WRECA Announces Sheri D. Nelson as New Executive Director
Olympia, WA — The Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association (WRECA) announces the appointment of Sheri D. Nelson as its new Executive Director, effective November 3, 2025.
Nelson brings more than two decades of experience in business, public relations and government affairs spanning public, private and nonprofit sectors. She most recently served as President of Nelson Public Affairs, where she advised organizations on policy strategy and stakeholder engagement. From 2018 to 2022, she served in the Office of the Washington Secretary of State as both Assistant and Deputy Secretary of State. Her background also includes service as Western Region Senior Director for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and Director of Government Affairs for the Association of Washington Business.
Nelson began her career representing Sierra Pacific Industries, where she spent more than a decade working on issues related to cogeneration, habitat conservation, water and air quality, budgets and forest management. Throughout her career, she has cultivated deep relationships with local, state, regional and federal decision-makers and earned a reputation for thoughtful, effective advocacy on behalf of rural communities and industries.
Raised in rural northeastern Kansas, Nelson attributes her passion for serving rural communities to her early experiences working in the wheat fields alongside friends and neighbors.
"The dedication, struggle and sense of community I learned growing up continues to drive me today," Nelson said. "Leading WRECA is both a professional and personal calling to advance the interests of the people who live, work and play in rural Washington."
WRECA Board President Chelsea Martin said Nelson’s broad policy background and leadership experience make her the ideal choice to guide the statewide association.
“Sheri's deep understanding of both government and industry, paired with her passion for rural advocacy, will strengthen WRECA's voice in Olympia and beyond," Martin said. "We are excited to welcome her as we continue to champion the reliability, affordability and local control that define Washington’s consumer-owned electric utilities."
About WRECA
WRECA represents 11 small mutual electric companies and rural electric cooperatives serving more than 270,000 customers at approximately 149,000 locations, nearly one-quarter of Washington state’s land area. WRECA's mission is to proactively influence the regulatory environment in the best interests of Washington's consumer-owned electric utilities and the rural communities they power.
WRECA's members operate under cooperative and mutual business models that prioritize service over profit. Their locally elected boards ensure that customers maintain democratic control over rates, policies and long-term planning, sustaining the reliable, affordable electricity that supports two-thirds of Washington's farmland and countless rural enterprises.
Media Contact:
Chelsea Martin
President, WRECA Board of Directors
CMartin@ModernElectricWater.com
(509) 755-9007
WRECA.coop