The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Jefferson City, gained a key partner on its management team with the addition of Kate Boatright, Hallsville, as the association’s vice president of finance and chief financial officer.
“Kate brings tremendous financial experience with a wide variety of industries that will help us move forward in our role of helping Missouri’s electric cooperatives succeed,” says Caleb Jones, CEO of the association. “We are fortunate to have a person of her caliber join our team.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the AMEC family,” Kate added. “Caleb Jones leads a wonderful group of talented individuals at AMEC, and I’m excited to contribute my skills to their mission.”
Kate comes to the association from Fresh Ideas, a food service management company based in Columbia, where she also was CFO. Her role included responsibility for all financial procedures including accounting, treasury management, risk management, capital expenditures and corporate budgeting. Under her nine-year tenure as CFO, the company quadrupled in both sales and employees. Her part in this growth led to her being honored as Columbia’s “Business Woman of the Year” in 2013.
Prior to joining Fresh Ideas, Kate was a partner of Landers, Weiss & Co. CPA firm based in Columbia. Here she served clients in various industries including construction, manufacturing, non-profit and food service management. She has more than 14 years of experience in all aspects of public accounting.
Outside of work, Kate is active in many community and civic activities. She has previously served on the board of the Hallsville Optimist Club and has led fundraising efforts for Hallsville Schools. She has participated in many roles with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and previously served as the president of Women’s Network, a division of the chamber. She currently serves on the board of True North, a shelter and advocacy center for victims of domestic and sexual violence, and is the financial chair for the Hallsville United Methodist Church.
Kate graduated summa cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in accountancy. Her studies included six months at the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale’s branch campus in Nakajo, Japan. She also earned a minor in Japanese language.
She is a member of the AICPA and MSCPA professional accounting associations. In addition, she completes continuing education courses each year to maintain her certified public accounting license.
Kate lives in Hallsville with her husband, Chris, and their four children. The couple spends their free time on Missouri lakes, attending their children’s sporting events, watching Mizzou sports and traveling.
AMEC is the statewide service organization for Missouri’s electric cooperatives.
