Board of Directors
Great Lakes Energy is an electric cooperative, which is a democratic organization controlled by a board of directors. The board is made up of members who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions, and are chosen by YOU— our members.
Counties and directors by district are:
2025 Board Meeting Schedule
Tuesday, January 14
Wednesday, March 19
Wednesday, April 23
Wednesday, May 21
Wednesday, June 25
Wednesday, July 23
Wednesday, August 27
Wednesday, September 17
Wednesday, October 29
Wednesday, December 3
Meeting dates are subject to change.
The Process
Directors are elected to three-year terms by the membership according to district. GLE members in three districts designated each year will elect one candidate from within their district to fill three positions on the board annually. Each member of Great Lakes Energy has one vote (one membership, one vote) in the election for their particular district. The election results are announced each year at the annual business meeting held in August.
Minutes, beginning with the March 2017 board meeting, are available by email. Please send your request to [email protected]. Prior to March 2017, minutes are available for review in our office. Call 888-485-2537, ext. 1331.
2025 Board of Directors candidate information
Occupation:
- Retired
- Cooperative member for 25 years
- Board member for three years
Why are you seeking a board seat?
I am seeking reelection because I know the value of cooperative membership, and I want to continue to work for our members to deliver reliable and affordable services. Everything the cooperative does and stands for is about service to its members and community. I will continue to bring strong leadership skills, dedication, and service to Great Lakes Energy (GLE) members.
Do you have energy industry experience, including work as a Great Lakes Energy employee, electric utility contractor, or at another energy service provider?
I have served the members of GLE for the last three years.
Please list any organizations that you belong to or volunteer work that you participate in:
I have served on the Mason County Board of Commissioners since 2012. I have served as board chair since 2019 and chair the finance committee. I serve on the Mason County Planning Commission and the FiveCap Board of Directors. I also serve on the Mason County Housing Alliance, dedicated to addressing the lack of affordable housing. I am actively involved in community organizations and events.
List other qualifications and relevant information:
I have served my community on governmental boards and with numerous organizations. I bring a strong background of leadership, understanding of process and procedure, communication, accountability, and the ability to work with people to get the job done. I will be a strong voice for GLE members. Members making decisions for members, I am your voice.
GLE Board of Directors Candidate Finance Reporting
Great Lakes Energy Cooperative requires that director candidates submit campaign finance information at three times for each election cycle, and that those reports be made available to the members via the cooperative’s online election resources. If the financial report information changes during the election cycle, this page will be updated within the appropriate time frame.
Financial report through July 22:
Candidate self-funded; no external financial support or endorsements.
Occupation: 
- Retired engineer/manager/high school teacher
- Cooperative member for 14 years
- Cooperative board member for six years
Why are you seeking a board seat?
You have supported me for six years as your board representative. The Directors chose me as board chair for the last three years, a privilege I take seriously.
As a member, like you, my family’s priorities regarding electricity are reliability, affordability, and sustainability.
A group outside our service area is recruiting representatives to meet a special agenda for renewables. These technologies contribute to a balanced energy mix, but alone are more costly and less reliable. Their goal appears to be influencing your cooperative board. A concerned GLE member recently shared a copy of the group’s recruitment letter with me. This outside group can only be successful with low voter turnout, which is unfortunately common for our elections. The dynamics of today’s electric industry create challenges, but also abundant opportunities.
Do you have energy industry experience, including work as a Great Lakes Energy employee, electric utility contractor, or at another energy service provider?
As plant engineer and later plant manager of the Hardy Salt Company facility in Manistee, Michigan, from 1979 to 1988, I had responsibility for the cogeneration of steam and electricity for this large salt manufacturing facility.
As a GLE Director for six years, I achieved and maintained the highest level of National Rural Electric Cooperative Association certification to remain informed of industry trends and best practices.
Please list any organizations that you belong to or volunteer work that you participate in:
Current Chair Mecosta Township Planning Commission and ZBA
Personal Finance Coach
List other qualifications and relevant information:
Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering
Engineer and Manager
Leadership positions in a 950-residence property owners’ association
Small business owner
President of a local credit union board, White Lake Area Jaycees, and Junior Achievement of Manistee County.
GLE Board of Directors Candidate Finance Reporting
Great Lakes Energy Cooperative requires that director candidates submit campaign finance information at three times for each election cycle, and that those reports be made available to the members via the cooperative’s online election resources. If the financial report information changes during the election cycle, this page will be updated within the appropriate time frame.
Financial report through July 22:
Candidate self-funded; no external financial support or endorsements.
Occupation:
- Cybersecurity advisor
- Cooperative member for eight years
Why are you seeking a board seat?
I am seeking a seat in order to bring my forward-looking knowledge and relevant experience in identifying and managing risk to the Great Lakes Energy Board of Directors.
Do you have energy industry experience, including work as a Great Lakes Energy employee, electric utility contractor, or at another energy service provider?
I have six years of experience with an electricity generation and transmission utility as a cybersecurity professional. I focused on developing a culture of cybersecurity awareness while staying ahead of the latest threats to critical infrastructure.
Please list any organizations that you belong to or volunteer work that you participate in:
I am currently the chairman of the planning commission of Winterfield Township.
I am an active member of the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2).
List other qualifications and relevant information:
I currently hold an active Certified Information Systems Security Professional designation (CISSP), demonstrating my ability to identify and assess business risk.
GLE Board of Directors Candidate Finance Reporting
Great Lakes Energy Cooperative requires that director candidates submit campaign finance information at three times for each election cycle, and that those reports be made available to the members via the cooperative’s online election resources. If the financial report information changes during the election cycle, this page will be updated within the appropriate time frame.
Financial report through July 22:
Candidate self-funded; no external financial support or endorsements.
Occupation:
- Retired
- Cooperative member for 21 years
- Board member for nine years
Why are you seeking a board seat?
I have had the honor of serving on the board of directors for the past nine years. During this time, I achieved the highest level of certification available to board members of an electric cooperative. This certification demonstrates my commitment to understanding and upholding the responsibilities, duties, and best practices required to effectively represent our co-op’s members. My training ensures that I can perform the essential roles of oversight, governance, and strategic planning with diligence and integrity.
Do you have energy industry experience, including work as a Great Lakes Energy employee, electric utility contractor, or at another energy service provider?
I have served on the board for the past nine years and served as the chairman of the Connections Truestream Board.
Please list any organizations that you belong to or volunteer work that you participate in:
Board chairman of the Barry County Planning Commission, Barry County Parks and Recreation Board
List other qualifications and relevant information:
I am the chairman of the Truestream Board, and I have previously served as the vice chair. I am also a member of the CEO evaluation committee.
GLE Board of Directors Candidate Finance Reporting
Great Lakes Energy Cooperative requires that director candidates submit campaign finance information at three times for each election cycle, and that those reports be made available to the members via the cooperative’s online election resources. If the financial report information changes during the election cycle, this page will be updated within the appropriate time frame.
Financial report through July 22:
Candidate self-funded; no external financial support or endorsements.
Great Lakes Energy is governed by a board of directors elected from and by the membership. Please read below for more details or to request an information packet on how you can become a candidate for the next election.
Q: How are Board members chosen?
A: Board members are elected by a mail-in ballot vote of co-op members in the district in which they are seeking election. These ballots will also include instructions on how members can vote online.
Q: What is the time commitment?
A: Ten to 12 board meetings are held per year during daytime business hours in either Boyne City or Cadillac, MI. Board members may also be required to attend committee meetings and are encouraged to attend conferences both in-state and out of state. Board members are paid a per diem for meetings.
Q: When are Board members elected?
A: Board members are elected annually by ballots, mailed with the July/August issue of the cooperative’s magazine, Michigan Country Lines. The results are announced at the GLE annual business meeting in August. New board members are seated immediately following the annual business meeting and should plan to attend this meeting.
Q: How can a co-op member become a candidate for election to the Board of Directors?
A: Full-time residential members are eligible. All candidates are nominated by petition in accordance with the co-op’s bylaws. To have a candidate nominated by petition, at least 50 GLE members residing in the district in which the candidate is running must provide the necessary information on the petition form and sign it. All petitions must be signed no more than ninety (90) days before they are submitted to GLE. Signatures that are obtained more than ninety (90) days before the petition is submitted will not be counted. The circulator of the petition must also provide the necessary information and sign each petition. The candidate must also read and sign the Affidavit of Qualifications and submit it with the completed petition forms.
To request a petition, please contact us at [email protected] or call 888-485-2537, ext. 1331.
Candidates should refer to the cooperative bylaws for more information.
Q: What are the qualifications to be a director?
A: In accordance with the co-op’s bylaws, a member must meet these qualifications:
Each director shall, at all times, be a member in good standing of the Cooperative and maintain his/her primary residence in the Cooperative’s service area, shall have the legal capacity to enter into a contract, and may not be in any way employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative, or of a business primarily engaged in selling electrical appliances, fixtures or supplies to the members of the Cooperative, nor shall they be an employee of the Cooperative. No person shall be eligible to become or remain a director while an employee of the Cooperative, or a wholly owned affiliate of the Cooperative. Except for those specific situations existing on the date these Bylaws are adopted, no person shall be eligible to be a candidate or shall hold office as a director who has a close relative who is an employee of the Cooperative or a wholly owned affiliate of the Cooperative. No Director shall be employed by the Cooperative, or a wholly owned affiliate of the Cooperative, within one (1) year of the expiration or termination of such Director’s term.
Q: What are the board districts and when is the next election for board seats?
- District No. 1: Emmet County (2027)
- District No. 2: Charlevoix and Cheboygan counties (2027)
- District No. 3: Antrim County (2026)
- District No. 4: Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Otsego counties (2026)
- District No. 5: Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties (2026)
- District No. 6: Lake and Mason counties (2025)
- District No. 7: Muskegon and Oceana counties (2027)
- District No. 8: Clare, Mecosta, Newaygo, and Osceola counties (2025)
- District No. 9: Allegan, Barry, Kent, Montcalm, and Ottawa counties (2025)
