Chief Officers

Scott Newberry • Chief Executive Officer

Scott Newberry joined FKEC in 1990 as Planning, Rate and Budget Analyst and was promoted in 1996 to Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, he oversaw all of the financial, accounting, billing and information system functions of the cooperative. In 2002 he was promoted to Assistant General Manager and was promoted to Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2006.

Newberry is an active member of the Upper Keys community and is a two time past president of the Rotary Club of Key Largo and has served on the boards of both the Key Largo and Islamorada Chambers of Commerce.

In 1994, Newberry completed the three-year national electrical course for apprentice linemen to further his education in cooperative operations. He is a graduate of Leadership Monroe County Class XI and completed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Management Internship Program in 2005.

Newberry graduated from Arkansas State University with a degree in Agriculture Business and Economics in 1986 and earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from Regis University in 2006.

In 1988, he began his career in the electricity industry when he joined the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) in Washington, D.C. With the REA, he worked first as a Commercial Loan Specialist and was later promoted to Power Requirements Officer before moving to the Florida Keys to join FKEC in 1990.

Cris Beaty • Chief Financial Officer

Cris Beaty joined FKEC in 2006 as the Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, his duties include supervision of the General Accounting, Consumer Accounting, Member Service, Information & Technology, and Stores & Warehousing departments. He also directs FKEC’s financial and rate planning activities.

Before joining the cooperative, Beaty built a distinguished 30-year career in the Lodging and hospitality industry, including 25 years of working in financial and operational management. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Parks Business College and holds several hospitality certifications, including Certified Hospitality Administrator (CHA) and Certified Hospitality Accounting Executive (CHAE). Shortly after coming to FKEC, Beaty successfully completed the Robert I. Kabat Management Internship Program, which is NRECA’s flagship leadership and development program for electric utility executives.

Beaty moved to the Keys in 1987 to join a prominent full-service resort in Key Largo, where he decided to make his permanent home. During his 20 years at the resort, he held positions as General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Regional Controller, and Corporate Controller, where he directed multiple hotels and resorts’ operations and finance activities.

Beaty has served as a two-time President for the Rotary Club of Key Largo as well as a 25-plus year stint as a Director and Treasurer. He has also served as a board member for the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce, the Upper Keys Athletic Association, and was an elected inaugural Commissioner for the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District when it was formed back in 2002.

Tom Anthony • Chief Operations Officer

Tom Anthony joined FKEC in 2003 as a System Operator and was later promoted to Supervisor of the co-op’s 24/7 System Operations Control department. He also served as the NERC Compliance Manager before being elevated to the staff position of FKEC Director of Power Supply and Transmission in 2017.

Among his many responsibilities, Anthony coordinated large storm-hardening construction projects and reliability upgrades as the power supply and transmission director. His achievements in this position made him the perfect candidate for Chief Operating Officer (COO), succeeding retiring COO John Stuart in 2024.

As COO, Anthony’s duties include coordinating, planning, and directing all engineering, construction, maintenance, and operations of FKEC’s electric system.

Anthony is a North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) certified System Operator and holds an Associate’s Degree in Mechanical and Electrical Technology. He also brings 23 years of experience as a high-voltage electrician in the United States Air Force.