OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Executive Team
Kenneth E. Bethea, President and CEO
Ken Bethea is President and CEO of Southeast Fuels, Inc. Prior to this appointment in 2009, he served as Executive Vice President and COO as well as Vice President of Operations and Sales. Ken has been with Southeast Fuels since 2005.
Ken has many years of executive and senior level experience in both the energy and semiconductor industries. He is the past CEO and founder of Northeast Energy Fuels Inc., an energy marketing company in New England. Ken has spent 25 years in the semiconductor industry with companies such Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Bendix Corporation, Allied Signal Corporation (Honeywell) and Analog Devices Corporation.
Ken is a graduate of Morgan State University with a B.S. degree in Biology. He also received a M.S. and M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. In addition he holds a graduate certificate from the Leadership Development Program at Johns Hopkins University and is a graduate from the Executive Business Program, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He is a member of the Johns Hopkins University LDP Advisory Board, Greensboro Historical Museum Board, the Greensboro College Board of Visitors and North Carolina A&T State University Interdisciplinary Center for Entrepreneurship and E-Business.
Ralph K. Shelton, Founder & Chairman
Ralph K. Shelton is the founder of Southeast Fuels, Inc., which opened in November, 1984. He worked diligently to develop several strategic producer-broker relationships, specifically with small coal producers in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky. For 27 years Southeast Fuels has grown to become a well-known coal and oil provider throughout the Southeastern United States under the leadership of Ralph Shelton.
Ralph has earned several degrees; B.S. degree from North Carolina A&T State University and M.B.A. from Wake Forest University (Babcock School of Management). He also graduated from the Minority Executive Program at University of Virginia (Darden School of Business).
Ralph is a strong believer in community involvement and advocacy. In 2003, he was Chairman of both the Moses Cone Health Foundation and North Carolina A&T State University Board of Trustees. He currently serves on a number of local boards including the First Citizens Bank Board of Directors.
Sales and Transportation Logistics Team
Ron A. Munse, Vice President Sales/Services
Ron graduated with a BA Degree in Business Administration from Adrian College in 1970 with a focus on Sales & Marketing. Ron Munse has enjoyed working in various facets of the domestic and international coal related industry since 1977. Prior to joining Southeast Fuels, Ron acquired 34 plus years of experience in the coal sales industry commensurate with managerial positions at Industrial Fuels Corporation, Enoxy, Agip Coal Sales, Cogentrix Energy and James River Coal Sales. Ron has also operated as a Vice Presidential Coal Buyer both internationally and domestically, and a Vice Presidential Logistical Buyer involving transportation via truck, overseas rail and U.S. rail, barging, and lake and ocean vessels. Ron has worked coal sales for the Great Lakes and rail industrial and utility accounts in the mid-west, central, and southeastern U.S. He also purchased coal from the fields of Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. His procurement duties took him to the coal fields of Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, Venezuela, and Columbia as well as coordinating transportation contracts in Europe and Asia regarding the establishment of ocean going vessels for coal transportation.
Ron served as President of the North Carolina Coal Institute from 1990 – 1991. Ron is the proud recipient of the coveted Godwin Holmes Award presented to individuals demonstrating meritorious service, constructive thinking, and professionalism within the coal industry.
He joined the Southeast Fuels team in 2006. Currently, Ron’s focus is on utilities and the development of key industrial and university accounts. He is also working on the development and sourcing of new coals to expand on Southeast Fuels’ short and long term coal availability for sale.
Kimmerly Milner has been with Southeast Fuels, Inc. for over 16 years. She first joined Southeast Fuels in 1994 as in Intern during her senior year at Greensboro College; from which she earned a BS Degree in Business Administration & Economics. Upon graduation she accepted a position with Vanguard Cellular Systems as a Credit Analyst. In 1995, Kimmerly returned to Southeast Fuels as an Administrative Assistant and was promoted to Office Manager in 1996 and Vice President of Administration & Customer Relations in 2009. She is currently responsible for overseeing various aspects of the company including financial, human resources & administrative tasks. Kimmerly also manages coal logistics and customer/producer services for Southeast Fuels.
Kimmerly's community service includes being an active volunteer with Girl Scouts as a troop leader for over 11 years. She is a past board member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Greensboro and the Hayes Taylor YMCA of Greensboro and a previous classroom consultant for Junior Achievement.
Steve Isaacs, Agent
Steve earned a BS Degree in 1973 from Eastern Kentucky University and began his career in the coal business with Island Creek Coal Co and Island Creek Coal Sales. Steve has 37 years of experience in coal sales, purchasing, quality control, negotiating truck, barge and rail transportation contracts and sales of Powder River Basis production to the eastern utility market.
At Mapco Coal Sales he was responsible for sales of east KY production from MC Mining and Pontiki, domestic brokerage activity and coal sales responsibility for river docks on the Big Sandy, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers.
Steve's coal career has been with Island Creek Coal Sales/ Enoxy Coal Sales, Ruhrkohle Trading Corp/Riverton Coal Co, Finamax Coal / Amax Coal Sales, Mapco Coal Sales and Thoroughbred Coal Co. giving him a wide array of experience in different areas of the coal business. Steve has owned and operated Appalachian Trading Inc. and North Fork Energy LLC, coal brokerage companies buying coal for resale to industrial, utility and trading companies.
Steve joined Southeast Fuels in 2011 with a strong knowledge of the coal business and is currently serving as 'Agent for Southeast Fuels'.