FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2023
Contact:
Sam Skinner, Director of Member Relations
sskinner@clearwaterpower.com | 208.798.5204 direct
Incumbents Retain Seats at Clearwater Power’s 86th Annual Meeting and Board Election
Dave Hagen, General Manager/CEO, announces 2024 retirement
LEWISTON, ID – Clearwater Power Company held its annual meeting and Board of Directors election at the Clearwater River Casino on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Three board seats were up for re-election and incumbents Alan Lansing, Richard (Gene) Butler and Robert (Bob) Callison all retained their board positions.
Clearwater Power Company is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative governed by a member-elected Board of Directors. There are seven board members, who live on the cooperative’s electric lines and are active customers. Directors are elected for three years, and three seats on the seven-member board were up for re-election.
Four candidates were vying for the District 3 board seat held by Callison for four decades. Callison, from Kendrick, Idaho, retained his seat by a four-vote margin. Lansing, from Lenore, Idaho, and Butler, from Culdesac, Idaho, ran unopposed for Districts 4 and 6, respectively. Both members have served on the Clearwater Power board for more than 25 years.
In addition to the elections, Callison was recognized for his 40 years of service on the Board of Directors. Tom Hutchinson, of Craigmont, Idaho, is currently serving as president of the board and received recognition for 35 years of service. Ken Weiss, of Asotin, Wash., was also recognized for 25 years of service on the board. Director Jeff Copeland was awarded the Director Gold Credential, which recognizes directors who have earned their Credentialed Cooperative Director and Board Leadership Certificates from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and are committed to continuing their education throughout their service on the board.
Clearwater Power, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Dave Hagen also received recognition from the Board of Directors for his 40 years of service to Clearwater Power. Hagen announced his plans to retire next summer. Expressing his deep gratitude to the members and everyone at Clearwater Power Company, Hagen shared, “I have witnessed the cooperative grow and evolve. I am immensely proud of the contributions our team has made to the rural communities we serve. I am grateful for the support and collaboration of our dedicated employees and the Board of Directors throughout these years. Together, we have achieved remarkable milestones and faced many challenges head-on, always emerging stronger and more resilient. Most importantly, we have acted with the very best interest of our members in mind.” Adding, “It has been a privilege to build such treasured relationships within public power.” He received a standing ovation from the nearly 200 members and employees present.
A highlight of the annual meeting was recognizing six area high school students who represented Clearwater Power at the Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association’s (ICUA) Youth Rally, a leadership camp, this past July. The students were awarded $6,500 in scholarships from Clearwater Power. Isabella (Izzy) Dougan of Asotin-Anatone High School received a $1,500 scholarship and five other students received $1,000 scholarships. Those recipients include Cecilia (Jade) Duman also from Asotin-Anatone High School, Taylor Boyer and Morgan Silflow from Kendrick High School, Jacob Emerson from Potlatch High School and Malia Jensen from Genesee High School. Dougan and Emerson were also awarded an additional $500 and $300 in scholarships, respectively, from ICUA.
About Clearwater Power
Clearwater Power Company is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative. The cooperative includes more than 8,400 rural members in 11 counties in North Central Idaho, Eastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon and covers a service area of more than 5,000 square miles. Founded in 1937, Clearwater Power purchases carbon-free power to provide its members with safe, reliable and cost-based energy and other energy-related services.
For more information about Clearwater Power, visit clearwaterpower.com.
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