Tennessee Valley Authority
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors guides TVA in achieving the objectives and missions established by the TVA Act for the benefit of the people of the Valley.
As provided by the TVA Act and the TVA Bylaws, the principal responsibilities of the Board are to establish the broad strategies, goals, and objectives, long-range plans, and policies of TVA and to ensure that those are achieved by the TVA staff led by the Chief Executive Officer. Each Director takes an oath to faithfully and impartially perform the duties of office. Directors serve part-time.
Recent Meetings
December 10, 2012
Knoxville, Tennessee
November 15, 2012
Rainsville, Alabama
TVA Presentation (PDF)
Notational document for search firm
Notational document for CEO appointment
See the full Board Meeting archive.
Board Members
When their terms expire, directors may remain on the board until the end of the current congressional session (typically in December) or until their successors take office, whichever comes first.
Chairman William B. Sansom of Knoxville, Tenn., has been chairman and chief executive officer of The H.T. Hackney Co. since 1983. Hackney is a diversified company involved in wholesale grocery and furniture manufacturing. He previously served on the TVA Board from 2006 to 2009 and was chairman from 2006 to 2008. His term as chairman expires Dec. 31, 2013, and his term as a director expires May 18, 2014.
Lynn Evans of Memphis, Tenn., is the owner of V. Lynn Evans, CPA, a certified public accounting and consulting firm established in 1983. Evans also serves on the board of directors of First Alliance Bank in Memphis, Tenn. She resigned from the board of commissioners of Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division in January 2013. Her term expires May 18, 2017.
Barbara S. Haskew of Chattanooga, Tenn., served Middle Tennessee State University as Distinguished Professor of Economics for eight years where she also provided leadership for more than 20 years as chair of the Department of Economics and Finance; dean, College of Business Administration and vice president and provost of the University. She previously managed TVA's Rate Staff for eight years. Her term expires May 18, 2014.
Richard Howorth of Oxford, Miss., served two terms as mayor of Oxford and is founder and owner of Square Books, a leading independent bookstore in Oxford. As mayor, he was chairman of the authority overseeing the Oxford Electric Department. He served eight years as a director and officer of the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association and is former president of the American Booksellers Association. His term expires May 18, 2015.
Peter Mahurin of Bowling Green, Ky., is chairman of Hilliard Lyons Financial Services, a position he has held since 2008. Mahurin also serves as a board member for Houchens Industries, Albany Bancorp, Cecilian Bancorp, Gray Construction, Jackson Financial and the Governors Scholars of Kentucky. Prior to joining Hilliard Lyons in 1968, Mahurin was a high school math and science teacher. His term expires May 18, 2016.
Neil McBride of Oak Ridge, Tenn., is a public-interest advocate and national leader in the field of public interest law. He is general counsel with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, a nonprofit law firm that gives free legal help in civil cases to people in need. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law. His term expires May 18, 2013. 
Michael McWherter is owner and president of Central Distributors Co. and Volunteer Distributing Co., Tennessee-based beverage distribution companies. McWherter previously practiced law in Nashville, Tenn., and clerked for the Tennessee Supreme Court. He also serves on the board of directors of First State Bank of Union City, Tenn. McWherter resigned from the board of the Jackson Energy Authority in Jackson, Tenn., in January 2013. His term expires May 18, 2016.
Joe Ritch is an attorney at the Sirote & Permutt law firm in Huntsville, Ala., where he has worked since 1982. Ritch also serves as chairman of the Tennessee Valley Base Realignment and Closures Committee, co-chairman of the Tennessee Valley Growth Coordination Group and board member for Axiometrics, the Von Braun Center for Innovative Science, and Appleton Learning. He recently resigned from the board of the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. His term expires May 18, 2016.