In the fall of 2025, IEC conducted a comprehensive assessment of its job training and safety and regulatory compliance programs. This intentional and multi-layered review combined member input, staff expertise, and strategic leadership dialogue.
The assessment showed a strong member value in these two service offerings, along with opportunities for growth and value creation.
Growth and Value-Creation Opportunities
- Expand and enrich services (more hands-on, field-based learning)
- Improve process management and quality assurance tools through technology
- Showcase high-performing cooperatives and best practices
- Modernize training with updated content and instructional design
- Strengthen external partnerships while reducing duplication
Armed with the information from the assessment, IEC realigned the job training and safety and regulatory compliance service functions under different leadership. While maintaining a high degree of coordination, the realignment sets each service up for success.
Job Training and Safety
Michael Craciunoiu, vice president of safety, training, and workforce development is leading the job training and safety services. Michael has more than 20 years of experience in organizational development, leadership coaching, and learning and development facilitator. His deep experience in the learning and development area, he and the team will be able to expand and enrich service offerings with modernized and hands-on opportunities.
Chris Gearld was promoted to director of safety, training, and workforce development. In this role, he will provide strategic leadership for IEC’s safety, training, and risk mitigation programs. Gearld joined IEC in 2021 after working in safety roles at Hendricks Power Cooperative and South Central Indiana REMC. Read more.
Adam Lock was named apprenticeship training program director for the Rural Electric Apprenticeship Program (REAP). He will lead the program by integrating technical excellence, regulatory compliance, and hands-on instruction. Lock joined IEC in 2018 and is a REAP graduate himself. Read more.
Matt Fearon was named safety, training, and workforce development program manager. He will coordinate and standardize program operations across the department. Fearon brings extensive experience in emergency planning and management from his work with IEM Consulting and Marion County Emergency Management. Read more.
A highly qualified candidate has accepted an offer for the vacant safety and risk management instructor. This individual will be introduced in the coming weeks.
Regulatory Compliance
Ryan Heater, vice president of government relations and regulatory strategy, is leading the regulatory compliance service. Ryan’s legal education and professional background in the regulatory arena, will be an asset to the service. Under Ryan’s leadership, the team will improve process management and quality assurance tools while maintaining the program with an already strong reputation.
Marty Jones was promoted to director of regulatory strategy and compliance, where he will provide strategic leadership and oversight for member cooperatives’ regulatory compliance programs. Jones has been with IEC’s regulatory compliance team since 1999, bringing more than two and a half decades of dedicated service to our members. Read more. Read more.
Becky Strait was promoted to senior regulatory consultant. Strait brings nearly 25 years of electric utility safety and compliance experience to her expanded role, having joined IEC’s regulatory compliance team in 2021. Read more.
Two highly qualified individuals have accepted offers for the vacant regulatory consultant roles. They each have strong professional backgrounds that provide IEC members with diversified expertise. They will be introduced in the coming weeks. We expect to extend a third offer in the near future.
IEC continues to develop its compliance onboarding program to allow the new consultants to hit the ground running. This includes cooperative-specific orientations, compliance calendar reviews, and mentorship from the senior consultants, as well as the standardized operating procedures and guidelines we have been building as part of our broader departmental improvements. The new consultants are also being encouraged to help us improve the program and ask “why?” as they settle into their roles. This will allow us to identify ways to improve by better understanding why things are done a particular way.