Dwight Van Lierop, District I, Group 2 trustee, recently earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board Leadership Certificate.
NRECA’s Director Certificate programs are designed to help electric cooperative directors—at every stage of their service— understand their roles and responsibilities, stay up to date on the key issues and trends in the industry, and prepare them to meet the challenges facing electric cooperatives now and in the future. The programs are offered in three parts, progressing from fundamental to advanced.
First, Dwight earned the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director certification. The certification requires 5 courses focusing on basic governance knowledge and the essential skills required of cooperative directors. The CCD prepares directors to fulfill their fiduciary duty as elected officials serving on behalf of their membership.
Next, Dwight finished classes required for the NRECA Board Leadership Director certification. The second part of the director education program consists of a series of courses focusing in greater depth on specific industry and governance issues. These include risk management, power supply, parliamentary procedure, technology and policy development.
Dwight is completing classes toward the Director Gold credential. This credential recognizes directors committed to continuing their education beyond the CCD and BLC, and who desire a tangible credential demonstrating their ongoing commitment to advancing their knowledge and performing their fiduciary duty to the best of their ability.
Dwight represents members residing in Calhoun County, east of the Chipola River. He has been a member of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative and a resident of Calhoun County since 1996. He has been a trustee since 2022.
Dwight holds a Bachelor of Science in finance. From 2001 to 2018, he was president of Van Lierop Insurance Services, and since 2018, he has served as vice president of Acentria Insurance.
Dwight is a member of Florida Association of Insurance Agents. He is past president of Gulf County Chamber of Commerce and Professional Insurance Agents of Florida.
He has been married to Sheree S. Van Lierop for 36 years. The couple have 3 children and one grandchild. He attends First Baptist Church of Blountstown.