New Faces, Fresh Energy

GCSECA welcomes three leaders to the team

Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association is marking the autumn season with a warm welcome to three accomplished professionals whose experience spans administration, legislative, advocacy, regulation and energy policy.

Arizona may be holding onto its late-summer warmth, but inside GCSECA, the season is already bringing a fresh sense of momentum.

This fall, the organization welcomes three new members to its staff: Reagan McCloud, director of government relations and advocacy; Tomas Rojas, director of federal and regulatory affairs; and Milagro “Mia” Ricardo, administrative services manager. Together, they bring a wide-ranging blend of operational expertise, cooperative advocacy, regulatory insight and global policy experience to support Arizona’s electric cooperatives.

Reagan McCloud

A Cooperative Advocate With Deep Rural Roots

GCSECA welcomes Reagan as director of government relations and advocacy. Reagan brings firsthand knowledge of the cooperative landscape, having served Kansas Electric Cooperatives Inc. members. He led KEC’s government relations initiatives. In that role, Reagan directed advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels, managed KEC’s grassroots engagement program and served as executive director for the Kansas Committee for Rural Electrification political action committee. His work helped elevate the priorities of Kansas electric cooperatives and strengthen their voices in key policy conversations.

“Reagan’s work strengthened KEC’s advocacy efforts and advanced the priorities of Kansas electric cooperatives,” Kansas Electric CEO Lee Tafanelli says. “We appreciate his service to our members and wish him the best in this next chapter.”

Raised on a farm and ranch served by cooperative lines, Reagan brings professional experience and personal connection to the co-op mission. He earned a law degree with dean’s honors from Washburn University School of Law, focusing on energy, natural resources and agricultural law. He has a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and English from Tabor College, where he was a four-year National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American Scholar-Athlete on the baseball team. Known for his competitive drive, sharp political instincts and strong public speaking skills, Reagan pairs rigorous advocacy with a collaborative and approachable leadership style.

“I am honored to join the GCSECA team and excited to serve as an advocate for our members at the state Capitol and throughout the beautiful state of Arizona,” Reagan says. “GCSECA members work tirelessly 24/7/365 to provide reliable, affordable power to rural Arizonans, and it’s a privilege to help ensure state policy reflects that mission.”

Tomas Rojas

A Global Policy Perspective for Arizona’s Electric Cooperatives

Tomas, GCSECA’s director of federal and regulatory affairs, brings an international resume and an understanding of energy policy, regulatory affairs and government relations across multiple regions.

His experience includes guiding government relations for Puerto Rico’s electric transmission and distribution operator, shaping federal advocacy strategy for domestic clean energy manufacturers in Washington, D.C., and most recently leading a team advising California’s largest electric utility on policy risk and regulatory filings before the California Public Utilities Commission.

His work spans investor-owned utility regulatory affairs, federal clean energy policy and international government engagement across the United States, Latin America and Europe.

Tomas has a master’s degree in European public affairs from Sciences Po Bordeaux and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government from Universidad del Rosario in Colombia. Fluent in English and Spanish and professionally proficient in French, he brings a global outlook grounded in practical energy-sector experience. “It’s an honor to join GCSECA in service of the communities that make up Arizona’s electric cooperatives,” Tomas says. “These communities face a unique set of challenges and are often disproportionately affected by policy and regulatory decisions. I want to help ensure the people making those decisions understand these challenges as they take center stage on the national agenda.

“I’m committed to making sure the needs of Arizona’s electric cooperatives are taken into account and defended.”

Milagro “Mia” Ricardo

Bringing Operational Excellence and Strategic Perspective

In early August, GCSECA welcomed Mia as its new administrative services manager. Mia arrives with an administrative background and a proven ability to support complex organizations with precision, discretion and strategic focus.

Most recently, Mia served as senior executive administrative assistant for the Junior College District of Metropolitan Kansas City, where she managed large-scale event logistics, handled confidential executive correspondence and conducted quantitative data analysis to inform board-level decision-making. Her career also includes seven years as executive assistant to the president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Urban League, where she acted as a key board liaison and helped lead major fundraising events that generated more than $3.5 million.

Mia earned a Bachelor of Science in urban and metropolitan studies from Arizona State University.

With her combination of detail-oriented execution and big-picture perspective, Mia is poised to add meaningful value to GCSECA’s internal operations and organizational culture.

A Season of Growth

GCSECA gains three professionals whose skills complement one another and strengthen the association’s ability to serve its members.

“Reagan, Tomas and Mia bring the experience and perspective needed to help Arizona’s electric cooperatives navigate an increasingly complex policy and regulatory environment,” GCSECA CEO Jorge Canaca says. “Their expertise will strengthen our ability to advance our members’ priorities, provide improved services and champion the interests of the rural communities we power.”

Their combined experience reflects the breadth of today’s cooperative work: operational excellence, effective advocacy, regulatory insight and a commitment to the communities behind Arizona’s electric cooperatives.