Southwest Electric Cooperative announces Jason Carver, P.E., as CEO

Last Updated 9/18/2026

On Monday, September 14, the Board of Directors of Southwest Electric Cooperative (SWEC) named Jason Carver, P.E., as the next Chief Executive Officer.

Following the resignation of former CEO James Ashworth earlier this year, the SWEC Board of Directors appointed Ted Zeugin as Interim CEO and immediately began the process of selecting the next CEO. Ashworth took the role of CEO at one of SWEC’s power suppliers, Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative.

“While James continues to serve our members in a different role, his leadership over the past two decades leaves a very strong legacy that will have a lasting impact on Southwest and the communities we serve,” said Board President Daniel Mauss. “The board also thanks Ted for providing stable leadership as Interim CEO during the selection process.”

Due to the strength and depth of leadership within SWEC, the Board of Directors conducted an internal review and selection process. With 32 years of experience at SWEC, Jason brings a strong understanding of the cooperative’s internal operations and culture, as well as the unique needs of the rural communities it serves. In his role as Manager of Engineering, Jason oversaw long-range system planning, major system improvement and construction projects, and implementation of new technology — all focused on maintaining reliable service and ensuring SWEC’s system has the capacity to meet future growth demands.

Jason holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri S&T in Rolla and is a licensed Professional Engineer

“Our focus remains unchanged — serving our members with reliable, affordable, and safe electricity while remaining connected to our rural communities as the local, not-for-profit electric cooperative,” Mauss said.

“I’m excited to build on the strong foundation that has been built over the past 87 years. The Board of Directors, leadership, and employees of Southwest are second to none. While we have many challenges ahead, our mission of serving our members and rural communities with reliable, affordable, and safe electric service remains the same,” Carver said. “I’m honored to have been chosen to lead Southwest into the future.”

“The board is confident in Jason’s leadership, the dedication of our employees, and the strength of our cooperative,” said Mauss. “With the continued trust and support of our members, Southwest is well-positioned to continue delivering reliable, affordable, and safe service to our members.”

About SWEC

Southwest Electric Cooperative is a community-focused organization led by our members.

Founded in 1939 by local people who understood the needs of our rural communities. Today, SWEC distributes reliable, affordable, and safe energy to parts of eleven counties in southwest Missouri, totaling more than 45,000 services. SWEC continues to be led by our members' needs as we belong to the communities we serve. A nine-member board of directors, elected by the members, serves as the foundation of local control.