PICKENS — The Blue Ridge Electric Co-op announced last week that President and CEO Jim Lovinggood is set to retire at the end of 2026 after more than four decades of distinguished service, but a familiar, local face is set to succeed the respected CEO.

The Blue Ridge Board of Trustees unanimously named Zachary Hinton as Lovinggood’s successor — only the fourth in the cooperative’s history, a testament to the organization’s long-standing stability. Hinton will step into his new role in January 2027.

“This is the right time for my family and me to enter into this next phase of life, and it’s hard to put into words just how thankful I am to have had the opportunity to work with so many great people,” Lovinggood said. “I will have more

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