GLE's CEO Announces Retirement

March 2, 2016
 
Great Lakes Energy’s President and CEO Steve Boeckman will retire in March.
Steve’s final column in the March 2016 edition of Michigan Country Lines touches on ways GLE will continue the tradition of looking out for its members:
“Whether it’s a fishing yarn, a child’s tale about school or another personal anecdote, a good story is something we all like to hear and share.
“This month, my story at Great Lakes Energy comes to a close. I will retire as president and CEO on March 28 and a new chapter in my life begins.
“Bill Scott will become President and CEO of Great Lakes Energy on March 29. Bill has been with GLE since 2002, most recently serving as GLE’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. His leadership within the organization gave the board of directors confidence in appointing him to lead the cooperative.
“As I prepare for retirement, I know my story has been a good one. It’s been both challenging and rewarding to lead a member-owned organization. With employees spread out over eight offices, one of my main priorities has been the culture and work environment of GLE. I believe building and maintaining a strong culture is one of the most important roles a CEO has. The culture affects the employees’ daily life, how they perform in their jobs, and how they treat our members.
“At GLE, we’ve built a culture where employees are empowered and entrusted to achieve success in their jobs and provide outstanding service to our members. Cooperative employees are some of the most hardworking people you’ll ever meet. Our employees work to restore power on holidays, weekends and in some really bad weather. They take the cooperative philosophy to heart and focus on member needs and service, not profits, every single day.
“The culture at GLE is one of the things I’m most proud of and something I know will continue to grow in years to come.
“Great Lakes Energy has a bright future, with a dedicated board of directors and supportive members who value our efforts to bring reliable and affordable service to rural Michigan.
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve you for the past 15 years. Thanks for being part of my story.”