Company News

CSA is now an IQGeo Certified Implementation Partner
Central Service Association has partnered with IQGeo to provide even more robust capabilities for sharing map related information with everyone at a utility. IQGeo software now powers CSA’s UtiliGo mobile solution. UtiliGo does more than simply locate network assets in the traditional way. UtiliGo’s single, easy-to-use interface lets you update data in the field and then post it to your GIS of record. UtiliGo gets its data from UtiliTrak as well as other mapping systems. UtiliGo is easily customizable which enables utilities to manage in a paperless environment processes and projects like LED light replacement, pole and meter inspections, damage assessment and ROW maintenance.
UtiliGo is part of a complete suite of GIS related products for electric, gas, water and fiber networks. To learn more, contact Charles Huddleston, CSA’s Senior VP of Engineering, at
Farmer Appointed Chief Financial Officer
Central Service Association is proud to announce the appointment of Charles “Chase” Farmer as its Chief Financial Officer, effective March 3, 2025. Chase brings more than 16 years of finance and accounting experience, most recently serving as a senior manager with Nail McKinney, P.A., Tupelo, MS.
“I am delighted to welcome Chase to our leadership team” said Scott Blassingame, CSA Chief Executive Officer. “His passion, skill and integrity align perfectly with CSA’s core values. I look forward to working with Chase to further CSA’s commitment to provide our member utilities with best-in-class solutions and service.”
Chase will be responsible for managing CSA’s financial operations, ensuring the association’s financial health and sustainability. He will oversee all financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and compliance requirements. Chase will work closely with CEO Scott Blassingame and the Board of Directors to develop and implement financial strategies that support the association’s mission and goals.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve this incredible organization,” said Farmer. “I can’t wait to get up to speed and be a part of continuing to guide this group forward into a bright future.”
Chase is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Public Accountants. He and his family have lived in Tupelo since 2008 and attend Harrisburg Baptist Church. Chase enjoys reading, playing guitar, singing and playing as much golf as possible.

Chumney Named Director of Programs and Administration
We are pleased to announce an important transition in CSA’s leadership team.
Janet Chumney will fulfill the newly established role of Director of Programs & Administration.
This new position will focus on CSA’s PlanBright Employee Benefit Programs, contract administration, and an array of other duties. Janet’s added focus on these areas will be of great benefit to CSA. Prior to this position, Janet served in a variety of roles including CFO.
In concert with this change, a new CFO will be joining CSA the week of March 3rd, 2025.

CSA Holds First Ever Orbit One Users Conference in Franklin, TN
CSA held its first ever Orbit One Users Conference February 12-13, 2025, at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin, TN. Plans for the event were set in motion last year after Orbit One users submitted an overwhelming number of requests for info sessions centered around customer engagement and payment.
“This year’s session topics were chosen carefully to try to maximize the value of the conference, and we’ve heard great feedback to this point,” said CSA Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Al Williams. “We were very happy to see a high level of interest in the conference as well as active participation by the attendees.
This year’s event sold out quickly with 65 registered member attendees and eight informative sessions. Attendees also participated in live question and answer forums and enjoyed a nice dinner at The Honeysuckle on the final night of the event.
“[It was] one of the best conferences that I have attended in a while,” said Carol Botts of Tupelo Water and Light. “I had a list of questions and every one of them was addressed and answered. “I also appreciated how each speaker facilitated the sessions and let the attendees feel free to ask questions and listen to our thoughts and ideas.”
“[The conference] opened my eyes to a lot of the features that are already included in Orbit One that I didn’t realize were available,” said Andy Dillard of New Albany Light, Gas, and Water. “We were an early adopter of Orbit One in 2020 and many enhancements have been made since that time. This conference not only showed us those enhancements but also gave us feedback from other utilities on how those enhancements were being used.”
Plans are being made to hold another successful Orbit One Users Conference in 2026 with more room to accommodate more attendees.

UtiliSuite Users Conference Hosts Record Number, Announces New Products
With a total of 56, CSA welcomed a record number of registered member attendees to the annual UtiliSuite Users Conference January 30-31 at the Cool Springs Marriott in Franklin, TN.
Attendees were excited to hear about the development of two new products that will be available soon - UtiliGo Staking and UtiliGo Telecom. CSA is working with IQGeo on the development of both products.
UtiliGo Staking is a staking solution for field use, and UtiliGo Telecom is the database of record for mapping fiber networks. UtiliGo Telecom will also allow fiber networks to be displayed with other utility networks within UtiliGo.
“We have a lot of work to do to get both UtiliGo Staking and UtiliGo Telecom ready for release, especially UtiliGo Staking,” said Senior Vice President of Engineering Charles Huddleston. “But we’re looking forward to these two new additions to build on the success of UtiliGo.”
In addition to the new product announcements, attendees participated in several informative sessions and presentations. Dale Scott of Central Electric Power Association in Carthage, MS, discussed his utility’s experience with UtiliGo in a presentation titled “If I Knew Then What I Know Now.” CSA’s Development Manager Casey McBrayer led a session on CSA’s Outage Management System (OMS.)
The UtiliSuite Users Conference concluded with a reception featuring live music from country music singer and songwriter Red Clark on the final night.
Plans are already in the works for an equally informative conference in 2026.
CSA Salutes our Veterans: Jonathan Bishop
This article is part of a series honoring CSA's U.S Veterans
Veterans Day is a time to commemorate and recognize the bravery and sacrifices made by the members of America's Armed Forces. CSA is fortunate to have six veterans on staff as of Veterans Day 2024. Let's get to know Jonathan Bishop. Jonathan currently works as an Information Systems Representative in Member Services. He is a 9-year veteran of the Army National Guard.
Q:What inspired you to join the military?
A: To provide a better future for me and my future family and it was also something I had thought about doing growing up.
Q: What did your time in service teach you?
A: Be flexible and learn to plan for things in the future in case things do not go as intended.
Q: Share a memorable story from your time in service.
A: Spending a month in the Mojave Desert and realizing how thankful I am for air-conditioning!
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering entering the military?
A: Make sure they think about it for a while to make sure that it is something they are going to be passionate about and have a good reason for joining to get them through the rougher times.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
A: Outside of work I enjoy playing pickleball with friends, playing video games, and spending time with friends and family.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: Joining the military can be a very good thing for people who are able to handle the stress and responsibilities that come with joining. There are many benefits and resources that will become available once you join, make sure to use them while you have them and don’t allow them to go to waste.
Thank you for your service, Jonathan!
CSA Salutes our Veterans: Sara Leasy
This article is part of a series honoring CSA's U.S Veterans
Veterans Day is a time to commemorate and recognize the bravery and sacrifices made by the members of America's Armed Forces. CSA is fortunate to have six veterans on staff as of Veterans Day 2024. Let's get to know Sara Leasy. Sara currently works as a Project Manager in the technology department. She is in the Mississippi National Guard.
Q: What inspired you to join the military?
A: Joining the military felt like a natural choice. It’s in our blood—my father, uncle, sister, and brothers all served, and even my grandfather played a role as a scientist on the Manhattan Project. So, in a way, it’s more than just a tradition; it’s a part of who we are. The military is also the reason I live in Mississippi. Sometimes, we don’t fully understand where life’s path is leading us, but when we arrive, we can look back and see exactly why and who guided us along the way.
Q: What did your time in service teach you?
A: Time in the service taught life lessons that only those who’ve been there can fully understand. Grateful for every front-leaning rest, every ruck march endured, and every weapons qualification passed. Each aspect of training shapes a soldier, strengthening the mind, body, and soul.
Q: Share a memorable story from your time in service.
A: One memorable moment from my time in service was when I was chosen to be the first in my platoon to climb a wall with a rope, as if I was being made an example of. I’ll just say—I scaled that wall in seconds, no problem, leaving my drill sergeants stunned. In life, people will underestimate you. Let them.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering entering the military?
A: If you're thinking about joining any branch of the military, my advice is to thoroughly research all the branches, understand their requirements, and investigate the jobs that align with your ASVAB score. Don’t just show up at MEPS and take whatever job they offer you.
Q: What do you do outside of work?
A: When I’m not at work, I like designing graphics, doing Cricut crafts, and blowing leaves. I’m not sure if it’s related to being made to cut grass by hand in basic training, but it probably is!
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: If I could add one more thing, it would be this: the military is why we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Don’t thank me, but please support our soldiers. They put their lives on the line every day - Freedom isn’t free.
Thank you for your service, Sara!
CSA Salutes our Veterans: Ben Dixon
This article is part of a series honoring CSA's U.S Veterans
Veterans Day is a time to commemorate and recognize the bravery and sacrifices made by the members of America's Armed Forces. CSA is fortunate to have six veterans on staff as of Veterans Day 2024. Let's get to know Ben Dixon!
Ben is a veteran of the U.S Air Force. He was raised in a military family, so joining the Service was his family legacy. He said his resiliency, critical thinking skills, and drive to serve others were all developed during those years.
A Mississippi native, Ben has been with CSA since 2019, and currently works as an Information Systems Representative. His favorite part of his job is helping others achieve their goals.
He enjoys time at the lake, cooking, grilling, and spending time with his family.
Thank you for your service, Ben!
CSA Salutes our Veterans: Wallace "Speedy" Quandt
This article is part of a series honoring CSA's U.S Veterans
Veterans Day is a time to commemorate and recognize the bravery and sacrifices made by the members of America's Armed Forces. CSA is fortunate to have six veterans on staff as of Veterans Day 2024. Let's get to know Wallace "Speedy" Quandt.
Speedy is a U.S Air Force retiree who served for 22 years and 2 wars: Vietnam and Desert Storm. He joined the military to serve his country and see the world, and to let the military pay for his education, which includes several Microsoft certifications. Speedy has been with CSA more than 20 years and currently works as Informations Systems Manager.He attributes his military service with his consistency and attenditon to detail on the job. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, long-distance walking, and taking cruises with his wife, Mary.
Speedy's advice: Never quit, never give up, and just try your hardest!
Thank you for your service to our country, Speedy!
Leister Promoted to Director of Sales and Member Engagement
We are delighted to announce the promotion of Carmen Leister to Director of Sales and Member Engagement, reporting to Richard Adams. In her new role, Carmen will oversee all member engagement activities, including Sales, Marketing, Events and Public relations. Carmen will focus on creating meaningful connections and delivering outstanding value to our members.
Carmen has been a dedicated member of our team for many years, consistently demonstrating her passion for enhancing member experiences and fostering strong relationships. Her strategic insights and innovative ideas have played a crucial role in driving our member engagement initiatives forward.
Carmen’s extensive experience and deep understanding of our members’ needs have been instrumental in developing programs that resonate with our community. She has led numerous successful campaigns, always going above and beyond to ensure member satisfaction and loyalty. Carmen’s promotion is a recognition of her exceptional contributions and unwavering commitment to our company’s mission.
In her new role, Carmen will oversee all member engagement activities, focusing on creating meaningful connections and delivering outstanding value to our members. Please join us in congratulating Carmen on this well-deserved promotion and wishing her continued success in her new role.
Allen Promoted to Director of Applications
We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Josh Allen to the position of Director of Applications. Josh has been an integral part of our team for over a decade, consistently demonstrating exceptional leadership and technical expertise. His innovative approach and dedication have significantly contributed to the success of our application development projects, making him a natural choice for this role.
Throughout his tenure, Josh has led numerous high-impact projects, showcasing his ability to drive results and inspire his team. His deep understanding of application architecture and his commitment to staying ahead of industry trends have been invaluable assets to our company. Josh’s promotion is a testament to his hard work, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
In his new role, Josh will oversee the entire applications department, ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality solutions that meet our clients’ needs. We are confident that under his leadership, our applications team will reach new heights of innovation and efficiency. Please join us in
congratulating Josh on this well-deserved promotion and wishing him continued success in his new role.
Vallarian Promoted to Director of Operations
We are pleased to announce the promotion of Steven Vallarian to the position of Director of Operations. Steven has been an invaluable member of our team for many years, consistently demonstrating exceptional dedication, expertise, and leadership. His extensive experience in the field and his unwavering commitment to our company’s success have made a significant impact on our operations and overall growth.
Steven has shown a remarkable ability to navigate complex challenges and drive innovative solutions. His strategic vision and collaborative approach have enhanced our operational efficiency and fostered a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
In his new role, Steven will continue to lead with the same passion and integrity, further advancing our mission and goals. Please join us in congratulating Steven on this well-deserved promotion and wishing him continued success in his new role.
Penny Promoted to Director of Member Services
We are pleased to announce the promotion of Doug Penny to the position of Director of Member Services, reporting to Richard Adams, Chief Officer, Member Services & Engagement. Doug has been a cornerstone of our company for many years, consistently demonstrating his dedication to providing exceptional service to our members. His extensive experience and deep commitment to excellence have made a significant impact on our member services operations.
Doug’s leadership and expertise have been pivotal in developing and implementing strategies that enhance the overall member experience. He has successfully led numerous initiatives aimed at improving service delivery and member satisfaction. Doug’s promotion is a recognition of his outstanding contributions and his unwavering dedication to our company’s values and goals.
In his new role, Doug will oversee all aspects of member services, ensuring CSA continues to meet and exceed our members’ expectations through continued improvement and innovation in our service offerings. Please join
us in congratulating Doug on this well-deserved promotion and wishing him continued success in his new role.
CSA Holds Annual User Education Conference in June
CSA members enjoyed an enriching experience at our Annual User Education Conference June 24-27 at the beautiful Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, AL.
This year’s conference opened with a powerful and thought-provoking message on Fast Attack Leadership from former U.S Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer and turnaround CEO Marc Koehler. Members also enjoyed breakout sessions on major CSA products as well as updates, presentations, and Q&As on all of the new things happening at CSA.
The conference concluded with the annual Stockholders Business Meeting and Election.
Six CSA Board Members Begin New Term June 27, 2024
Central Service Association welcomed six board members at the Annual User Education Conference on June 27, 2024.
Three members were re-elected, and three members are new to the board.
Greg Fay was re-elected as President, and Scott Hendrix was re-elected to the Vice President role.
Current Board members include:
-
Scott Bobo, Marshall-DeKalb Electric Cooperative
-
Greg Fay, Board President, Clinton Utilities Board
-
Darrell Gillespie, Dickson Electric System
-
Allan Glidewell, Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation
-
Scott Hendrix, Board Vice President, Tombigbee Electric Power Association
-
Tony Kirk, Bolivar Energy Authority
-
David Smart, West Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative
-
Dale Vowell, Russellville Electric Plant Board
-
Wilson Webb, Louisville Utilities
The Board would like to express its appreciation for the dedicated service of Bob Sittason, Hartselle Utilities, as his term concludes.

CSA Relationship Manager Tim Rader Retires in January
Following more than nine years of dedicated service to CSA, Tim Rader, Relationship Manager for the East Region, has decided to embark on a well-deserved retirement effective January 2024. Tim has not only been an integral part of our team but has left a mark on the growth and success of CSA.

Annual UtiliSuite Conference Offers Insight Into the Future of Tech
CSA held its annual Utilisuite User Conference February 1-2 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Murfreesboro, TN.
CSA Launches Redesigned Website
On January 10, CSA launched its redesigned website. The update came to fruition after the Marketing Team members worked diligently with Moore Tech, web development firm based in Birmingham, Alabama, and the CSA Execuitve Team to develop a more streamlined, user-friendly site.

CSA Retiree Receives Recognition at 101
On our 85th Anniversary, we have reflected on 1937 and Central Service Association’s growth and many changes since its inception. And at 101 years old, CSA retiree Tom Barnett knows very well about those 85 years of progress.
CSA Earns Innovation Award
October 10, 2023 Denver, CO.
CSA was awarded IQGeo’s Innovation Award for modernizing utility lifecycle management.