Management Team

As a proud native of this area, he oversees planning, organizing and directing the day-to-day operations of the cooperative. Santee Electric provides power to nearly 45,000 accounts in Clarendon, Florence, Georgetown and Williamsburg Counties.

Ardis joined Santee Electric in August 2015 as the president and chief executive officer bringing 14 years of experience in engineering, operations, management and leadership positions from neighboring Pee Dee Electric Cooperative.

Ardis is a licensed professional engineer and holds degrees in physics and mathematics from Francis Marion University and a degree in electrical engineering from The University of Tennessee. He also has a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Francis Marion.  He a member of both the South Carolina and National Societies of Professional Engineers.

He has served as chapter president for the SC Society of Professional Engineers and has also served as a board member for the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves as chairman of the Industrial Engineering Advisory Board for FMU.  Rob and his wife Shannon have a son (Cade) and a daughter (Ava).

Tony Fogg serves as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Santee Electric Cooperative, Inc., headquartered in Kingstree, South Carolina.

Tony has more than 30 years experience in the utility business starting his career with the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1980. He came to Santee Electric Cooperative in 2001. He brings diversified experience within the electric cooperative industry along with consulting with a utility related software company and having served as an adjunct accounting professor at Athens State University.

Fogg is on the board of directors of 1st Cooperative Federal Credit Union in Columbia, South Carolina. He is also a member of the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives.

A native of Tennessee, he attended the University of North Alabama and earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and History and a Master of Business Administration. He also has a Certified Power Executive Certificate, Management Internship Program Certificate and Supply Management Certificate.

Tony lives in Florence, South Carolina and enjoys traveling.

Robert Higbe serves as the Vice President of Engineering for Santee Electric Cooperative Inc. and is a licensed professional engineer in the state of South Carolina.

As the VP of Engineering he is responsible for overseeing the planning and construction of the cooperative's substations and distribution system. This includes long range plans, work plans, load forecasts and operation and maintenance studies to meet Rural Utilities Services (RUS) compliance. He is also responsible for warehousing, purchasing, information systems and technology integration at the cooperative.

Higbe worked as a part time employee in the engineering department from 1990 to 1995 while he attended college. He became a full time employee in 1995 after graduating from Clemson University where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering. He also has a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Newberry College.

Higbe was raised near Andrews, SC and still lives in that area with his wife, Dawn, one daughter, and two sons.

Adam Johnson serves as the Vice President of Operations for Santee Electric Cooperative Inc.

As the VP of Operations he is responsible for overseeing the planning and construction of the cooperative's substations and distribution system.

Johnson worked as an electrician at Sampit Lumber in Georgetown, S.C. for five years while attending college. After graduating from The Citadel, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, he went to work for Federal Mogul in Orangeburg S.C. for three years. He came to Santee Electric Cooperative in 2006. He brings diversified experience within the electric industry.

Johnson was raised in Georgetown, S.C. and currently lives in Summerton S.C. with his wife, Melissa and two sons.

James W. Kirby Jr. (Jay) serves as Vice President of Public Affairs for Santee Electric Cooperative, Inc., headquartered in Kingstree, South Carolina.

As the VP of Public Affairs he is responsible for overseeing the relationship between the Cooperative, politicians and the community. This includes the areas of marketing, community relations, economic development and government relations.

Jay earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina - Coastal. He began his career at SEC in the IT department. Later he became a Marketing Specialist and then the Manager of Marketing. After more than 32 years of service to the co-op, Jay has worked in almost every aspect of the department he oversees.

A native of South Carolina, Jay has always lived in Kingstree. He and his wife Catherine have two sons Tripp, Tyler and one daughter Taylor.

Ardweena Bluefort serves as the Vice President of Member Services for Santee Electric Cooperative Inc.

As the VP of Members Services, she is responsible for overseeing the general operation of the Member Service department. This includes the management of employees in areas of billing, member service, cashier, and member support who are responsible for providing front line service to our member-owners. This may include supporting and overseeing, problem solving, developing and implementing plans, and meeting goals. Santee Electric’s district office is in Kingstree, but there are branch offices in Georgetown, Lake City, Hemingway and Manning.

Bluefort worked at Santee Electric as a college student in 2001 as a summer worker. Working during the summer and winter breaks in various positions including operations, engineering, accounting and serving as administrative assistant to the CEO when needed. She became a full time employee in 2006 as a Distribution Engineer and worked her way up to Information Systems Analyst – Convergence Systems. Bluefort holds a Bachelor’s Degree from South Carolina State University in Electrical Engineering Technology. She also has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA).

Bluefort is a native of Georgetown County and resides in Nesmith with her husband O’Neal and their son Preston.