DMEA Announces Senior Leadership Retirement, Promotion, and Organizational Changes
Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) announces executive leadership changes designed to strengthen strategic alignment across its electric and broadband operations and position the organization for the future.
Chief Safety Officer Chad Stickler will retire this fall after 34 years of dedicated service to DMEA. Stickler has played a pivotal role in advancing workplace safety and fostering a strong safety culture across the organization. His career spanned several areas of DMEA, from an Apprentice to a Journeyman Lineman, Foreman, Superintendent, Safety Director, and ultimately Chief Safety Officer. DMEA extends its sincere appreciation for his leadership and lasting contributions and wishes him all the best in retirement.
Katie Yergensen has been promoted to Chief Communications Officer (CCO), where she will lead communications, marketing, brand strategy, and member/community engagement. Since joining DMEA in 2025, Yergensen has strengthened the cooperative's strategic approach to communications and marketing, elevating the DMEA and Elevate brands while deepening member engagement and community partnerships.
As part of these leadership changes, the following organizational realignment will also occur:
Mateusz Pena will assume the role of the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and provide leadership for engineering, power supply, and Elevate.
Sarah Abbott will step into the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) role, overseeing human resources, safety, legislative affairs, inventory, and facilities, and will continue to act as General Counsel.
Jay Suckey will now serve as the Chief Service Officer and lead information technology, billing, and customer service representatives.
"Strong organizations build leaders at every level,” said DMEA Chief Executive Officer Jack Johnston. “These changes reflect the depth of talent across our team and our commitment to preparing the next generation of leadership. By investing in our people, we're strengthening our organization today while positioning DMEA and Elevate for continued innovation, excellence, and long-term success for the members and communities we serve."
These leadership changes reflect DMEA's continued investment in organizational excellence, ensuring the cooperative remains well-positioned to deliver exceptional electric and broadband services while meeting the evolving needs of its members and customers. To learn more about DMEA’s leadership team, please visit https://www.dmea.com/leadership.
