East River employees participated in a Thanksgiving food drive for the Lake County Food Pantry. Employees donated a combination of groceries and cash to provide 24 complete Thanksgiving meals for local families. The meals included turkeys, dressing, potatoes and gravy, side dishes, and desserts. Thank you to the Employees Committee for organizing the food drive.
East River Electric Power Cooperative recently presented service awards to 25 employees with years of service ranging from five to 25 years.
“I extend my congratulations to the recipients of this year’s service awards and express my gratitude for their unwavering dedication to East River Electric. The significant number of employees we celebrated serves as a genuine testament to the steadfast commitment of our workforce,” said East River CEO/General Manager Bob Sahr.
Substation equipment and PCB foreman, Russ Odegard, one of this year’s service award recipients, began working at East River 25 years ago. “I was initially hired as an apprentice relay technician and over the years I witnessed many changes to technology. The change from SJ5 regulator panels with magnetic amplifiers to the most current digital regulator control panels shows the advancement of technology. East River’s commitment to help others no matter if it is other East River employees or employees at our member co-ops really resonates with my personal values. I have many family members living on farms in rural areas and being able to help provide a service that benefits them really keeps me motivated,” said Odegard.
Angie Neises, senior REED loan officer, celebrated her 25-year work anniversary. “In my job, every day is new and different. My work is interesting, challenging, and rewarding. Even though I’ve been working for East River and the REED Fund for 25 years, it is constantly changing and there is a lot of variety,” shared Neises. “It’s been very rewarding to watch the REED Fund grow. We have loaned over $100 million through the REED Fund and I have been here for most of that. I wish I could go back and visit with every borrower we have had in the last 25 years and see how their business is doing today. What REED has accomplished is really something that all the cooperatives can be proud of and something that I am truly proud to be a part of.”
East River celebrated the years of service awards with a luncheon held at the Dakota Prairie Playhouse.
A listing of the awards is as follows:
Photo caption: East River Electric service awards were presented to (back, left) Tim Fuerst, Mike Jaspers, Jordan Kisor, Kyle Veitz, Jake Schaefers, Dan Rinehart, Chris Studer (middle, left) Matt Tesch, Austin Lueck, Matt Hastings, Michael Olson, Preston Munk, Casey Anderson, Justin Olson, Tyler Frost (front, left) Jason Ledeboer, Corey Schwinger, Mark Hoffman, Russ Odegard, Angie Neises, Denny Fouberg, Brian Kogel, Travis Rude, and Clay Reagle.
Congratulations to Kutler Leighton and Nicholas Duis for completing their journeyman certifications through Northwest Lineman College. Kutler joined East River in 2019 and works as an RTU/Meter technician. Nicholas started at East River in 2020 as an apprentice lineman.
Photo: Left: Kutler accepts his certificate from Bob Sahr, East River Electric CEO/General Manager. Right: Nic accepts his certificate from Bob Sahr, East River Electric CEO/General Manager.
Jeff Genzer, President at Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer, & Pembroke, P.C. law office was awarded East River Electric Power Cooperative’s highest honor, the Eminent Service Award, during the organization’s 73rd annual meeting September 6, 2023, in Sioux Falls. The award is given annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to East River and the cooperative movement.
Jeff was recognized for his nearly four-decade-long career that has been dedicated to energy and environmental law. During his 38 years in his current position and during his prior tenure serving as staff counsel for the National Governor’s Association, he’s demonstrated commitment to and has worked hard to protect and advocate in the best interest of rural electric cooperatives and their member-owners.
He has been deeply involved in regulatory counseling, electric and natural gas rate making, and environmental permitting surrounding Clean Air Act permitting issues that impact energy projects. He has demonstrated legislative advocacy and litigation, appearing before various courts and federal agencies including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Jeff’s contributions to utilities and the cooperative cause have been significant, impacting state and local governments and initiatives across the Nation.
Throughout his career, he’s served as general counsel for several key energy organizations and currently serves as general counsel to the National Association of Energy Service Companies, the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association, and the Energy Programs Consortium. He has worked with East River Electric for many years through his role with the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association, helping cooperatives access low-cost hydropower from the nation’s dams.
“In recognition of your 38 years of service to electric cooperatives across the country, the East River Electric board of directors thanks you for your service to the cooperative movement and for your leadership in advancing and protecting rural electrification,” said East River Electric CEO and General Manager Bob Sahr. “Your work has helped to power the lives of millions of consumers across our region and around the country.”
In addition to his advocacy and dedicated work in the legal field, Jeff has made a positive difference through service in the Peace Corps, where he contributed to many development projects and served as the first energy planner in Micronesia.
Ervin Fink was presented with East River Electric Power Cooperative’s highest honor, the Eminent Service Award, during the organization’s 73rd annual meeting Sept. 6, 2023, in Sioux Falls. The award is given annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to East River and the cooperative movement.
As a member-owner of Douglas Electric Cooperative, Fink served for 36 years on the Douglas Electric board of directors – and for 22 of those years he served as the representative for Douglas Electric on the East River board of directors. At the time he stepped down from the boards last year, he had been serving as the Douglas Electric board president and East River’s board secretary.
Ervin epitomizes the seventh cooperative principle of concern for community in his professional and personal life. And, throughout his years of service on both boards, he was an invaluable leader in directing many projects and policies that were crucial for the continued success of rural electric cooperatives including the implementation of East River’s Transmission System Upgrade Plan, being an advocate for farm safety campaigns and cooperative youth outreach programs, and approval of funding supporting economic development and advancing local organizations.
He served as a strong champion for public policies that benefit and impact utilities. His thoughtful engagement during electric cooperative visits to Pierre, Washington, D.C., and legislative fly-ins through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association paired with the close ties he maintained with legislators from his local community demonstrates his devotion to advancing the cooperative mission.
“The East River Electric board of directors thanks you for your service to the cooperative and your leadership in advancing rural electrification in our region,” said East River Board President Jim Ryken. “The leadership you have provided on the board of directors has helped to ensure consumers across the region have received safe, reliable, and affordable electric power for decades.”
Outside of the cooperative realm, he served in the National Guard for six years and is involved in his local church. Ervin is a graduate of Armour High School and owns a farming operation near Armour. Ervin and his wife Dee have two children.