DMEA Board Candidates
The following information was provided by the candidates themselves and does not represent an endorsement by DMEA.
District 3 Candidates
Describe how your work experience has prepared you to be a valuable addition to the DMEA Board of Directors.
Mover
Truckers
Carpenter
Describe how any formal and informal education and/or training has prepared you for the role of a Director.
I graduated from paonia high school in 2010 and ever since then have continued to educate myself on various interests including electricity production and it's many power sources
DMEA’s vision — "Powering Quality of Life". How does this vision resonate with you, and how would you contribute to advancing it as a Board Director?
As a board director I would like to balance reliability with cost and self sufficiency within delta and montrose. I believe that with proper planning and investment, we can both lower the cost of electricity and produce our own energy right in our own backyards.
How do you feel your values align with DMEA's Core Values?
I believe that DMEA runs parallel to many of my own beliefs. Above all I feel that a cooperative such as this embodies democracy and self empowerment. By collectively running our electrical needs, DMEA gives people the chance to sieze their own destiny.
Explain your understanding of a Director's role in governance, and your view on governance versus management.
A director is a member of the board that makes the ultimate decisions about the DMEAs goals and operations. Governance should entail long term planning and a responsibility that mere management often lacks.
What unique ability or knowledge would bring to the DMEA Board?
As a life long resident of delta county with a background in service industries and construction I feel a deep connection to the land and community in which I reside. I've developed an ability to communicate with people and explain complex subjects in an easy to digest manner.
Summarize any previous board experience
None
Is there anything about DMEA that you would like to change? If yes, what and why?
I would like to see the portion of electricity produced by DMEA members and the organization itself expand. By becoming more self sufficient, the DMEA can reliably provide power to its members and avoid the ups and downs of an unstable market that can cause expenses to skyrocket.
Candidate Background Statement
As a construction worker I've often dealt with electricity and have learned some of the intricacies of it's operation on an individual level. I've also educated myself on a myriad of of topics from transmission lines to electrical production and the many sources that power our lives,from coal and natural gas to solar and water power. I would bring an unparalleled work ethic and accessibility to your local DMEA director.
Describe how your work experience has prepared you to be a valuable addition to the DMEA Board of Directors.
As a ranch real estate broker in Western Colorado, I work with all kinds of landowners and property owners in a variety of unique situations. Of course, electrical power and internet service are major components of their future plans for their properties.
Describe how any formal and informal education and/or training has prepared you for the role of a Director.
I am recognized by the Realtors Land Institute as an Accredited Land Consultant, one of only 56 ALC's in Colorado and 728 nationwide, or .0002% of all licensed real estate agents. The ALC designation denotes a high level of proficiency in land transactions, dealing with complex issues such as conservation easements, water rights, utility corridors, data centers, mineral rights, transitional land, and investment properties. Additionally, I am one of only 25 ALC's in the entire country to take an in-depth 16-hour class on alternative energy sources such as geothermal, wind, and solar offered by Craig Kaiser, CEO of LandGate. Most recently, I have been studying the tremendous power usage of data centers, which will become a major concern for electric utilities across the country. I am actively engaged with buyers seeking coal mine methane to produce energy for data centers. On a personal note, I have been friends with Johnny Weiss of Solar Energy International for over 30 years and I've studied solar systems and their efficiency and use for many years.
DMEA’s vision — "Powering Quality of Life". How does this vision resonate with you, and how would you contribute to advancing it as a Board Director?
I often reflect upon the great cost of providing infrastructure and power to our homes, businesses, and communities. It's amazing how much work, thought, planning, and capital that has been invested to provide the quality of life that we enjoy. We also have a commitment to the environment, to make sure that we are careful stewards of the amazing natural resources that we're blessed with.
How do you feel your values align with DMEA's Core Values?
I feel my values align closely with DMEA's. I particularly appreciate the role that DMEA has taken in providing high-speed internet across our rural locations. It was visionary and has served our communities well.
Explain your understanding of a Director's role in governance, and your view on governance versus management.
A director's role is to serve as an overseer of the organization, to provide checks and balances, perspective, and expertise in current operations. A director's role is also to provide vision and guidance for future projects.
What unique ability or knowledge would bring to the DMEA Board?
I'm a problem solver. In my career, I am often confronted with difficult issues such as disputes over access easements, rights of way, surveys, title issues, conservation easements, land use questions, and neighbor disputes. I do my best to provide rational analysis and careful research to go into depth to solve problems.
Summarize any previous board experience
None—unless you count founding several successful businesses.
Is there anything about DMEA that you would like to change? If yes, what and why?
I'm particularly concerned about DMEA's merger with TDS, because I've experienced terrible service and customer care from TDS. I think there will be a big mess to clean up.
Candidate Background Statement
For the past 18 years, I've been an active real estate broker and auctioneer in Colorado and Utah, brokering farms, ranches, resorts, outfitting businesses, hunting property, and luxury estates. I am recognized by the Realtors Land Institute as an Accredited Land Consultant, one of only 56 ALC's in Colorado. I live in Crawford, where my wife and I raise hay, horses, and Labrador retrievers on our 118-acre ranch.
Describe how your work experience has prepared you to be a valuable addition to the DMEA Board of Directors.
Prior to being on the DMEA board, I've served multiple roles in the community: Planning Commission, Special Water District Board, Delta Farmer's Union and others. I also run my own farming business, a pastured poultry outfit with a state-licensed processing facility. My experience in both the public and private sectors make me a strong advocate for the members.
Describe how any formal and informal education and/or training has prepared you for the role of a Director.
Prior to the DMEA board, I took several board governance trainings through Delta County for the Planning Commission. At the Farmer's Union, I completed multiple leadership trainings from Robert's Rules to making connections at the State Capitol.
Since being on the board, I've taken multiple courses on managing the co-op, and just last month was recognized for completing my CCD(Credentialed Cooperative Director) Certificate through the national co-op organization NRECA.
DMEA’s vision — "Powering Quality of Life". How does this vision resonate with you, and how would you contribute to advancing it as a Board Director?
This vision aligns with my values as a person. Because of the limited time we have on this earth, we need to ensure our decisions and efforts are towards bettering the quality of our time here. Not just our own experience either, but bettering the quality of life those in our community through healthy food, clean water, and reliable power. I would make it a priority as your board member to always keep the quality of life of our members top of mind when considering decisions that will impact the future of our electric landscape.
How do you feel your values align with DMEA's Core Values?
I'm proud that DMEA's first value is safety. In such a dangerous field, it can be easy to become complacent the more you work in it, but the staff at this co-op are dedicated to safety. Not only for themselves, but for those they serve as well. The value that really sticks out to me is sustainability. In such a tumultuous time, consistency is a key to prosperity. And without a sustainable model and plan for how we procure our energy in the future, we cannot meet that quality of life. It's the same reason I've chosen to grow healthy food: to contribute to the sustainable raising and producing of healthy food for my family and my community.
Explain your understanding of a Director's role in governance, and your view on governance versus management.
A director's role is one of vision, strategy, and philosophy. A board directs the co-op, which in turn manages themselves in according to the policies, strategy, and discussion held in the board room. It is not the board's role to meddle in the workings of an organization.
What unique ability or knowledge would bring to the DMEA Board?
With active my role in other industries(water, planning, and agriculture), I bring a broad understanding of what the needs are of the community. I have the ability to zoom out and see the bigger picture(a core quality of a strong board member). Because of my long tenure as a public servant, I can put my personal opinions aside and consider the implications of a decision for the greater membership.
Summarize any previous board experience
Delta County Planning Commission, Bone Mesa Domestic Water Board, Delta Farmers Union, Valley Organic Grower's Association. I've held roles of secretary, treasurer, vice-chair, and chair.
Is there anything about DMEA that you would like to change? If yes, what and why?
DMEA has always been a pioneer in it's decision-making, and it's what drew me to the organization. From getting out of our power-supply with Tri-State, to starting Elevate, to signing on with Guzman and building the Garnet Mesa Solar project. DMEA is a recognized leader both in the state and nationally. The key to that is constant change, because the industry at large is in a major shift. As a board member I would continue to encourage an open mind to how things are shifting, and how we can best align ourselves for a sustainable and reliable future.
Candidate Background Statement
My name is Jacob Gray. I am a farmer, husband, father, and public servant. I own and operate a chicken operation in Paonia. I’ve served on our county’s Planning Commission, Domestic Water Special District, and multiple farm organizations.
I am seeking another term on the board of Directors for DMEA because I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished in just my first term of being on the board. We returned over $9,000,000 in capital credits(profits) to our members; set strategic goals to build our Elevate network to every member by 2028; experienced no rate hikes while the average electricity rate in the state is almost double ours; and we will have the Garnet Mesa Solar project constructed and running by the end of this summer, which at times will serve all our members with renewable energy generated in our backyard. I also recently completed my CCD (Credentialed Cooperative Director) training.
I bring with me experience in private enterprise and public affairs. I will consider the needs of my family, community, and all of our membership when contemplating important decisions that will have implications for the next generation. I would humbly ask your vote for me to sit as the District 3 representative for DMEA. Thank you.