2024 Cuivre River Electric Cooperative Official Ballot
Meet Your Director Candidates
Lincoln County – District 3
*Denotes a current office holder.
Lincoln County – District 3
John Waddell, TROY, MO
John
has been a member of Cuivre River Electric since 2012. John and his
wife of 47 years, Carol, have three sons and seven grandchildren.
He
was born and raised on a grain and livestock farm in Central Illinois.
His background includes serving on boards and leadership roles in
various local, state, and national organizations, such as church,
community, civic, philanthropic, government, and professional
associations. He is currently an elder of his church.
John
holds a Bachelor of Science degree, a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine,
and an Executive MBA. Following graduation, he entered a large animal
veterinary practice in Nebraska. After 30 years, he joined Boehringer
Ingelheim Animal Health, a multi-national animal health company as a
technical services veterinarian. He currently leads a team as the
director of five veterinarians.
He
says he would bring a diverse experiential business enterprise
background to the board based on a career of serving production
agriculture and livestock producers in rural communities. “I’ve always
considered it a duty and honor to serve the communities within which I
live and work, and by default have accepted leadership roles.”
His
views: John says that CREC has a reputation as a leading and growing
electric cooperative in the region, known for its reliability and
dependability of service to the communities it serves. “Reliability is
due in large part to the outstanding, well-trained, and dedicated
workforce,” he says. “Retaining and hiring top talent is essential to
future success.”
Having
lived in rural areas his entire life, John says reliability is the most
important feature of the electricity Cuivre River Electric provides.
“Cost is a distant second,” he says.
Diversity
of sources decreases the risks of relying on a single supplier,
partner, or energy source, John says. “Being part of a large community
of like-minded cooperatives offers assurance and a common voice to
resist unfunded mandates and regulations that may limit or hinder
future reliable sources for our communities.”
With
humility, John says he is most interested in serving on the board as a
way to give back to the community while being associated with an
outstanding and admirable organization. “I also see this as a learning
opportunity to meet, work, and learn from the leaders and others of
diverse backgrounds who also have a passion for service.”
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Lincoln County – District 3
Mike Dicken, TROY, MO
Mike
joined Cuivre River Electric in 2023. He is married and serves as a
district sales manager for Burrus Seed and was formerly with
Monsanto/Bayer. His 24 years of experience includes selling seed and
improving ROI for area farmers in Mississippi, Iowa, and Missouri.
His
college education is from Three Rivers Community College and the
University of Maryland. Mike is also a former Army serviceman and spent
time as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After leaving the
military, he administered a job training program for the Ozark
Foothills Regional Planning Commission and assisted in research grant
writing. His knowledge and expertise include living and operating
businesses on a strict budget. He served on the Chamber of Commerce in
Mason City and was an Iowa Ag Committee member.
His views:
Mike says that the cooperative board needs to focus on maintaining
reliable service while staying affordable for everyone, be it a
business or residence. He believes reliability is the most important
feature of the electricity that CREC provides. “Other than an accident
with someone hitting a transformer pole, power has never been off for
more than two minutes,” he says.
Researching
what is available to the cooperative, he says is the best way to learn
how to meet present and future energy needs. “Digging into the data to
further move the cooperative into the future is what interests me most
about serving on the Cuivre River Electric Cooperative Board of
Directors,” Mike says.
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Lincoln County – District 3
Kim Dannegger, TROY, MO
Kim
has been a member of Cuivre River Electric since 2022. She is married
with two children attending colleges in Missouri. Kim has been a
fitness instructor for ten years, currently at Club Fitness and CDY
Fitness in Troy. Her experience also includes 17 years with Francis
Howell School District as an early childhood developmental screener
where she collaborated daily with parents delivering screening results.
Kim’s
leadership skills and community background include leading group
fitness classes, volunteering with the Oasis Food Pantry, and serving
as a Girl Scout leader for eight years. She is an active member of
Trinity Lutheran in Troy and the director of their summer VBS program.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Sciences from Truman
University.
Her views: Kim
believes that access for all and non-interrupted service is among the
most important issues the cooperative board needs to focus on in the
next few years. Reliability is the most important feature of the
service CREC provides. “Electric power is important to maintain
households,” she says.
Looking
ahead to find out where and/or how services can be maintained
regardless of disasters, weather, etc., she says is the best way to
meet present and future energy needs. Helping in her community is what
most interests Kim about serving on the Cuivre River Electric Board of
Directors.
Warren County – District 2
*Denotes a current office holder.
Warren County – District 2
Caleb Logsdon, MARTHASVILLE, MO
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Warren County – District 2
Steve Coffey*, WARRENTON, MO
St. Charles County – District 1
*Denotes a current office holder.
St. Charles County – District 1
Mark Schulte*, O'FALLON, MO
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St. Charles County – District 1
Dennis J. Sargent Jr., FLINT HILL, MO
St. Charles County - District 3
*Denotes a current office holder.
St. Charles County – District 3
Michael DeWitt, LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO
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St. Charles County – District 3
Brad White, LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO
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St. Charles County – District 3
Nick Agos, LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO
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St. Charles County – District 3
Tamika J. Cole, O'FALLON, MO
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St. Charles County – District 3
Timothy Welker, LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO
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St. Charles County – District 3
Dale Anderson*, LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO