Dakota Electric 2024 Official Ballot
Each candidate is responsible for the information contained in their profile.
District 1
District 1
Gerald (Jerry) Pittman,
Lakeville, seeks re-election in District 1. Jerry is a 31-year Dakota
Electric member and served on Dakota Electric’s board for 30 years,
currently as board treasurer. He served as chair of Dakota Electric and
its subsidiary boards, Energy Alternatives and Midwest Energy Services.
Pittman has a BS Mechanical Engineering (U of MN) and MBA (Loyola U).
He worked in the energy industry for over 35 years and currently owns
The File Depot – Twin Cities, a full-service records management
business he started with his family. He is a military veteran, member
of Minnesota Farmers Union, and member of Fresh Energy and Conservation
Minnesota. Jerry also volunteered with Feed My Starving Children and
Habitat for Humanity. For more information, please visit
https://linktr.ee/PittmanDEA.
************************************
District 1
Jeff Nelson,
Lakeville, seeks election in District 1. Jeff is a 25-year Dakota
Electric member with a keen interest in renewable energy. He received
his master’s degree in taxation and worked for 21 years at the
accounting firm PwC as a managing director/CPA before retiring in 2020.
At PwC, he co-led PwC’s Like Kind Exchange Technology Practice. He has
designed and installed off-the-grid solar and wind power systems at his
Minnesota cabin. He is an active member of Lakeville Friends of the
Environment, the Sierra Club, CURE, Fresh Energy, Minnesota Farmers
Union, Citizen Climate Lobby, and MRES, and works to support
environmental stewardship within his community. As a father and
grandfather, Jeff is committed to leaving an energy secure future for
our children.
District 2
District 2
Clay Van De Bogart,
Lakeville, seeks re-election in District 2. Clay is a 30-year member of
Dakota Electric and has served on Dakota Electric’s board for 24 years.
He also represents Dakota Electric on Great River Energy’s (GRE) board
of directors, the company supplying power to Dakota Electric. He has
served multiple terms as treasurer for both organizations. At Dakota
Electric his board committee work includes capital credits payments for
members, scholarships for youth, audit, utility rate case, election and
serves on the diversity, equity and inclusion working group. His focus
at GRE includes financial oversight, risk management processes,
governance reform and responsible renewable energy development. Clay
has served on various civic boards and commissions, is retired and
holds degrees in agriculture and business.
District 3 — Seat 1
District 3 — Seat 1
Kenneth (Ken) Danner,
Apple Valley, seeks re-election in District 3. Kenneth is a 43-year
Dakota Electric member and has served on the board for 22 years. He is
retired from Collins Aerospace (Rosemount Aerospace) after working 37
years in design engineering, purchasing, quality assurance and
manufacturing management. He is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and
previously served seven years as treasurer and chair of the Audit
Committee and chaired the Capital Credits Committee. He also served as
board secretary and on the Compensation and Performance Review
Committee. A graduate of the University of Minnesota (BSME), Danner is
a Registered Professional Engineer and a member of the American Society
of Mechanical Engineers and proprietor of Danner Clockworks. He is a
member of Emanuel Lutheran Church.
************************************
District 3 — Seat 1
Donald (Don) Vasatka,
Eagan, seeks election in District 3. Don is a 44-year member of Dakota
Electric and has 32 years of financial leadership experience including
his current position with an investment consulting firm providing
analytical expertise to pension plans. He serves on the Sustainable
Eagan Advisory Commission and served eight years on the
finance/governance committee of Northeast Investment Cooperative. His
previous US Bank experience includes credit policy, finance, budgeting,
operations and cost control. He has owned and managed an independent
retail organization. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business and an
MBA from the Carlson School of Management. Don’s rooftop solar and
electric vehicle were featured on the Minnesota Renewable Energy
Society’s Solar Home Tour and Fresh Energy.
https://fresh-energy.org/don-and-pat-say-yes-to-clean-energy
District 3 — Seat 2
District 3 — Seat 2
Cyndee Fields,
Eagan, seeks election in District 3. Cyndee is a 32-year member of
Dakota Electric and a 23-year Eagan City Council member with a special
interest in infrastructure; serving on the Public Works Committee and
Personnel Committee; she has served as Acting Mayor for many years. She
serves on the diversity, equity and inclusion working group as a member
of the Dakota Electric board. Her background also includes experience
in legislative assistance, curriculum leadership, demonstrating her
long-term commitment to serving the community effectively. Cyndee and
her husband Larry have four children and nine grandchildren.
************************************
District 3 — Seat 2
Richard Billion,
Apple Valley, seeks election in District 3 Seat 2. Billion is a 29-year
member of Dakota Electric. He is a practicing patent attorney who leads
the firm he founded. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical
engineering, an MBA, and a JD. His professional experience at Exxon,
IBM, FICO and Control Data includes software, controls, and power
system technologies. He serves on the finance committee at Mary, Mother
of the Church in Burnsville. He serves the Knights of Columbus in
various roles. He served on numerous other boards including the MN
Valley YMCA (Burnsville), the Riverwoods HOA (Burnsville) and the
Friendly Shores HOA. Richard volunteers at various local organizations
and was awarded Outstanding Scoutmaster in 2015. For more information
go to www.richardbillion.com
************************************
District 3 — Seat 2
John Hanken,
Apple Valley, seeks election in District 3. John is an 8-year member of
Dakota Electric. He is a former firefighter for the City of Apple
Valley and currently serves as the Senior Manager, Facilities and
Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) for Silk Road Medical, a medical
device manufacturer, where his responsibilities include energy
management and sustainability, strategic planning, team leadership,
infrastructure maintenance, capital construction planning and project
management, operational budget management, and emergency medical
response. Hanken is a credentialed Sustainability Facilities
Professional by the International Facilities Management Association
(IFMA) and a member of the International Society of Sustainability
Professionals (ISSP). John plans to combine his professional experience
and deep-rooted sense of community service to represent District 3.
************************************
District 3 — Seat 2
Robert (Bob) Heidenreich
a 20 year licensed electrical professional has a strong record of
community service and professional experience. Currently serving on the
City of IGH Planning Commission and has previously been involved with
the Environmental Advisory Commission and founding member of Flint
Hills Community Advisory Council, showcasing his dedication to
environmental stewardship and community engagement. Bob has a diverse
educational background in Aviation, Computer Science and Traffic
Management from various institutions. With over four decades of
professional experience, including owning and operating The Deck &
Door Company/The Deck Store, Bob remains committed to creating fiscally
responsible budgets, promoting renewable energy, and reducing carbon
output. He takes pride in his contributions to Dakota County, where he
has raised his family and continues serving the community.
District 4
District 4
Jenny Hoeft,
Hastings, seeks re-election in District 4. Jenny is a 13-year member of
Dakota Electric. Her professional leadership experience includes
international trade execution with CHS in Inver Grove Heights,
propagation management for Bailey Nurseries in Cottage Grove, and
operations management at Afton Alps/Vail Resorts in Hastings. She’s
worked in the agriculture industry from an early age, growing into
leadership roles within 4-H in Dakota County and Future Farmers of
America in Randolph. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Administration and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls,
including an internship in genetics. She is the fourth generation
living on her family’s farm in Nininger Township. Jenny continues her
family’s legacy of volunteering and serving organizations at all
levels. linkedin.com/in/jenny-hoeft
************************************
District 4
Ian Benson,
Rosemount, seeks election in District 4. Ian is a 31-year member of
Dakota Electric and retired from Xcel Energy as vice president of
transmission planning. At Xcel Energy he held leadership positions in
nuclear power generation, energy trading, transmission planning,
operations and customer service. His formal education includes
university degrees in engineering and mathematics from the University
of Minnesota and an executive MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
Ian is a retired naval officer having served at sea in the Pacific
fleet and various shore commands in Asia, Europe and the United States.
He retired with the rank of Commander. Ian has three grown children and
lives with his wife in Rosemount, Minnesota.
************************************
District 4
Elizabeth (Liz) Lucente,
Eagan, seeks election in District 4 and is a 6-year member of Dakota
Electric. Liz is an environmental lawyer and sustainability
professional with 20+ years of leadership experience in the energy
sector where her career focus is climate, energy policy, resilience and
fairness. She serves as co-founder of Minneapolis-St. Paul Professional
Women for Good and volunteers on Vermont Law School’s Alumni Board, her
alma mater. She is a recipient of two Smart Energy Decisions WISE
(Women in Smart Energy) national awards for Mentorship (2024) and
Industry Leadership (2022), and King & Spalding Pro Bono Service
Awards for her legal work on justice and fairness for underserved
communities (2009-2013). Liz’s J.D. and Master of Studies focused on
environmental policy, justice and sustainability.
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556839963486&mibextid=PtKPJ9
