JULIE STOSS, former consumer services supervisor, has been promoted to director of consumer services as of January, following the retirement of PAM BRUNGARDT. 

Stoss was first hired as a consumer services representative in 2016 and was promoted to her former supervisory role in 2017.

Brungardt, who began her career with WEC in December 2006, served the members of WEC for over 18 years in both accounting and consumer services roles. 

“Pam’s done a tremendous job during her service to WEC, and she’s been instrumental in developing new policies, processes, procedures and practices that have saved the cooperative hundreds of thousands of dollars in bad debt write-offs,” said Bruce W. Mueller, CEO/general manager. “She’s worked tirelessly over the years to train employees on the WEC tariffs and proper setup for member rate applications. She has earned the admiration and respect from the members, employees, trustees and peers who have worked with her over her career.”

Additionally, AMANDA MARTINEZ has also been promoted to manager of consumer services. Martinez started at WEC in 2014 as a consumer services representative and previously served as consumer services supervisor prior to her new role.

After 34 years of service, WEC also celebrated the retirement of WALT LOVINS from District 1: Scott City, as of Jan. 3. 
Lovins, who began his career at WEC in 1990, formerly served as a journeyman lineman, foreman, and area wide supervisor, a position he started in 2017. 

According to Mueller, “Walt’s served with dedication and led his team to deliver world class service to our membership.” 

With Lovins’ departure, WEC underwent an organizational restructure, and named KELLEY BURCH, formerly area wide supervisor for District 2: Leoti, as the new area wide supervisor for both Districts 1 and 2. 

Burch was first hired as a groundman in 1990, promoted to journeyman lineman in 1993, and has served in his supervisory role since 2001.

CHRIS HUBER has also retired as WEC’s District 6: Great Bend manager, as of Feb. 3. 

Huber, whose career at the cooperative began in 2007 with WEC’s acquisition of Aquila, is retiring from a 39-plus year career in the energy industry. He has led his team with dedication, following multiple company transitions over the decades. This experience included stints with Centel and UtiliCorp, too. 

“Under Chris’ leadership, his team has delivered exceptional service to our membership,” Mueller added. “We wish him well in this new chapter of his life!”

DAX WALK, formerly a foreman in Great Bend, has been promoted to Huber’s position. Walk began his career at WEC in 1995 and has worked as a journeyman lineman in Tribune prior to Great Bend. 

CAMPBELL RETIRES FROM BOARD

WES CAMPBELL, District 5 trustee, will retire from the WEC Board of Trustees, effective April 23.

Campbell, a lifelong Finney County resident, who represents a district comprising of his home county, eastern Kearny County, and Gray County, will not be seeking reelection to the board of trustees. 

Campbell grew up on a farm near Friend (located between Garden City and Scott City) and is a longtime farmer, rancher, and owner of a Finney County cattle grow yard. 

He was first appointed to fill a vacated position on the board in 1997 and has served continuously since, including as president and vice president. In recent years, he has served as president of the Sunflower Electric Power Corporationwww.sunflower.net Board of Directors, WEC’s generation and transmission power supplier.

Campbell firmly believes in the member-owned and controlled electric cooperative business model and its seven guiding principles. He says serving as a trustee has been a grand opportunity to shape policies ensuring cost-effective and reliable power to the region, provide effective use of capital and resources, and strengthen local communities. 

According to Mueller, Campbell’s leadership and service to WEC over many decades has been instrumental to the cooperative’s current financial strength.

“Wes’ dedication to the cooperative model and its core principles has left a lasting impact on WEC and its members,” Mueller said. “We will miss his leadership and loyalty to our cooperative.”

Campbell’s position will be filled by a new trustee, elected by cooperative members through WEC’s mail-in voting process (see Page 12D for more information). 

SULLIVAN AND YOUNG EARN BOARD LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE 

JOHN SULLIVAN, District 6 trustee, and JOSH YOUNG, District 2 trustee, have both received The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Board Leadership Certificate (BLC). 

NRECA’s training programs are designed to help electric cooperative trustees, at every stage of their service, understand their roles and responsibilities, stay up-to-date on the key issues and trends in the industry, and prepare them to meet the challenges facing electric cooperatives now and in the future. 

The BLC program is the second part of the director education program, consisting of a series of courses focusing in greater depth on specific industry and governance issues. These include issues such as risk management, power supply, parliamentary procedure, technology and policy development.

Board director education is offered in three parts, taken in progression from fundamental to advanced-level coursework, according to the NRECA.

DONECKER EARNS CCC 

SHAJIA DONECKER, multimedia specialist, has completed an intensive program widely recognized as the premier certification for professionals in the electric cooperative communication field from the University of Shajia Donecker Wisconsin, Madison.

The Certified Cooperative Communicator (CCC) is a cohort-based blended learning program, coordinated by NRECA in partnership with UW-Madison. 

The program provides training in various aspects of cooperative communication, including strategic planning, public relations, marketing, crisis communication, social media management, and more.

In addition to receiving over 110 hours of instruction, CCC graduates build strong, long-lasting relationships that they will carry with them throughout their careers. As part of the program’s requirements, Donecker, a dedicated member 
of WEC’s communication team, developed a strategic communication plan for WEC’s member services division.

WEC is proud to foster a culture of professional development that encourages employees to pursue opportunities that enhance their skills and expertise. Donecker’s achievement underscores WEC’s commitment to delivering effective and transparent communication to its members.