a plant engineer and evolving into a leader adept at managing complex facilities and navigating corporate strategy, safety and environmental stewardship. He also serves as an active-duty lieutenant colonel in the South Carolina State Guard.
Hochstetler joined Central after serving as Vice President of Power Production for Hoosier Energy in Indianan. Hochstetler has an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and graduate degrees in business, statistics, strategic management and public administration. Rob and his wife, Linda, have been married for more than 30 years and have six children and one grandchild.
Rob Hochstetler
President and Chief Executive Officer
Rob Hochstetler, a steadfast and visionary leader with more than three decades of experience in the energy industry, has served as president and CEO of Central since 2014. Over the years, Hochstetler has amassed a broad range of experience, starting as a plant engineer and evolving into a leader adept at managing complex facilities and navigating corporate strategy, safety and environmental stewardship. He also serves as an active-duty lieutenant colonel in the South Carolina State Guard.
Hochstetler joined Central after serving as Vice President of Power Production for Hoosier Energy in Indianan. Hochstetler has an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and graduate degrees in business, statistics, strategic management and public administration. Rob and his wife, Linda, have been married for more than 30 years and have six children and one grandchild.
Alex Hall
General Counsel
Alex Hall serves as the Outside General Counsel for Central and is a standing member of the Tiencken Law Firm. Hall’s areas of practice include utility, environmental, property and corporate law. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association and the Berkeley County Bar Association. In law school, Hall received the CALI award in Legal Writing. He served as the president of the Business Law Society and as the events chair for the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. Hall interned for U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Bristow Marchant and the General Counsel’s Office of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
Hall holds a Master of Business Administration from The Citadel, where he graduated with honors. He enjoys being outdoors, traveling and watching football, especially with his Boykin Spaniel, Belle Ann.
Alex Hall
General Counsel
Alex Hall serves as the Outside General Counsel for Central and is a standing member of the Tiencken Law Firm. Hall’s areas of practice include utility, environmental, property and corporate law. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association and the Berkeley County Bar Association. In law school, Hall received the CALI award in Legal Writing. He served as the president of the Business Law Society and as the events chair for the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. Hall interned for U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Bristow Marchant and the General Counsel’s Office of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
Hall holds a Master of Business Administration from The Citadel, where he graduated with honors. He enjoys being outdoors, traveling and watching football, especially with his Boykin Spaniel, Belle Ann.
Alex Hall
General Counsel
Alex Hall serves as the Outside General Counsel for Central and is a standing member of the Tiencken Law Firm. Hall’s areas of practice include utility, environmental, property and corporate law. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association and the Berkeley County Bar Association. In law school, Hall received the CALI award in Legal Writing. He served as the president of the Business Law Society and as the events chair for the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. Hall interned for U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Bristow Marchant and the General Counsel’s Office of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
Hall holds a Master of Business Administration from The Citadel, where he graduated with honors. He enjoys being outdoors, traveling and watching football, especially with his Boykin Spaniel, Belle Ann.
Ryan Thomas
Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Ryan Thomas serves as the Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer at Central. He oversees strategic planning, enterprise risk management, finance, accounting, human resources and administrative functions. Before joining Central, Thomas served as the Vice President of Strategic Facilitation Services at the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), where he directed and oversaw the strategic facilitation services team. Before that, Thomas served nearly 15 years at East Texas Electric Cooperative as the G&T’s Chief Financial Officer and then Chief Executive Officer and General Manager.
Thomas holds a Master of Science in Accounting from Texas A&M University, complemented by a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, earned with distinction as a Cum Laude graduate from the same institution. He and his wife have two children and stay actively engaged in community activities while enjoying the outdoors and traveling.
Ryan Thomas
Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Ryan Thomas serves as the Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer at Central. He oversees strategic planning, enterprise risk management, finance, accounting, human resources and administrative functions. Before joining Central, Thomas served as the Vice President of Strategic Facilitation Services at the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), where he directed and oversaw the strategic facilitation services team. Before that, Thomas served nearly 15 years at East Texas Electric Cooperative as the G&T’s Chief Financial Officer and then Chief Executive Officer and General Manager.
Thomas holds a Master of Science in Accounting from Texas A&M University, complemented by a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, earned with distinction as a Cum Laude graduate from the same institution. He and his wife have two children and stay actively engaged in community activities while enjoying the outdoors and traveling.
Ryan Thomas
Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Ryan Thomas serves as the Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer at Central. He oversees strategic planning, enterprise risk management, finance, accounting, human resources and administrative functions. Before joining Central, Thomas served as the Vice President of Strategic Facilitation Services at the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), where he directed and oversaw the strategic facilitation services team. Before that, Thomas served nearly 15 years at East Texas Electric Cooperative as the G&T’s Chief Financial Officer and then Chief Executive Officer and General Manager.
Thomas holds a Master of Science in Accounting from Texas A&M University, complemented by a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, earned with distinction as a Cum Laude graduate from the same institution. He and his wife have two children and stay actively engaged in community activities while enjoying the outdoors and traveling.
Leslie Maley
Vice President of Planning and Power Supply
Leslie Maley joined Central in March 2020 as a Senior Financial Analyst, and has quickly risen through the ranks, showcasing her expertise in power supply management and strategic planning.
Maley holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Auburn University and a Master of Accountancy from Georgia Southern University. In her role as Vice President of Power Supply, she oversees Central's power supply operations, including resource planning, contract negotiations and fuel purchasing - ensuring reliable and cost-effective power delivery to Central’s 19 member-cooperatives.
Leslie Maley
Vice President of Planning and Power Supply
Leslie Maley joined Central in March 2020 as a Senior Financial Analyst, and has quickly risen through the ranks, showcasing her expertise in power supply management and strategic planning.
Maley holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Auburn University and a Master of Accountancy from Georgia Southern University. In her role as Vice President of Power Supply, she oversees Central's power supply operations, including resource planning, contract negotiations and fuel purchasing - ensuring reliable and cost-effective power delivery to Central’s 19 member-cooperatives.
Leslie Maley
Vice President of Planning and Power Supply
Leslie Maley joined Central in March 2020 as a Senior Financial Analyst, and has quickly risen through the ranks, showcasing her expertise in power supply management and strategic planning.
Maley holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Auburn University and a Master of Accountancy from Georgia Southern University. In her role as Vice President of Power Supply, she oversees Central's power supply operations, including resource planning, contract negotiations and fuel purchasing - ensuring reliable and cost-effective power delivery to Central’s 19 member-cooperatives.
Cole Price
Executive Vice President of Member Services
Cole Price is Central's Executive Vice President of Member Services. In this role, he works directly with South Carolina’s 19 distribution cooperatives and the South Carolina Power Team to support economic development in the areas of pricing, contracts, and renewable and sustainability goals. He is also responsible for wholesale billing, contract and rate development and downstream program development.
With more than 30 years of electric utility experience, Price has held various roles at both public and private utilities in the Midwest and Southeast. Cole holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and an MBA. He has been married for more than 28 years and has two grown children.
Cole Price
Executive Vice President of Member Services
Cole Price is Central's Executive Vice President of Member Services. In this role, he works directly with South Carolina’s 19 distribution cooperatives and the South Carolina Power Team to support economic development in the areas of pricing, contracts, and renewable and sustainability goals. He is also responsible for wholesale billing, contract and rate development and downstream program development.
With more than 30 years of electric utility experience, Price has held various roles at both public and private utilities in the Midwest and Southeast. Cole holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and an MBA. He has been married for more than 28 years and has two grown children.
Cole Price
Executive Vice President of Member Services
Cole Price is Central's Executive Vice President of Member Services. In this role, he works directly with South Carolina’s 19 distribution cooperatives and the South Carolina Power Team to support economic development in the areas of pricing, contracts, and renewable and sustainability goals. He is also responsible for wholesale billing, contract and rate development and downstream program development.
With more than 30 years of electric utility experience, Price has held various roles at both public and private utilities in the Midwest and Southeast. Cole holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and an MBA. He has been married for more than 28 years and has two grown children.
Chris Ware
Vice President of Engineering and Engineering Services
Chris Ware serves as the Vice President of Engineering and Engineering Services at Central. Ware is responsible for system planning, transmission line and station design and construction, land acquisition, reliability, asset management and information and operations technologies. Prior to joining Central, Ware spent 22 years at Hoosier Energy in Indiana in various engineering and management roles. Ware also served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Signal Corps. His dedication and vast experience make him an invaluable member of Central's staff.
Ware holds an MBA as well as a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He and his wife have one child, one dog and two cats. They enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Chris Ware
Vice President of Engineering and Engineering Services
Chris Ware serves as the Vice President of Engineering and Engineering Services at Central. Ware is responsible for system planning, transmission line and station design and construction, land acquisition, reliability, asset management and information and operations technologies. Prior to joining Central, Ware spent 22 years at Hoosier Energy in Indiana in various engineering and management roles. Ware also served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Signal Corps. His dedication and vast experience make him an invaluable member of Central's staff.
Ware holds an MBA as well as a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He and his wife have one child, one dog and two cats. They enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Chris Ware
Vice President of Engineering and Engineering Services
Chris Ware serves as the Vice President of Engineering and Engineering Services at Central. Ware is responsible for system planning, transmission line and station design and construction, land acquisition, reliability, asset management and information and operations technologies. Prior to joining Central, Ware spent 22 years at Hoosier Energy in Indiana in various engineering and management roles. Ware also served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Signal Corps. His dedication and vast experience make him an invaluable member of Central's staff.
Ware holds an MBA as well as a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He and his wife have one child, one dog and two cats. They enjoy spending time with family and friends.