Current Directors

Linn County Rural Electric Cooperative’s governing board is comprised of seven directors, one from each district. As a member of Linn County REC, you share in the responsibility for your cooperative by voting at the annual meeting for directors who will represent you.

The board of directors you elect sets the policies and directs the business affairs of the cooperative at their monthly board meeting. The primary goal of the board is to provide reliable power at the lowest possible cost according to sound business practices.

As a member of Linn County REC, you have the opportunity to run for the board of directors, serve on the nominating committee, and vote for directors at the annual meeting. Linn County REC encourages all of its members to take an active role in these election opportunities. If you are interested in serving on the nominating committee or running for the board of directors, please contact Jennifer Feddersen at (319) 377-1587 or toll free at 1-800-332-5420.

To learn more about your board of directors, read their biographies below:

District 1: Kenneth Squires, Secretary

Kenneth and his wife Joyce live in Otter Creek Township near Center Point.

Occupation: Farmer. Retired Pioneer Seed Corn dealer.

Activities/Organizations: Iowa Corn Growers (member), Iowa Soybean Association (member), Center Point Lions, Alice United Methodist Church (member). He has obtained his National Rural Electric Cooperative director certification.

What do you think your most important role is as a director? "To assure our members that the cooperative is providing reliable power at the most reasonable cost while maintaining a strong and progressive cooperative."

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing the cooperative today? "Keeping up with the rapid growth that we experience in our service territory. To make sure that we have the equipment and personnel to provide safe and dependable electricity to our members."

District 2: Kirk Hiland

Kirk and his wife Theresa live in Penn Township in North Liberty. 

Occupation: Managing Broker, NAI Iowa Realty Commercial. Adjunct Instructor-University of Iowa, College of Business

Activities/Organizations: Cedar Rapids Area Association of REALTORS (past President), Iowa Association of REALTORS, National Association of REALTORS,  Boy Scouts, Ducks Unlimited

What are your short term goals? “To assist in making decisions that will maximize productivity and minimize expenses given the current regulatory and rate structure system in the state.”
 

What are your long term goals? “To be proactive in controlling electricity costs and costs associated with delivery in order to give the members the best rates and service possible in a constantly changing environment of Federal, State and Local regulation.  Ultimately I would like to see that rates to Linn County REC customers are among the lowest while still providing the consistent quality service we are used to.” 

District 3: Roger Krug, Treasurer

Roger and his wife Mary live in Fairfax Township in Fairfax.

Occupation: Farmer

Activities/Organizations: Lennox Mutual Insurance Association (past president), Iowa Corn Growers (member), Iowa Soybean Association (member), American Legion Post 217 (member), Central Iowa Power Cooperative (director)

What are your short term goals? "I want to continue upgrading our system each and every year to improve reliability and prepare our cooperative for the road ahead.”

What are your long term goals? "I have always kept an eye on the future needs of our members by making sure we have an ample supply of affordable electricity. This requires constant planning and a commitment to making sure co-op employees have the best technology and equipment to do their work. By making smart investments today, we will meet our long term goals for affordable and reliable electricity tomorrow.” 

District 4: Dan Wille, Assistant Secretary

Dan and his wife Shanna live in Monroe Township in Marion.

Occupation: Mechanical contractor at Modern Piping, Inc., Farmer with a cow/calf operation.

Activities/Organizations: Mechanical Contractors Association of Iowa, Local 125 Plumbers and Pipefitters (past vice president), Farm Bureau, International Facility Management Association.

What do you think the most important role of a director is? “A director serves many important roles, determining policies, overseeing financial issues, providing direction, but the most important role of a director is to ensure that the members are receiving the best service at a fair cost.”

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing the co-op today? “The biggest issue is the climate change / greenhouse gasses legislation on the national level. On the local level the biggest issue is providing reliable and affordable electricity to our co-op members. The way I would address this issue is to make sure qualified people are in the right position, have the right tools for their job and plan for the future of the co-op.”

District 5: Lisa Rose, Vice President

Lisa and her husband Roger live in Linn Township near Springville.

Occupation: Program Manager for NCS Pearson.

Activities/Organizations: Sixth Judicial Department of Corrections (volunteer mentor), Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion.

What are your short term goals? “In an ever changing industry it is important to stay abreast of the local, regional and national issues that are facing or could potentially face the Linn County REC. My short-term goal is tocontinue to build on my knowledge and to stay abreast of electric cooperative issues by 1) attending National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) courses/activities, 2) understanding local, state and national legislation and its potential impact to the REC and 3) interacting with board members of other electric cooperatives."

What are your long term goals? "To work alongside other board members and the Linn County REC leadership to represent member consumers on all issues that could potentially impact the cooperative (operations, legislative, community, financial, safety, renewable energy, reliability, etc.) and to ensure that as a board we adhere to the guiding principles of the cooperative."

District 6: Gary Schropp, President

Gary and his wife Sue live in Jefferson Township near Swisher.

Occupation: Patrick Energy Services, Inc. as Telecommunications Construction Manager.

Activities/Organizations: Shueyville United Methodist Church

What do you think your most important role is as a director? "To represent the members in making decisions that are in the best interest of the entire cooperative."

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing the cooperative today? "I think the biggest issue facing our organizations today is getting the federal, state and local agencies that control our industry to understand how their decisions and actions affect our business. We need to make sure our concerns and issues are presented to these individuals and organizations through our membership and involvement in our industry organizations."

District 7: Elmer Vanorny

Elmer and his wife Iona live in Big Grove township near Solon.

Occupation: Farmer. Previously worked as an electrician and installed heating and cooling units.
 

Activities/Organizations: Army veteran, Johnson County Cattleman’s Association, Solon Legion, Farm Bureau and Big Grove township trustee. Previous 4-H leader, county extension director and county cattleman’s director.
 

What are your short term goals? “My short term goals would be to continue to keep Linn County REC’s reliability in the forefront while maintaining rates as low as possible.”

What are your long term goals? “Strategic planning is something that plays a valuable role at the cooperative.  It makes sure that the board and staff are on the same page as the cooperative goes forward.  My longer term goals are the ones we established in strategic planning: continue to increase efficiencies within the organization through the use of technology, improve Linn County REC’s communication with members and continue to look at ways to improve the governance process.”