GOVERNANCEA distinct definition of success
While other types of businesses must make a profit for investors and other stakeholders, our cooperative focuses on doing what’s best for the member-owner cooperatives that collectively own us.
Over time, our membership and directors may change. But our structure ensures that our shared values continue guiding everything we do.
Governance at
Great River Energy
As a cooperative corporation incorporated under Minnesota law, Great River Energy’s member-owners have the ultimate authority to govern Great River Energy. Like many other corporations, management of Great River Energy is centralized in a board of directors. Our bylaws provide: “The business and affairs of this Cooperative shall be managed by a Board of Directors, which shall exercise all of the powers of this Cooperative, except as are by law, the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws conferred upon or reserved to the Members.”
The member-owner cooperatives retain their ultimate control over Great River Energy by their power to democratically elect our board, which is comprised solely of members of the boards of directors of our all-requirements member-owners. Our bylaws grant our member-owners the power to vote directly on certain important matters, such as mergers, major sales of our assets, and amendments to the articles of incorporation and bylaws. In addition, the power purchase contracts between Great River Energy and our member-owners provide for member votes on certain matters, such as all requirements member votes on new power supply resources or power purchase agreements and all member votes on changes to Great River Energy’s rate formula.
The Great River Energy board of directors meets nearly every month to conduct the business of Great River Energy. Among the board’s many responsibilities are approval of Great River Energy’s annual budget and all decisions regarding the employment and compensation of the president and chief executive officer.
The Great River Energy member manager group (MMG), which consists of the CEOs of all our member-owners, plays an invaluable role at Great River Energy. The MMG meets nearly every month to review and provide feedback on matters of importance to Great River Energy. Although the MMG does not have governance authority with respect to Great River Energy, the MMG works closely with Great River Energy employees.
Board of Directors meeting summaries
Senior staff
- David Saggau, president and chief executive officer
- Jim Jones, vice president and chief information officer
- Michelle Strobel, vice president and chief financial officer
- Jon Brekke, vice president and chief power supply officer
- Priti Patel, vice president and chief transmission officer
- Louy Theeuwen, chief of staff
- Lisa Orpen, vice president and chief corporate and member services officer
- Eric Olsen, vice president and general counsel
Board of Directors
- Chair Mike Brasel,
Lake Region Electric Cooperative - Vice Chair Randy Hlavka, McLeod Cooperative Power Association
- Treasurer Nancy Utke, Itasca-Mantrap Cooperative Electrical Association
- Secretary Mike Littfin, Arrowhead Electric Cooperative
- Gary Stenzel,
BENCO Electric Cooperative - Bill Berg, Brown County Rural Electrical Association
- Kyle Weideman,
Cooperative Light & Power - Bill Middlecamp,
Dakota Electric Association - Margaret Schreiner, Dakota Electric Association
- Linda Laitala,
East Center Energy - Lonnie Johnson, East Central Energy
- David Hernke, Goodhue County Cooperative Electric Association
- Dale Anderson,
Kandiyohi Power Cooperative - Bob Bruckbauer, Lake Country Power
- Craig Olson,
Lake Country Power - Harold Harms, Mille Lacs Electric Cooperative
- Lee York, Nobles Cooperative Electric
- Lloyd Kongsjord, North Itasca Electric Cooperative, Inc.
- Andy Anderson, Runestone Electric Association
- Greg Blaine, Stearns Cooperative Electric Association
- PJ Duchene, Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric
- Mike Thorson, Todd-Wadena Electrical Cooperative
- Erick Heinz, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association
DISCOVER NEXT
Social impact
How our community support reaches beyond providing electricity.