Boyne City, MI – The Great Lakes Energy (GLE) board of directors at their January 27, 2021 meeting appointed Shelly Pinkelman of Frederic to fill a board seat vacated by Larry Monshor of Gaylord who passed away in December. She will fill the remainder of Monshor’s term, which ends Aug. 23, 2023.
Pinkelman was the challenger in the 2020 GLE board of director election against incumbent Monshor. Pinkelman resides in GLE voting district 4 which includes Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Otsego counties.
Pinkelman has a long history of community and board service including founding Friends of Frederic, a 501c(3) organization, service as a Crawford County Commissioner for 22 years, including board chair, as well as involvement in the Michigan Association of Counties Board of Directors, the National Association of Counties Board of Directors, the District Health Department #10 Board, the Camp Grayling Restoration Advisory Board, and Crawford County Emergency Management. She also owns and operates her own construction company and is the Building and Zoning Administrator for Frederic Township.
Pinkelman will have the opportunity to run for the board again in 2023, as do other qualified members of GLE who return a valid petition signed by 50 members of the cooperative utility in their district.
Unlike investor-owned utilities, GLE is a not-for-profit business owned by its consumer-members. Board members are elected by members, with each member’s vote carrying equal weight. GLE provides electricity to roughly 120,000 members in 26 counties along the west side of the lower peninsula. Visit gtlakes.com/board-of-directors for more information.Â