How We Chose Our Next CEO
by Brian Woods, President Board of Directors
Choosing an organizational leader is one of the most challenging and consequential responsibilities a board can undertake. For a member-owned cooperative, this responsibility is even more profound. As directors, we are entrusted by you—our nearly 17,000 members—to select a leader of integrity and vision, someone who will always do what is right for all members and uphold the cooperative principles that make Grand Valley Power unique.
We know that the next CEO’s guidance will influence, for years to come, our service reliability, financial stability, safety culture, and the long-term direction of Grand Valley Power. With this in mind, the Board approached the search process with diligence, care, and an unwavering commitment to the communities we serve.
What We Looked For in a Future Leader
Very early in the process, we established the qualities that would define the right leader for Grand Valley Power’s next chapter. We prioritized:
- A strong, proven leader with the confidence and ability to guide people, develop teams, and make principled decisions.
- A commitment to community and hometown service, grounded in the understanding that a cooperative exists to serve its members—not shareholders.
- Deep knowledge of the electric industry and power supply, especially as we navigate new markets, transmission constraints, distributed generation, and resource adequacy.
- The ability to anticipate and navigate today’s challenges, including rate pressures, wildfire mitigation needs, regulatory shifts, technology adoption, cybersecurity, and rising member expectations.
- A steadfast focus on safety and reliability, which remain foundational values at Grand Valley Power.
Our task was made even more challenging by the strength of internal leaders who applied—individuals who have helped shape GVP’s strong performance and culture. It was our duty to evaluate every candidate, internal or external, with the same rigor, fairness, and unbiased perspective.
Because the future of the cooperative depends on getting this decision right, the Board sought not just a capable leader, but the right leader at the right time.
A Nationwide Search, Built on Integrity and Professionalism
To ensure a thorough and competitive process, we conducted a search that stretched across the country. We partnered with a respected national executive search firm that specializes in electric cooperative leadership, allowing us to reach candidates from across the utility industry with broad and diverse experience.
Over multiple months, the process emphasized professionalism, fairness, confidentiality, and objective evaluation. Candidates came from both near and far, with backgrounds in utility operations, engineering, energy markets, and executive management. Each was evaluated carefully through structured interviews, leadership assessments, and in-depth reviews of their qualifications and values.
In the end, one candidate stood out clearly—and meaningfully.
The Board’s Choice: A Leader with Western Slope Roots
The Board is pleased to announce Chrystal Dean as Grand Valley Power’s next Chief Executive Officer.
Chrystal grew up in Montrose and graduated from the University of Wyoming. She brings nearly two decades of leadership experience in the electric utility sector, including her recent role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), the federal agency responsible for marketing and delivering wholesale hydropower from 57 hydroelectric dams across the West.
Her career reflects deep experience in:
- Safety leadership, operational reliability, and engineering oversight
- Energy markets, transmission planning, and hydropower resource management
- Cross-agency collaboration and national-level utility governance
- Strategic planning, risk management, and workforce development
In Chrystal, the Board saw a leader who combines national-level expertise with a personal understanding of our rural Colorado values. She is a strong communicator, an experienced mentor, and someone who leads with humility, decisiveness, and respect for the cooperative difference.
These qualities—along with her commitment to community and her understanding of the importance of delivering safe, reliable, at-cost electricity—brought her to the top.
A Leadership Transition Grounded in Stability and Cooperative Principles
Chrystal will provide vision firmly anchored in cooperative values and a leadership style that reflects the integrity and member-focused service that Grand Valley Power stands for.
She will expand upon the strong foundation laid by our retiring CEO, Tom Walch, whose leadership over the past 14 years has positioned GVP for success. Tom built a resilient safety culture, strengthened our financial position, supported our transition to a new power supplier, and developed a leadership team dedicated to excellence. His service has left an enduring impact on our cooperative, and we are deeply grateful.
Tom’s last day on the job, January 2, will be Chrystal’s first. As a testament to her dedication and preparedness, she has already attended our November Board meeting, ensuring we are able to shepherd a smooth, seamless handoff.
Looking Ahead
As your Board, we are proud of the diligence and care that guided this search. At every turn, we asked ourselves what would best serve you—the members. We held true to our cooperative values, evaluated every candidate fairly, and sought the leader most capable of guiding Grand Valley Power into a dynamic future.
It is this cooperative difference—the commitment to doing what is right, not what is easy—that we saw reflected in Chrystal.
We look forward to introducing her to you in the months ahead and to building the next chapter of Grand Valley Power’s future together.