About Us

The Southwest Area Instructor’s Association (SAIA) was formed on February 1-2, 1978 in Floydada, Texas. A group of ten safety professionals representing Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico and Kansas came together to established this new association. One of the first matters of business was to create a purpose for the group. The following statement was adopted as the purpose and is still in effect today.

“To better enable the participants to perform their duties in safety and training by the exchange of information, programs, publications, experiences, and/or any other useful materials. To provide knowledge, training and leadership necessary to enable the participants to perform, with a positive attitude and dedication, all assigned duties and responsibilities in an effective manner.”

In the early 90s, several safety professional members of the Mason Dixon Group began attending the SAIA meetings. In 1996 it was decided to merge the two groups together and maintain the SAIA name. Since that time, the group has grown to more than 150 members representing 20 states.

Board

Chairman
Jacob Overhultz
Dixie Electric Membership Corporation (DEMCO)

Vice Chairman
Peggy Dantzler
The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina

Secretary
Cace Lawless
Farmers Electric Cooperative

Former Board Officers (2016-2024)

YearSAIA ChairmanVice ChairmanSecretary
2016Greg McKoy
Georgia Electric Membership Corporation
Darren Maddox
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative
Rusty Wannamaker
The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina
2017Darren Maddox
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative
Rusty Wannamaker
The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina
Wes Lee
Southern Pine Electric
2018Rusty Wannamaker
The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina
Wes Lee
Southern Pine Electric
Robert Thornton
Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives
2019Wes Lee
Southern Pine Electric
Robert Thornton
Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives
Greg Hambrick
Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives
2020Robert Thornton
Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives
Greg Hambrick
Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives
Jacob Overhultz
Dixie Electric Membership Corporation (DEMCO)
2021Robert Thornton
Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives
Greg Hambrick
Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives
Jacob Overhultz
Dixie Electric Membership Corporation (DEMCO)
2022Robert Thornton
Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives
Greg Hambrick
Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives
Jacob Overhultz
Dixie Electric Membership Corporation (DEMCO)
2023Greg Hambrick
Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives
Jacob Overhultz
Dixie Electric Membership Corporation (DEMCO)
Peggy Dantzler
The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina
2024Jacob Overhultz
Dixie Electric Membership Corporation (DEMCO)
Peggy Dantzler
Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina
Cace Lawless
Farmers Electric Cooperative

Former Chairmen (1978-2018)

1978 Jesse Watson 
1979 Walter Bright
1980 Ray Pantel
1981 Ernest Friedemann
1982 Gill Stills
1983 Ross Rhodes
1984 Johnny Waters
1985 Donald Farmer
1986 David Martin
1987 Richard Ramsey
1988 Jean Phillips
1989 Larry Baker
1990 Ron Jones
1991 Dan O’dell
1992 Steve Bounds
1993 Ken Guffey
1994 Larry Detwiler
1995 Cecil Drake
1996 Guy Thompson
1997 Buck Theriot
1998 Joe Johnson
1999 Stan Rucker
2000 Danny Hayes
2001 Jerry Franklin
2002 Cameron Sheppard
2003 Norman McDugle
2004 Terry Williams
2005 Jim Wright
2006 Mike Bergeaux
2007 Clarence Greene, KY
2008 Doyle Totty, TN
2009 Ron Cronan, TN
2010 Michael Weltzheimer, MS
2011 Glenn Cunningham, GA
2012 Wade Hurst, OK
2013 Jason Saunders, AL
2014 David White, KY
2015 Aarron Graham, LA
2016 Greg McKoy, GA
2017 Darren Maddox, LA
2018 Rusty Wannamaker, SC