Meet Jason, the 13th person to lead the Co-op in its 89-year history.
On July 1, following Mark Johnson’s retirement, Jason Williams officially stepped into his new role as CEO and General Manager of Flathead Electric Cooperative. Jason is the 13th person to lead the Co-op in its nearly 89-year history.
Jason is no stranger to the Co-op. He has served Flathead Electric members since 2004, holding several key roles over the years, including System Planning Engineer, Director of Engineering, and most recently Assistant General Manager/Chief Operating Officer.
The Flathead Electric Board of Trustees selected Jason for his deep experience, strong institutional knowledge, and steady leadership. Looking ahead, Jason is well positioned to help guide the Co-op into its next chapter.
Here’s a chance to get to know him a little better.
Q: Where did you grow up?
Jason: I was born in Havre but spent most of my early years in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. I graduated high school from a small town in southwestern North Dakota called Scranton.
Q: How did you join Flathead Electric, and what did you do before becoming CEO/GM?
Jason: I was working for Rocky Mountain Contractors traveling to Helena a lot with a young family at home. My wife and I were actually thinking about moving to Helena to reduce some of my travel when Flathead Electric posted a System Planning Engineer position. Even though I enjoyed working for Rocky Mountain, the position seemed perfect for me and I applied. 22 years later, here we are.
Q: What’s the most “dad” thing you do?
Jason: Giving unsolicited anecdotal advice to my kids, knowing they think they are already smarter in life than I am. When I was young, I used to think I was smarter than my dad, but I never was.
Q: What is your go-to fun fact that may or may not impress people?
Jason: I heli-skied on a glacier in Canada.
Q: Griz or Cats, or neutral?
Jason: I graduated from MSU. My dad graduated from MSU. My brother graduated from MSU. My wife graduated from MSU. And my son is currently a student at MSU. We are die-hard Cat fans and alumni of the current national champion football team.
Q: What’s your favorite meal in Flathead Electric’s service territory?
Jason: Wow, I don’t know how you can just pick one, but the first one that comes to mind is the Mongolian grill. I can make my plate exactly how I want it – pick the meats, the sauces and noodles, and make it with just the right amount of spice for me.
Q: If you were showing an out-of-state friend around Northwest Montana, where would you take them first?
Jason: Probably depends on the season. Spring is so unpredictable in Montana, I would suggest they pick a different season to visit. Summer: Hungry Horse Reservoir. I love boating up there, and my kids grew up on that lake. Fall: Hiking in Glacier is incredible. Winter: Skiing on Big Mountain.
Q: What’s something at the top of your bucket list?
Jason: Playing golf in Scotland. Even though I am not very good at it, I love golf and the challenge it provides. To go experience the home of golf would be incredible.
Q: What are your top priorities for the Co-op in your first year as CEO/GM?
Jason: I have often said that the number one thing that keeps me up at night is the safety of our employees with wildfire mitigation being a close second. We will continue to build on our culture of safety and look for ways to continue to make it better. We just finished updating our Wildfire Mitigation Plan and have implemented new programs to minimize our exposure to causing a wildfire.
Q: How can the Co-op continue to be a trusted community partner beyond providing electricity?
Jason: We have an incredible group of employees that are part of our communities and strive to make sure our communities are better through the Co-op. We will continue our outreach campaigns to keep our members informed. We will continue to offer programs to help our members save, and we will continue to be industry experts so our members know where to turn to when they need help
