Our Community Connectors
Bluebonnet’s community representatives serve as the human connection between Bluebonnet and the areas we serve — our members, community and business leaders, and local elected officials. Our five community representatives are each assigned to one of Bluebonnet’s service areas, which also happen to be their hometowns.
They are responsible for:
- providing basic information about Bluebonnet services, programs, activities, regulations, rates and fees for members and communities;
- responding to member inquiries and referring people to the appropriate Bluebonnet divisions or individuals for help; and
- representing the cooperative on local committees and taskforces, attending community events and giving presentations to civic groups.
Bluebonnet’s community representatives are:
 | Johnny Sanders
Manager of Community and Economic Development
Bastrop area
desk 512-332-7960 cell 512-376-8244
johnny.sanders@bluebonnet.coop Johnny Sanders served as a Bastrop County Commissioner for the past 15 years. Elected to four consecutive terms, he acted as road administrator for Precinct 1 and worked with the Commissioner’s Court to upgrade the county’s standards for development. Previously, Sanders worked as a public liaison for a Texas state representative, was a real estate broker and developer, and owned and operated two successful retail businesses.
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| Casey Acker
Brenham area
desk 979-277-7221 cell 979-251-4054
casey.acker@bluebonnet.coop Casey Acker is the new Community and Economic Development Representative for the Brenham area. He is a lifelong resident of Washington County and Brenham High school grad. He played baseball at Blinn College for two years and graduated from Texas A&M in '93 with a BBA in marketing and a certificate in international business. He and wife Susan have three children, 16-year-old Cole, 13-year-old Dane and 8-year-old Erin. Before Bluebonnet, Casey was an account specialist with BAE Systems Inc., working directly with the government and soldiers in the field. He also worked at his family's car dealership - interestingly enough, Bluebonnet Motors in Navasota. Casey is an active member of Salem Lutheran Church, recently elected to the church council. He also volunteers with children's athletic groups and is an active member of the Brenham Evening Lion’s Club. |
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| | Mark Johnson
Giddings area
desk 979-542-8539 cell 979-540-9527
mark.johnson@bluebonnet.coop Mark Johnson has 17 years of experience working for Bluebonnet in Member Services, Administration and Community Services. He is currently a board member for numerous community organizations, including the Giddings Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Giddings, LCRA Credit Union, Friends of Nails Creek State Park and Bluebonnet Area Crimestoppers. In addition, Mark serves on the Giddings ISD School Board and is President of the Giddings Economic Development Corporation.
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 | Joyce Buckner
Lockhart area
desk 512-764-2871 cell 512-227-2221
joyce.buckner@bluebonnet.coop Joyce Buckner has 18 years of experience with Bluebonnet in Member and Community Services, serving two of those years as a senior representative. She is a native of Gonzales County and for the past 29 years has lived in Caldwell County. She is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lockhart, Texas, and served on the church council for one term. Joyce currently serves as a board member for the Lockhart Chamber of Commerce.
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 | Hondo Powell
Manor/Bastrop area
desk 512-332-7962 cell 512-466-0364
hondo.powell@bluebonnet.coop Hondo Powell, a native of Brenham, Texas, comes to Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative from the University of New Mexico where he received an undergraduate degree in History, as well as a Juris Doctorate. As one of Bluebonnet’s Community Representatives he serves as the human connection between Bluebonnet and the areas Bluebonnet serves — members, community and business leaders, and local elected officials. He also serves as Chief of Staff for Bluebonnet, working directly for the CEO and COO primarily on legislative, regulatory, and policy related issues. Hondo is currently the President of the Board for the Manor Education Foundation (2nd Term); the Vice-Chair of the Lower Colorado River Authority Community Development Partnership Program Grant Committee; a member of the LCRA Austin/Travis Regional Council; the National Rural Economic Development Association (Board of Directors); and Envision Central Texas (Board of Directors). |
 | Karen Urban
desk 512-332-7961 cell 979-540-9711
karen.urban@bluebonnet.coop Karen Urban is Bluebonnet’s Community and Economic Development Department’s Assistant and Scholarship Program Coordinator. Karen has been with Bluebonnet for more than six years. She has 23 years of banking and customer service experience in the Giddings area. She assists in planning, scheduling and coordinating various Bluebonnet events. As Scholarship Program Coordinator she oversees the distribution of scholarship awards to graduating high school seniors in the Bluebonnet service area. Karen also oversees the Government Youth Tour Contest coordinated by Texas Electric Cooperatives and coordinates the scheduling of Bluebonnet’s youth programs – the Electric Junction safety presentation and the Powerhouse Program. Karen is married and has two children. She is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings and is involved with many of Bluebonnet’s service area chambers and community events and fundraisers. |