Faulconer Elected Chairman of Agribusiness Council
Jan. 29, 2010
Matthew A. Faulconer, REC's director of government and community relations, has been elected Chairman of the Virginia Agribusiness Council. Faulconer was installed at the council’s meeting on Jan. 13. He succeeds Jim Saunders of Saunders Brothers, Inc., Piney River, Virginia, who will continue to serve on the Executive Committee.
The Virginia Agribusiness Council is a non-profit member organization committed to representing the agriculture and forest industries in the Commonwealth through effective government relations and industry promotion efforts. As director of government and community relations for REC, Faulconer is responsible for monitoring federal and state laws and regulations governing the utility industry and for coordinating REC’s relations with state regulators and local governments. This background, combined with over six years of service with the Virginia Agribusiness Council, led to his election as Chairman of the Council.
“REC’s involvement with the Agribusiness Council has been mutually beneficial. The Council is one of the most respected and effective lobbying organizations in the state. Because electricity is so important to processing agricultural and forestry products, the Council is very supportive of the co-ops, as well as the legislative and regulatory issues that affect the cost and reliability of electricity. From an economic point of view, agriculture is still Virginia’s leading employer and largest sector of the state’s economy, so supporting agribusiness benefits everyone,” stated Faulconer.
In 2009 Faulconer was named vice chairman of the council; he also served on the council’s executive committee and as chairman of its external relations committee. The external relations committee coordinates all of the council’s government relations activities, including national and state policy positions and efforts to promote Virginia agribusiness. During the General Assembly, Faulconer provided weekly guidance to the council’s professional staff on legislative issues and on lobbying strategies.
Faulconer has been with REC since 1986. He is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington with a degree in Political Science. He currently resides in Spotsylvania County. REC is a member-owned cooperative providing service to more than 103,000 homes and businesses in portions of 16 Virginia counties. Browse this Web site for more information about the Cooperative.