For Immediate Release
Lakewood, CO — After 16 years of leadership, the Colorado Rural Electric Association’s Executive Director Kent Singer will retire January 2, 2026. The CREA Board of Directors began an executive search for Singer’s replacement in July and is pleased to announce that Tom Walch will be taking over the role starting January 5.
Prior to coming to CREA, Walch served as the CEO of Western Slope distribution cooperative Grand Valley Power for 14 years. He also sat on the CREA Board of Directors from 2013 to 2015 and 2022 to 2024.
CREA Board President Steve Valdez is eager have Walch on board. “Tom is a qualified and seasoned leader who brings decades of experience and myriad ideas to lead the CREA staff and advocate for Colorado’s electric cooperatives,” Valdez said. “He is an innovator in the industry, and we are excited to see the ideas he has to take the association into its next era of serving its member co-ops.”
Walch is eager to build on the momentum and reputation CREA has established over many years of work. "I have been given a special opportunity to lead a great organization with an important mission," he said. "I learned a lot from Kent Singer over the years and want to build on his legacy." Prior to serving as executive director, Singer served as the association's general counsel from 1996 to 2010. Singer is responsible for spearheading legislative wins for electric co-ops such as maintaining electric co-op exclusive service territories. He also protected the independence and autonomy of co-ops, supported good co-op governance legislation, and created a microgrid funding program for co-ops. Additionally, Singer helped pass consumer protection legislation related to solar installers and stopped legislation that would have encouraged frivolous litigation against co-ops.
Singer also started the annual Energy Innovations Summit 16 years ago. Valdez said, “Thanks to Kent’s vision and direction, the summit has grown into a robust and best-in-class conference that draws experts from across the United States who present the latest technologies that are changing the electric industry.”
A trade association that assists and champions 21 electric distribution co-ops and one generation and transmission cooperative, CREA provides services such as safety initiatives and training, communications assets and production, industry education classes, and lobbying at the state capitol. The association employs 13 people who turn these services into tangible and meaningful outcomes for their member cooperatives.
“I will do my best to help shape a bright future for Colorado electric cooperatives,” Walch shared. “This will require a sharp focus on the important principles that unite us all.”