NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 10, 2008
Contact: Brenda Dunn (brenda@nwppa.org) (360) 816-1453
2008 NWPPA Annual Award Winners Announced
VANCOUVER, WA. – The Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) honored the following individuals at its 68 th Annual Conference and Membership Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska:
Life Membership Awards
NWPPA honors retired policymakers and managers from member utilities for work performed on behalf of public power.
- Michael Doneen, Douglas County PUD ( East Wenatchee, Wash.)
- Steve Haagenson, Golden Valley Electric Association ( Fairbanks, Alaska)
- Karl Schrade, Flathead Electric Cooperative ( Kalispell, Mont.)
John M. George Public Service Award
NWPPA honors a policy-making officer of a member system that has demonstrated remarkable service to public power.
- Robert Beans, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative ( Anchorage, Alaska)
Retiring Trustee Plaques of Appreciation
- Tim Gregori, Southern Montana G&T ( Billings, Mont.)
- Russ Leslie, Nelson Hydro (Nelson, B.C.)
- Karl Schrade, Flathead Electric Cooperative ( Kalispell, Mont.)
- Lonny Sheffield, HD Supply Utilities ( Portland, Ore.)
- Darrell Wood, Lassen Municipal Utility District ( Susanville, Calif.)
Distinguished Service Award
NWPPA honors individuals who have served the interest of public power and the Association in an outstanding manner.
- Jan Schori, Sacramento Municipal Utility District ( Sacramento, Calif.)
- M. Kay Moxness, Central Lincoln PUD ( Newport, Ore.)
Paul J. Raver Community Service Award
NWPPA honors an individual or company who has demonstrated superior leadership in the betterment of cities, states, or regions.
- Community Connection: Employees of Tacoma Public Utilities ( Tacoma, Wash.)
About NWPPA: NWPPA is an international association representing and serving customer-owned, locally controlled utilities in the Western U.S. and Canada. The Association also serves more than 250 associate members across the U.S. and Canada who are allied with the electric utility industry. Visit the NWPPA Web site at www.nwppa.org for more information.
2007 Safety Awards presented at 2008 Engineering & Operations Conference - April 10, 2008
News Release on Winners
Photo of award winners
2007 Awards
2007 NWPPA Annual Award Winners Announced
The Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) honored the following individuals at its 67th Annual Conference and Membership Meeting in Spokane, Wash.:
Life Membership Awards
NWPPA honors retired policymakers and managers from member utilities for work performed on behalf of public power.
• Allan R. Billett, Tanner Electric Cooperative (North Bend, Wash.)
• Vera Claussen, Grant County PUD (Ephrata, Wash.)
• Larry Descheemaeker, Fergus Electric Cooperative (Lewistown, Mont.)
• John Flowerree, Midstate Electric Cooperative, Inc. (La Pine, Ore.)
• Benson Heath, Wasco Electric Cooperative, Inc. (The Dalles, Ore.)
• (In memory of) John Kostick, Lewis County PUD (Chehalis, Wash.)
• George H. Litzenberger, Springfield Utility Board (Springfield, Ore.)
• Elmer Sams, Tanner Electric Cooperative (North Bend. Wash.)
• Joyce Weseman, Hood River Electric Cooperative (Hood River, Ore.)
• Cathy Wilson, Wasco Electric Cooperative, Inc. (The Dalles, Ore.)
John M. George Public Service Award
NWPPA honors policy-making officers of member systems that have demonstrated remarkable service to public power.
• Michael Doneen, Douglas County PUD (East Wenatchee, Wash.)
• Nourdine Jensen, Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (Eastsound, Wash.)
President’s Award
• Vera Claussen, Grant County PUD (Ephrata, Wash.)
Associate Member Plaques of Appreciation
• Dave Chaney, Accent Business Services
• Ron Gore, Gore Electric
• Rick Hall, General Pacific, Inc.
• Kim Ingerslev, Professional Computer Systems Co.
• Ray Kindley, Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt
• Rob Sirvaitis, The Energy Authority
Retiring Trustee Plaques of Appreciation
• Larry Descheemaeker, Fergus Electric Cooperative (Lewistown, Mont.)
• Dwight Langer, Northern Wasco County PUD (The Dalles, Ore.)
• Nate Narrance, Inland Power & Light Co. (Spokane, Wash.)
• Walter Sapp, Kodiak Electric Association, Inc. (Kodiak, Alaska)
Distinguished Service Award
NWPPA honors an individual who has served the interest of public power and the
Association in an outstanding manner.
• John Saven, Northwest Requirements Utilities
Paul J. Raver Community Service Award
NWPPA honors an individual or company who has demonstrated superior leadership in
the betterment of cities, states, or regions.
• Michael Doneen, Douglas County PUD (East Wenatchee, Wash.)
• James R. Day, Lewis County PUD (Chehalis, Wash.)
Plaques of Appreciation
(This year, NWPPA honored two women who have given their time and talent to the public power industry.)
• Liz Loomis, Liz Loomis Public Affairs
• Marilyn Showalter, Power in the Public Interest
2006 Safety Awards Presented at 2007 Engineering & Operations Conference
Click here to view a PDF of all 2006 Safety Award winners
2006 Awards
Nollkamper Honored at NIC with Lacy Peoples Award
This year’s recipient of the Lacy Peoples Award was Roy Nollkamper of Glacier Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Cut Bank, Mont. The award was presented at this year’s NWPPA Northwest Innovations Conference (NIC), held September 17-20 in Whitefish, Mont.
Six of Nollkamper’s co-workers came to the ceremony just to see him receive the award; they also did a fabulous job of keeping the surprise from him until he was presented with the award at the banquet. “I was thrilled to be at the conference and get to share Roy's surprise as his name was called for this award,” said Janet Crocker, a senior customer service representative at Glacier Electric.
Award recipients are selected for their lifetime commitment to the public power industry and remarkable work in the areas of marketing and communication. First given to Lacy Peoples of Cowlitz PUD at the Consumer Services/Communications Conference in 1978, the award is now presented to recipients during the annual NIC Conference awards banquet in September.
Current or former employees of NWPPA member utilities are eligible to receive this award. The NIC planning committee selects recipients based on the following criteria: demonstrated noted accomplishments for NWPPA and public power through marketing and communication; at least 20 years of service to the industry, with ten or more years working in the areas of marketing and communication; and promotion of public power through efforts such as community service and energy efficiency.
2006 Excellence In Communication Award Winners (click this link to view a PDF with a full list of 2006 award winners)
2006 Annual Conference Award Winners
Three Receive NWPPA Life Membership Awards
The Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) honors public power leaders each year with its Life Membership Award as a thank you for work performed by retired policymakers and managers from member utilities on behalf of public power.
The following individuals were honored at this year’s 66th Annual Conference and Membership Meeting in Lake Tahoe, Nev:
Glenn “Bill” Downey – Midstate Electric Cooperative Inc.
Glenn “Bill” Downey served on the Board of Directors for Midstate Electric Cooperative Inc. for 15 years. During his time on the Board, he served as president from 1994–1996.
Downey received NRECA Director Certification in 1995 and the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification in 2000. He was a regular attendee of NWPPA and ORECA meetings and trainings throughout his 15 years of service.
Sterling Benzel – Midstate Electric Cooperative Inc.
Sterling Benzel, former Midstate Electric Cooperative Inc. director, passed away at the age of 78 in November of 2005. During Benzel’s 17-year term as a director, he held the positions of secretary/treasurer and president in 2000-2001. He earned his Director Certification through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) as well as his Leadership Certificate and Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification in 2000.
Benzel was active in participating in NWPPA and ORECA courses throughout his years of service.
Dave Bouchard – City of Forest Grove Light and Power
Dave Bouchard moved from a long tenure at Portland General Electric to be the general manager of the City of Forest Grove Light and Power in 1993. During that time, he was very active in public power regionally and nationally. After serving as general manager for 12 years, Bouchard retired in 2004.
Bouchard served on the American Public Power Association (APPA) Board of Directors for six years. In appreciation for his commitment, Bouchard received the James D. Donovan Individual Achievement Award in 2004, a prestigious award that recognizes persons who have made a great individual contribution to the electric utility industry and to public power. He was also a past president of the Oregon Municipal Utilities Association.
As an electric engineer, Bouchard participated in a wide range of professional and industry organizations, including the American National Standards Committee that revises and issues the NESC. He currently works for NWPPA as a member relations manager.
John M. George Public Service Award Presented to Jean McKinney
The John M. George Public Service Award is given to recognize policymaking officers of member systems that have demonstrated remarkable service to public power. This year’s recipient is Jean McKinney, Wasco Electric Cooperative.
Jean McKinney has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Wasco Electric Cooperative, Inc. since 1981. During her 15 years of service, she has served as Board secretary and president. McKinney has also served on various association boards, such as Oregon Rural Electric Association, NRECA, and NWPPA.
She is highly respected locally, regionally, and nationally for her efforts on behalf of rural electric co-ops and other public power consumers. During the Northwest Directors and Managers Conference in 2002, she was honored as the recipient of the Alderman Award for distinguished service.
Retiring Trustees Honored with Plaque of Appreciation
Northwest Public Power Association presented Board Plaques of Appreciation to four Board of Trustee members for their work on behalf of the Association and its membership. NWPPA and its membership express their “thanks for a job well done” to:
- (In Memory of) Tom Blackweasel, Glacier Electric Cooperative
- George Litzenberger, Springfield Utility Board
- Robin Rego, Lakeview Light & Power
- Larry Weis, Turlock Irrigation District.
Thanks Given to Section Chairs
- Rollie Miller, Hill County Electric Cooperative, Inc. — 2006 E&O Committee Chair
- Bob McKaig, McKaig Evergreen — 2006 E&O Associate Member Committee Chair
- Steve Sander, Bonneville Power Administration — HazMat Committee Chair
- Steve Lafady, Cowlitz County PUD — Northwest Wage & Hour Information Service Chair
- Dave D’Avanzo, Lane Electric Cooperative, Inc. — 2006 Northwest Innovations & Communication Conference Chair
Three Receive Paul J. Raver Community Service Award
The Paul J. Raver Community Service Award is presented to an individual or company who has demonstrated superior leadership in the betterment of cities, states, or regions. This year there are three recipients:
Chuck Leighter – Lane Electric
Chuck Leighter has served 30 years on the Lane Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. During these years, Leighter has served as president, vice president, secretary, and currently as treasurer.
He has also served more than 30 years for various community/volunteer services, such as: Emerald Empire Kiwanis Club; Habitat for Humanity; various Salvation Army programs and activities; Ida Patterson School soup kitchen; Telephone Pioneers organization; and Campbell Senior Men’s Club.
Ray “Mac” McGregor – Douglas County PUD No. 1
Ray “Mac” McGregor is currently the distribution operations supervisor at Douglas County PUD No. 1 in East Wenatchee, Wash. At his PUD job, McGregor always takes the time to listen and puts the welfare and safety of his crew first.
In 2004, McGregor received both the Spirit of Wenatchee Award for his dedication to the community and especially for his help in the establishment and building of a Japanese Garden of Friendship in East Wenatchee, and the Washington PUD Association’s William T. Elmgren Public Service Award for exemplifying PUD commitment and involvement in the community.
McGregor volunteers his time to Serve Wenatchee Valley, his church, and his community. Serve Wenatchee is a network of churches and service organizations that provide basic needs and a hand up to the less fortunate.
Kris Mikkelsen – Inland Power & Light
Kris Mikkelsen held the position of chief financial officer for 19 years at Inland Power and Light prior to her advancement to chief executive officer about five years ago.
Mikkelsen somehow balances the work of over 100 employees, 19 counties, 35,000 members, about 8,000 miles of transmission, and 44 substations, and still has time and energy to serve on various committees and organizations. Just to name a few: chair of the Board of Trustees at Eastern Washington University; executive committee of SNAP; Economic Development Committee for the Spokane Chamber, as well as the Chamber; and president of Northwest Requirements Utilities (NRU).
Brown and Litzenberger Given the William “Bill” McCrorie Distinguished Service Award
This distinguished service award is given to two people who have served the interest of public power and NWPPA in an outstanding manner. The winners are:
Keneth Brown – Fall River Enterprise Board
Keneth Brown currently serves as the president of Fall River Enterprise Board, a subsidiary of Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative (REC). For the past 17 years, Brown has served on the Fall River REC and was president for nine of those years.
Service on other association boards include: the Snake River Power Association Board, Idaho Consumer-Owned Utility Association Board (Idaho Statewide Association), and the NRECA Board (serving as an NRECA representative of Region IX for 13 years, NRECA’s Administrative Committee for nine years, and their International Committee for five years). He also served as alternate representative to the Public Power Council for many years.
George Litzenberger – Board of Directors of the Springfield Utility Board
George Litzenberger has served on the Board of Directors of the Springfield Utility Board (SUB) for the past seven years and will retire by the end of 2006. During his time on the board, Litzenberger has served as the Board’s chairman and vice-chairman. He also served on SUB’s Budget Committee prior to being elected to the utility board.
Litzenberger has served on other boards as well, such as the APPA Policy Board Advisory Council; he is also a Legislative and Resolutions Committee member for both APPA and NWPPA. A member of NWPPA’s Board of Trustees since 1998, Litzenberger is serving an unprecedented third term.
During his tenure, Litzenberger has contributed to countless decisions that provide consistency of purpose and direction to the utility. He has helped ensure that electricity service offered to SUB’s customers meets or exceeds the community’s standards for quality and safety.
