Posted: 11.23.2011

Cooperative Network, the trade association for Minnesota and Wisconsin cooperative businesses, elected two new directors at its annual meeting in Rochester , Minn.  The new directors include: Elaine Eckendorf, Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative, Custer , Wis. , who represents electric cooperatives and replaces retiring director Lynn Peterson; and Mark Clark, Land O’Lakes, Inc., Rollingstone , Minn. , who represents Minnesota dairy cooperatives and replaces director Steve Schlangen. Following the annual meeting, the board of directors met and elected board officers . Jim Hathaway, Dunn Energy Cooperative, joins the executive committee as the new treasurer.

“This has been an unusual and sometimes difficult political environment for Cooperative Network and for the broader cooperative community.  However, unlike so much of the rest of the country, the Minnesota and Wisconsin cooperative business community is uniquely focusing our attention more on opportunities rather than problems,” said Bill Oemichen , Cooperative Network president & CEO. “This board of directors reflects that considerable strength and determination.”

Also serving on the 2010-2011 board will be:

• Sam Skemp, Sun Prairie, Wis. , general manager of Frontier FS Cooperative, as Cooperative Network board chairman
• Curt Eischens, Minneota , Minn. , a grain producer and member of the CHS Inc. board of directors, as Cooperative Network board vice chair
• Bob Topel, Waterloo , Wis. , dairy producer and a member of the Foremost Farms USA board of directors, as Cooperative Network board secretary
• Jim Hathaway, Menomonie , Wis. , Dunn Energy Cooperative, as Cooperative Network board treasurer
• Dave Hischke, Suring , Wis. , Oconto Electric Cooperative board member, as a member of the Cooperative Network Executive Committee

At Large Directors

• Jerry Hasnedl, St. Hillaire , Minn. , CHS Inc.
• Tom Hayes, Lafayette , Minn. , Brown County Rural Electric Association
• Cheri Gibeaut, Endeavor, Wis. , Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative
• Jim Kinzie, Drummond , Wis. , Bayfield Electric Cooperative

Sector Directors

• Jim Drogue, Sun Prairie, Wis. , Wisconsin Credit Union League
• Terri Dallas, Shawano , Wis. , Genex Cooperative, Inc.
• Elaine Eckendorf, Custer , Wis. , Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association
• Bob Gadwill, Altoona , Wis. , Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association
• Brad Welp, Blue River , Wis. , Richland-Grant Telephone Cooperative
• Dan Stoltz, St. Paul , Minn. , SPIRE Federal Credit Union
• Mark Clark, Rollingstone , Minn. , Land O’Lakes, Inc.
• Dave Hoelmer, Mankato , Minn. , AgStar Financial Services
• Al Wearing, Madison , Wis. , Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin
• Greg Sacia, Holmen , Wis. , Dairyland Power Cooperative
• Bill Zuhlke, Beaver Dam, Wis. , Land O’ Lakes
• Matt Brandrup, Madison , Wis. , RESCO, Inc.
• Harlan Lanz, Mankato , Minn. , BENCO Electric
• Gregg Westigard, Frederic , Wis. , Trade Lake Mutual Insurance Co.
• Kelly Christianson, Roseau , Minn. , Northern Resources Cooperative
• Michelle Steien, Black River Falls , Wis. , Co-op Credit Union

Bill Buending, of Gramercy Park Cooperative Northwest in Minneapolis , Minn. , continues to represent housing cooperatives on the board.

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