Carl Benner

Carl L. Benner joined the TMPA Board in 2010. He has served on the Board of Directors of Bryan Texas Utilities since 2008, and currently serves as Chairman of that body. He has lived in the Bryan area since entering Texas A&M University in 1983. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.

Mr. Benner serves as a Senior Research Engineer in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M. In this capacity, he conducts research to develop new intelligent monitoring systems to diagnose the health of electric power distribution systems, thereby enabling utility companies to proactively correct developing failures, before they cause outages and system damage. Mr. Benner is a frequent speaker at technical conferences and holds multiple patents in the area of advanced power-system monitoring and diagnostics.

Mr. Benner and his wife, Cynthia, have two school-age sons and are active members of the First Baptist Church of Bryan.

Bill Cheek

Mr. Cheek became a member of the TMPA Board of Directors in 2010 representing Denton. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Denton Public Utilities Board and has been active in that group since 2001. As Vice President/General Manager and formerly an owner of Jagoe-Public Company, he has extensive experience with energy and utility management and purchasing. Mr. Cheek sold his share of Jagoe-Public Company in 2008, stayed on as General Manager and continues to enjoy success in business, real estate and other investments.

His career began attending the University of North Texas , majoring in the field of finance. He has been a member of the Salvation Army Board, Denton Public School Foundation, First State Bank Board of Advisors, and has served as a Special Commissioner for the Denton County Probate Court. His interests include time with family, fishing, boating and golf.

Chris Watts

Mr. Watts is the Board President. He joined the TMPA Board of Directors in September 2009 and has been a member of Denton's City Council since 2007. Mr. Watts is a real estate attorney. He graduated from Denton high school before going on to the University of North Texas and obtaining a bachelor's degree in computer science and a master's degree in education counseling and student services. In 1990 Mr. Watts switched his career path from computer programmer and analyst to real estate broker and investor. He later attended Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2000, and pursued a career in real estate law. His combined interest in education and student services with real estate has given him the background to coach students for the American Bar Association Student Division Negotiation Competition for the past several years.

Tom Jefferies

Mr. Jefferies has served as a board member from 1987 to 1991 and again from 2006 to 2011. He has been Secretary and acted as Vice President twice and President twice. Tom also served as a Garland City Council member from 1985 until 1989.

He received his accounting degree from Kent State, and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1969. He grew up in Brownsville, Tennessee, and is currently a residential real estate investor.

James B. Ratliff

Mr. Ratliff is the Board Secretary. He has been active in city and state politics since 1983. He served on Garland City Council from 1983 to 1987 and again from 1989 to 1991. In 1994 he was elected Mayor of Garland and served two terms until 1998. During this time, he was instrumental in TMPA’s switch to Powder River Basin coal. Jamie started on the TMPA board in 2004 and served as Secretary in 2007.

He also serves on the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification board and owns an appraisal business. Jamie graduated from East Texas State and North Texas State.

Sue Ann Harting

Ms. Harting's history with TMPA began in 1995-1996 during TMPA's lignite to PRB coal conversion. She returned in 1998 and served until 2002. Sue was appointed again in July, 2004 and in 2011 was elected President of the TMPA Board. The former mayor of Greenville, has had both a successful political career, as well as success as a business executive. In the '80's, she was President and General Manager for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Greenville. Ms. Harting began at the company as the office manager, then served as Vice President and General Manager before working her way to the presidency. She was the first president in company history to attain the title by appointment.

In 1969 Ms. Harting received her Bachelor’s degree at Arizona State University in the fields of Psychology and English. Her awards include TPPA’s 2008 Public Service Award, Worthy Citizen of Greenville in 1986, a 2004 National Medallion from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the 1999 Jack Miller Public Service Award from the Texas Public Power Association, and the 1997 Non-Rotarian of the Year award from the Greenville Rotary Club. In June 2009 Texas Public Power announced Sue Ann Harting would receive the 2009 Jack Miller Public Service Award.

Dave Dreiling

David L Dreiling joined the TMPA Board in 2013. He has served on the Greenville Electric Utility System (GEUS) Board of Trustees since May 2009, serving as Chairman since 2011.

From 1963 to 1986, Mr. Dreiling served in the U.S. Navy, rising from the enlisted ranks to Lieutenant Commander, serving 14 years as a Commissioned Officer. He earned designation as a Naval Flight Officer, Electronic Warfare Mission Commander for the EA-3B and EP-3E aircraft, as Reconnaissance Mission Commander for the P-3 aircraft, and accumulated over 5,000 operational flight hours, including over 100 hours combat mission in Viet Nam. During this timeframe he earned a BSEE From Purdue University, a MS Electronic Warfare Systems Technology from Naval Postgraduate School, and a MS Management from Salve Regina University.

From 1986-2006, Mr. Dreiling worked for the defense contractors E-System, Raytheon, and L-3 Communications, working as a System Engineer, Marketing Manager, Program Manager, and finally as Director of Business Operation.

Mr. Dreiling and his wife, Toni, have three grown children, four grandchildren, and are active members of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenville.