The Okefenoke REMC Board of Directors is pleased to announce the promotion of Darren Crews to Assistant General Manager. He will assume the role of General Manager when John Middleton retires in early 2027, concluding a distinguished 39‑year tenure.

Crews brings 20 years of service to OREMC, most recently serving as Manager of Engineering, where he was responsible for developing the co‑op’s overall work plan and system improvements. His work has centered on strengthening system reliability and supporting the co‑op’s continued growth. Under his leadership, OREMC has integrated a large customer‑choice load, constructed five new substations, rebuilt six others, and implemented the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system—modernizing how the co‑op monitors and analyzes real‑time performance across its distribution network.

Prior to his engineering leadership role, Crews served as Manager of Member Services and Manager of Corporate Support Services, where he focused on member‑service initiatives and helped establish OREMC’s Cooperative Solar Program. He also spent time at Georgia Transmission Corporation as a Transmission Service Engineer for the southeast region, gaining valuable experience working with other electric cooperatives and expanding his knowledge of the ITS transmission system.

“Darren is a long‑time OREMC employee with broad experience in our industry, including work with other cooperatives that has helped prepare him for this opportunity,” said OREMC General Manager John Middleton. “He is focused, detail‑oriented, and committed to getting things done. These qualities will serve him well as he works alongside me over the next several months to ensure a seamless transition into the general manager position. I’m excited to ‘pass the torch’ and leave OREMC in very capable hands next year.”

OREMC Board President Wayne Combs echoed Middleton’s comments, stating, “Darren’s overall experience, the variety of positions he has held, and the projects he has worked on over the years make him exceptionally well prepared to step into the role of general manager. He will lead the co‑op in continuing to pursue our strategic goals of providing reliable service at an affordable price, being a trusted energy partner, and remaining an employer of choice. John Middleton has been a tremendous asset to OREMC, and while we hate to lose him, we fully support him as he transitions into retirement.”

Crews grew up in Brantley County, Georgia, and earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology from Georgia Southern University. He holds numerous professional certifications, including NRECA’s Certified Key Account Executive, the prestigious NRECA Robert I. Kabat Management Internship Program, and GE Six Sigma Green Belt certification.