District 5: Cussewago, Hayfield, Venango, Cambridge, and Woodcock townships and Woodcock and Saegertown Boroughs in Crawford County.

Northwestern REC holds nominating meetings in the early spring time. In August 2021, the following Cooperative member was re-elected to serve as District 5 Director. Terms last for three years. Elections take place online and electronically before the Annual Meeting.

Kathy Cooper-Winters

Kathy Cooper-Winters, Board Chair

Kathryn Cooper-Winters was first elected to Northwestern REC’s board in 1988. She previously served as board chair and board treasurer. Cooper-Winters has met the requirements for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Director Certification, including Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership Certificate and Director Gold Certificate.

Cooper-Winters is the board representative to the Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AEC). She has served as the AEC board treasurer and vice-chair, and currently serves as vice-chair for the Accounting and Finance committee. Cooper-Winters is also an At-Large Director for the National Cooperative Services Corporation (NCSC). She has been a co-op member since 1985.

Cooper-Winters was employed by Northwestern REC in communications for eight years before working as a farm consultant with Agway, Inc. In 1984, she set up her own accounting and tax business, AGVIZE, Inc., with her father, the late Jesse G. Cooper, a retired Penn State University professor. Cooper Associates offered accounting and tax services for 150 area client/farmers. She retired from AGVIZE in 2008.

Cooper-Winters is an active member of the Saegertown United Methodist Church and the PA Stitchers of Valor, the local chapter of the national Quilts of Valor organization that pieces, quilts and presents quilts to local veterans.

Cooper-Winters is married to William R. Winters, Sr. and has one son, five stepchildren, two grandsons and nine step-grandchildren.