MEET YOUR 2024 DIRECTOR CANDIDATES
DISTRICT 7
Leroy Clark
District 7
Towns
of Martell and Gilman in Pierce County; Towns of Eau Galle, Rush River,
Kinnickinnic, Troy, and Pleasant Valley in St. Croix County
Address:
W5862 690th Avenue,
Beldenville, WI 54003
Occupation:
School Bus Driver – Retired Dairyman
Cooperative member:
15 years
Past experience:
Board
of Directors FCS of NW Wisconsin/AgStar – 2003-2005 (served during
merger). Past Board Member – Current President – SCVMGA (St. Croix
Valley Master Gardeners Assn.) President – 3 years, Board – 4 years.
Past Board Member – President – Wisconsin Jersey Breeders Assn.
Why I feel electric cooperatives are important to the electric industry:
Yes
– Helped, and continue to help bring electric service to Rural America
at an affordable cost. Also brought broadband internet to Rural WI.
Why I want to serve as a director:
It is a responsibility of co-op members to serve.
Areas of expertise and anticipated contributions:
I am good at working with groups of people and coming to a consensus.
DISTRICT 8
Brian Bergseng
District 8
Town of River Falls in Pierce County
Address:
N8821 790th Street,
River Falls, WI 54022
Occupation:
Small Business Owner/Dairy Farmer
Cooperative member: 14
Current experience:
Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services, Director - 2015 – Present
Past experience:
Dairy Farmers of America – Delegate 2010 – 2011; AgSource – Delegate 2013 – 2016
Other experience:
B.S. of Agricultural Business with an emphasis in Engineering from the University of Wisconsin- River Falls.
Why I feel electric cooperatives are important to the electric industry:
Yes,
I feel that electrical cooperatives are an important part of the
electric industry. They were initially formed to serve those customers
that were not served by for-profit companies. Today, they continue to
serve their members with consistent and reliable electricity at a very
competitive price. There have been, and will continue to be many
challenges to electric cooperatives, but they will continue to face
those challenges with the same determination that they did years ago
when they were formed.
Why I want to serve as a director:
The
reason that I would like to serve as a director is that I believe it is
important to serve the community which I live in. I also feel that it
is important that our members be fairly represented. I feel my unique
talents and firsthand experiences are a benefit to the cooperative.
Areas of expertise and anticipated contributions:
As
a successful small business owner of a dairy farm, I have a breath of
knowledge to draw from. Dairy farming is not easy work, but I know that
if the business is managed effectively by working hard and keeping an
eye on every aspect of your business you can and will be successful. My
business and farm background along with the large amount of knowledge
that I have gained during the past nine years of serving on the Pierce
Pepin board of directors is why I believe I would continue to be a
great asset to this board.
Other information:
I
would be honored to continue to be the representative from District 8
and I thank you for taking the time to review my information.
DISTRICT 9
Daniel Reis
District 9
Towns of Clifton and Oak Grove in Pierce County
Address:
N5945 1000th Street,
Ellsworth, WI 54011
Occupation:
Retired Educator of 32 years in Secondary Vocational Education (Career and Technical Education). Retired Farmer
Cooperative member:
50 years
Current experience:
Currently
only on the Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services Board and in my 3rd
3-year term. Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD), Board Leadership
Certificate (BLC). and Director Gold Credential (DGC)
Past experience:
Town
of Oak Grove Treasure for 8 years (1980s), Town of Oak Grove Clerk for
2 years (2015-16), WI Association for Leadership in Education and Work
(WALEW) -President, Director and Executive Secretary late 1990-2006. WI
Farm Technology Days -Executive Board (2007-2010), Pierce County Board
for District 13 for 14 years and serve on many county committees (2005
-2019).
Other experience:
As
an Educator for 32 years, I was active as an Agriculture Education and
Industrial Technology Instructor, Local Vocational Education
Coordinator, and School-to-Work Coordinator for the St. Croix Valley
S-T-W Consortium. During that time, I was responsible for securing Carl
Perkins and S-T-W grants and the starting of the Youth Apprenticeship
Programs.
Why I feel electric cooperatives are important to the electric industry:
Being
a former Vocational Agriculture Instructor and a farmer, Co-ops have
been an essential part of my life. The local Electric Coop has helped
us progress with affordable electricity and is a vital part of our
community. Our recent initiative of broadband – Swift Current Connect –
is an example of how our Cooperative has helped improve our community.
Why I want to serve as a director:
I
have the time and energy and wish to continue a meaningful contribution
to my community. Having served as a director for the past 9 years I
believe the education and experience I have received to be very helpful
in making good sound judgement decisions on the future of our Electric
Cooperative.
Areas of expertise and anticipated contributions:
With
my past Education and Leadership roles I believe I have the experience
to make good decisions based on common sense and what is best for the
community.
******************************
Christopher Tashjian
District 9
Towns of Clifton and Oak Grove in Pierce County
Address:
N8784 1060th Street,
River Falls, WI 54022
Occupation:
Physician
Cooperative member:
31
Current experience:
Chair (2024-25) of the Metastar Board of Directors (medical quality assurance, State of Wisconsin), on board since 2019.
Past experience:
Health
Partners (health insurance) board for 20 years; MMIC (malpractice
insurance) board (board chair) for 6 years; River Falls Medical Clinic
board for 20 years.
Other experience:
Fellow Health Information Technology – U.S. Health and Human Services
Why I feel electric cooperatives are important to the electric industry:
Yes – Co-ops of any kind give voice to the consumer.
Why I want to serve as a director:
I feel I have the experience, training, and expertise to add to the board. Especially relating to SwiftCurrent.
Areas of expertise and anticipated contributions:
Board governance. Technology – especially relating to electronic medical records. Board experience (co-op and otherwise).
Other information:
As
a 30+ year member of the co-op I feel the time is right to give back.
As my day job winds down, I am able to give more time to co-op
activities.
