Mark A. Prather
Stillwater,OK
Summary
Visionary executive with proven success as a direct report to the CEO of an electric cooperative, leading large-scale operations, infrastructure expansion, and high-performance teams. Skilled in developing and executing strategic plans aligned with board priorities, fostering a safety-first and member-focused culture, and navigating complex regulatory landscapes. Brings a unique blend of corporate and cooperative leadership, leveraging decades of experience to deliver results, adapt to evolving priorities, and advance the cooperative mission. Adept at leveraging data analytics, AI-driven tools, and modern communication platforms to enhance decision-making, member engagement, and organizational agility. Committed to the cooperative business model and the Seven Cooperative Principles.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
President
Centranet, LLC – Subsidiary of Central Rural Electric Cooperative
Stillwater, OK
08.2020 - Current
- Report directly to the CEO of Central Rural Electric Cooperative, leading a 20+ employee team delivering advanced broadband services to rural communities.
- Built the organization from fresh start to over 12,000 subscribers and 3,300 miles of fiber, two years ahead of schedule, while maintaining an exemplary safety record and operational reliability.
- Secured $56M+ in federal, state, and tribal grants, aligning infrastructure expansion with cooperative strategic goals and enhancing long-term member value.
- Collaborated closely with the Board of Directors on long-term vision, strategic planning, and risk management, ensuring investments balanced innovation with fiscal responsibility.
- Fostered high-performance, member-focused culture through transparent communication, employee empowerment, and adherence to cooperative values and Seven Cooperative Principles.
- Partnered with electric operations leadership to integrate broadband expansion into smart grid modernization, outage response optimization, and future energy service enablement.
Vice President, Manufacturing and Operations
FLIR Systems
Not Specified, Not Specified
01.2017 - 01.2020
- Directed global operations across multiple sites, with P&L responsibility for $150M+ in annual revenue, delivering 85% of company profit with 60% of staff.
- Built and led high-performance teams of 100+ employees, fostering a safety-first culture with operational resilience and stable execution during leadership transitions.
- Developed and executed strategic pricing, market expansion, and operational efficiency initiatives, driving 29% international revenue growth.
- Ensured compliance with stringent safety, quality, and regulatory standards, aligning operations with organizational vision and strategic objectives.
- Partnered with executive leadership and stakeholders to navigate complex regulatory and political environments, aligning operations with market and customer needs.
Vice President, Worldwide Sales
FLIR Systems
Not Specified, Not Specified
01.2015 - 12.2016
General Manager / Product Sales Director – Radiation & Explosives Detection Divisions
FLIR Systems
Not Specified, Not Specified
01.2010 - 12.2014
Education
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Oklahoma State University
Skills
- Electric Utility Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Budget Management
- Grant Acquisition
- Operational Resilience
- Regulatory Compliance
- Customer Engagement
- Market Expansion
- Team Leadership
- Risk Management
- Effective Communication
- Problem Solving
- Employee Empowerment
- Performance Optimization
- Data-driven Decision Making
- Project Management
- Staff Management
- Partnership Development
- Employee Relations
- Decision Making
- Risk Mitigation
- Operations Management
- Revenue Generation
- Innovation and Creativity
- Public Speaking
- Negotiation
- Contract Management
- Team Motivation
- Change Management
- Competitor Research
- Integrity and Ethics
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Financial Administration
- Cooperative Governance
- Seven Cooperative Principles
- Board Collaboration
- Vision Development
- Strategic Plan Execution
- Safety Program Development
- Safety Culture
- Regulatory Affairs
- Legislative Affairs
- Political Affairs
- Member Experience
- Community Engagement
- Infrastructure Funding
- Organizational Culture
- High-Performance Team Building
Websites Profiles Portfolios
www.linkedin.com/in/mark-prather-b5589b3
Business Ownership And Strategic Leadership
- Founded, owned, and operated multiple LLCs across real estate, investment, and light manufacturing sectors, overseeing multi-year profitability, compliance, and operational performance.
- Co-founded and scaled TECH, INC. from startup to a sustainable enterprise, later sold while maintaining continuity under new ownership.
- Managed cross-functional operations, budgets, and stakeholder relationships, applying strategic planning and risk management practices consistent with cooperative leadership.
Timeline
President
Centranet, LLC – Subsidiary of Central Rural Electric Cooperative
08.2020 - Current
Vice President, Manufacturing and Operations
FLIR Systems
01.2017 - 01.2020
Vice President, Worldwide Sales
FLIR Systems
01.2015 - 12.2016
General Manager / Product Sales Director – Radiation & Explosives Detection Divisions
FLIR Systems
01.2010 - 12.2014
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Oklahoma State University
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