Four Holy Cross Energy members running for one open seat in Northern District

Holy Cross Energy (HCE), an electric company cooperatively owned by its members, today announced the candidates running for its open Board seats this spring. The business and affairs of HCE are directed by the democratically-elected Board of Directors.

The board consists of seven directors, who are elected to represent three geographic districts: Western District with one director, Northern District with four directors and Southern District with two directors. Four individuals have posted nominations for one open seat in the Northern District. Absent challengers, Incumbent David Munk will be re-elected by acclamation on June 6 to represent the Southern District.

Ballots for this election will be mailed on May 6, 2018 to all current HCE members. All HCE members are asked to vote for one candidate to represent the Northern District, and one candidate for the Southern District either by mail or in person at the HCE Annual Meeting that will be held on June 6 at Brush Creek Pavilion at 4:30 in Eagle. 

The following profiles, listed in alphabetical order, have been provided by the four candidates running for the open seat in the Northern District for members to review before voting.

David Campbell, Vail

Holy Cross has executed very well on its renewable plans for a number of years, and now has an ambitious new set of goals with the 70/70/30 plan (70% renewable sources/ 70% reduction in carbon emissions/ all by the year 2030.) I believe in this bold commitment to push towards renewables while keeping rates affordable and our service reliable. This should be our top line priority, along with updating our regional grid to make it more efficient and resilient in the face of regional wildfires. I am confident those goals can be achieved.

I have been lucky enough to live in the Eagle Valley since 1993 and have always tried to contribute back into our community through a variety of channels. I presently serve as a member of the Town of Vail’s Design Review Board. My full-time career spans over 25 years focused on real estate, including Colorado ranch and residential sales, building development, and marketing communications. I currently work in the development and sales of The Lion, a brand new 65-unit, residential building in Vail. I am well versed in difficult negotiations, budgets and long-range planning, and I genuinely understand the concerns of local businesses and our towns. As a husband and father of two, I am also keenly aware of our larger responsibilities: to build intelligently while preserving our mountain environment and keeping life in our valley affordable.

I would be honored to represent our district as Holy Cross continues to be a leading example of what a forward-thinking electrical cooperative can be for its members. I look forward to serving as your board member, and please feel free to contact me with any questions or feedback at Campbell4HCE@gmail.com or at http://facebook.com/Campbell4HolyCross.

Michael Kaddatz, Eagle

A retired business professional, I am looking to contribute business knowledge and ideas to Holy Cross Energy by seeking a position on the Board of Directors. Five-year residents of Eagle, my wife and I moved here to be involved in our grandchildren’s lives. Increasingly, we have been getting engaged in the community. I referee local high school soccer, volunteer at our church and support charities and youth programs throughout the region.

I cofounded a successful, nationally prominent consulting firm. For 30 years, I consulted to clients’ boards on organizational development, strategic planning, risk management and related issues. My clients included Duke Energy, Arizona Public Service, Electricities of North Carolina, Tacoma Public Utilities, Bonneville Power, Lower Colorado River Authority and many other electric utilities. Thus, I understand electric utilities’ business issues and have the necessary background for the Holy Cross Energy Board.

In summary, please consider the following attributes of my candidacy for the Holy Cross Energy Board:

• Established and invested in the community of Holy Cross Energy’s service territory.
• Motivated by the long-term interests of my children and grandchildren who reside locally.
• Seasoned and successful business professional.
• Pertinent business background with boards and electric utilities.
• Retired, yielding ample time to address members’ concerns, prepare for and attend meetings and otherwise fulfill Director responsibilities.

I look forward to working on the Board to provide safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to the community and to achieve its clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals. Respectfully, I ask for your vote.

Larissa Read, Edwards

As your representative to the Holy Cross Energy Board of Directors, I will balance the economic needs of our cities, towns, and rural communities with the equally critical need to reduce our impact on natural resources we rely on. We must make sound, forward-looking decisions that support us today, and ensure that the next generation of residents and visitors can fish, ski, and operate their ranches here in central Colorado.

As a public servant and consultant, I have over 20 years of experience guiding communities, public officials, and managers through tough decisions that balance the needs of the human and natural environments. My project management experience spans the Mountain West, from managing large planning efforts and budgets for visitor, transportation, and resource management decisions on federal lands, to facilitating challenging conversations with Colorado mountain communities facing recovery from wildfires, drought, and floods. Here in the Holy Cross Energy service area, I co-facilitated the Climate Action Plan for the Eagle County Community and facilitated the stakeholder engagement for the City of Aspen Climate Action Plan. I currently serve our community as Board Chair for the Eagle River Watershed Council.

With your vote, I will support our energy cooperative in their leadership efforts to maintain reliable and low-cost electricity delivery to our communities. I will work hard to ensure Holy Cross Energy’s continued innovation towards sustainable and financially responsible energy for our community, now and in the future.

Kenneth L. Wise, Edwards

I was raised in rural Iowa and spent the majority of my working career in Minnesota. I am now retired and my wife and I now make our permanent home in Edwards. We are active in our local community, serving on the Riverwalk Property Owners and Emerald Building HOA boards, volunteering at Beaver Creek as Mountain hosts and at the Vail Symposium, and enjoying skiing and all things outdoors!

My entire 38-year professional career was spent as a CPA working with one of the world’s largest public accounting firms. In this role, I was fortunate to serve a wide range of companies, both public and private, across many different industries. During this time, I spent significant time working with member owned businesses and cooperative organizations and was very active in related industry organizations including the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives.

I am seeking election to the Board of HCE because I believe strongly in its mission to provide members with the best possible services at a reasonable and competitive cost consistent with sound business and environmental practices. I am passionate that boards should be made up of individuals with diverse skills and experiences and I would like to use my background and sincere interest to serve HCE and its members. I thank you for your consideration on this important matter for our company

The winner of this election will be announced at the Annual Meeting on June 6 and will serve a 3-year term representing the Northern District. The remaining HCE Board of Directors for the 2018/2019 year are:

• Kristen Bertuglia, Board Member since 2012, representing the Northern District
• Robert Gardner, Board Member since 2012, representing the Southern District
• Megan Gilman, Board Member since 2011, representing the Northern District
• Clemons Kopf, Board Member since 2017, representing the Western District
• David Munk, Board Member since 2010, representing the Southern District
• Adam Palmer, Board Member since 2009, representing the Northern District