2020 DMEA Board Candidates

Damon Lee Lockhart
970-314-1071
damon.lockhart@dmea.com


Employment
I currently work as the Executive Director at the Arc of West Central Colorado. The Arc serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We serve Delta, Montrose, Gunnison, Hinsdale, and San Miguel counties. I retired from the education field three years ago, having been an aide, teacher, coach, principal, and a director in K-12 schools.

Family
I have been happily married to Charity Lockhart for 26 years. She is native to Delta. I moved from Gunnison, where I attended college. We have 5 children together ages 7 through 21. Our daughter is in college, and our 4 boys attend school in Delta. We are very involved in community events, and our children participate in almost every sport that is offered! Charity volunteers at the elementary school, and our free time revolves around the many games, practices, and events the kids are involved with. We are busy people!

Educational background
High School: Alameda High School, Lakewood, CO - Diploma
College: United States Air Force Academy, Western State College (BA in Business Finance, minor Economics), New Mexico State University (MA in Special Education, Administration) 
Colorado State University (Principal, Special Education Director, and Superintendent Certification)

As a board member you would have fiduciary responsibility to the members of the cooperative. What is your financial background?
I have a degree in Finance, which helps me with the often complex business DMEA is part of. As a principal and Executive Director in Schools, and in my current job, I have overseen large budgets, human resources, capital projects. Though the business is different, the fiduciary duties are similar. I have always been a great steward of money, and the most efficient use of it to meet the goals of the members. I continue to take classes to expand my knowledge in the Electrical generation and distribution areas. 

What unique ability or knowledge do you think you would bring to the DMEA board?
My business background helps me significantly with understanding the operations, strategic planning, and financial aspects of DMEA. Experience with many School Boards, staff committees, and members or customers, has been invaluable. As a DMEA Board member the past 3 years, I fully engage myself in the process of working closely with the Board and Staff, executing the essential business decisions needed for DMEA to function in its mission to provide electricity to our members. 

Please list your involvement in community organizations or boards on which you currently serve or have served in the recent past.
I am a member of the Delta Lions Club, Delta Elks BPOE, and a candidate for membership the local Delta Rotary Club. I coach Little League Baseball and Football and stay very involved with the schools and activities my children are involved in. Besides the DMEA Board, I also serve on the CREA Board in Denver, and finished up 2 years with Western United Electrical Supply Board on behalf of our members and the DMEA Board. I have served on CREA for 3 years, and am on the Budget committee, usually travelling to Denver once a month typically. 

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing electric cooperatives nationwide?
I think the biggest challenge will be embracing the many changes in power supply, new technology, and navigating through said changes, will be the toughest challenge. There are many challenges within those changes, but I am all in!

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing DMEA?
I think the biggest challenge is executing our buy out with Tri-State, and transitioning to new ways of doing business with Guzman Energy. We will be able to have flexibility in developing our plans for a better future for our members, provide for price affordability and stabilization, as well as efficiently balance self-generation, or local generation options. It presents a very optimistic future for our membership, and I look forward to this challenge. 

What does the word cooperative mean to you?
Cooperative means banding together for the mutual benefit of all partners. In our electrical world, it means groups joining a larger group for purchase of power, services, or economic benefit, by cooperating with the use of an effective business model. The seven Cooperative Principles we adhere to guide this model.

Do you agree with the cooperative business model? Why or why not?
Yes—The Coop model has served our communities well, and I believe is most successful for rural members who need the pooling advantage to be able to deliver to all members. It has proven successful across the United States in many settings, but has been specifically successful with utility and electrical cooperatives.

What do you think is the most important of the 7 cooperative principles and why?
I think Voluntary and Open membership is very important, and for obvious reasons seen with our current work with Tri-State. However, the base principal of Member ownership and participation is right there too. Members having ownership and a vote is a principle that helps guide our work---we work for the benefit of the entire membership.

What do you feel is the primary function of DMEA? 
The primary function of DMEA is to provide the best, most affordable, reliable, and safe power to our membership. That is pretty straight forward. Secondarily, our subsidiary, Elevate, has become another important function to the membership. Though in its infancy, Elevate continues to grow to reach the membership with stellar Fiber services that is changing the opportunities for all of our members. 

What is your vision for DMEA?
My Vision for DMEA is to complete the transition from Tri-State to Guzman, and begin our planning and strategy for the years to come--focusing on work that will help our members and our COOP deliver on our primary functions. Beyond that, we will be responding to the challenges facing our COOP and the nation in terms of the ever-changing landscape. Looking out into the future to take advantage of flexibility and choice will be a significant part of that work. I envision a very "profitable" next 12 or 13 years, during which I hope to set up processes or capital which will allow for exponential benefit to our members. We have those opportunities in front of us. 

How would you describe the roles and responsibilities of cooperative board members?
Their are multiple roles and responsibilities, of which fiduciary duty is the most important in my opinion. A board member needs to seek the best leadership and counsel for the COOP. They need to work cooperatively with other board members and staff to help put processes, strategies and work plans in place. An example of this role can be seen in the work of staff and board over the past 3 years. While carrying on primary function of delivering service to our membership, the board worked with staff and counsel in many, many meetings to craft an exit strategy and new purchase agreement. I believe that work will be monumental in the history of this COOP.

Is there anything about DMEA that you would like to change? If yes, what and why?
There is nothing really significant that I want to change about DMEA. I would welcome the involvement of more of the member's participation in giving feedback and in the voting process. If you have questions or ideas, please reach out so that we can continually improve our goal of providing the best services to our members. 

Candidate Background Statement:
My name is Damon Lockhart, and I’m running for re-election to the DMEA Board in District 6. I’m proud of the work we've done these last three years to secure our economic independence and local control. Because of this work, we can now carefully plan our own energy future. With your vote, I'll use my deep experience from these last three years of complex business to responsibly finish our current contract exit and continue championing more secure, locally-owned power to build the quality of life we want for our Delta/Montrose County families. For the past 28 years, while raising my five children here, I've had the privilege to help make our community a better and more resilient place. I have been a teacher, coach, principal and financial director. I continue to enjoy coaching Little League baseball and football teams, and have worked with many students and families. With a family of seven, I stay involved with m y great community. Currently, I serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in six counties as the Executive Director at Arc of West Central Colorado. I’m proud to be a balanced, reasonable anchor for the board and a voice for the membership and District 6. I will continue to work, learn and represent the membership with the upmost care and commitment. Thank you for your continued support! Damon Lockhart for DMEA!

Enno F. Heuscher
970-270-6523
epheuscher@gmail.com

Employment
Retired
Previously self-employed operating a private medical clinic for 31 years in Grand Junction, Co 

Family
Penny, my wife, has retired from medical technology, health care counseling, research technician. She enjoys doing scenic photography, and competes in local shows and has her work displayed in several local art galleries. My son has a Master's degree in Environmental Health and also has OSHA credentials, and is a top competitor in cross-country skate skiing. Our daughter, with a Masters's in Geology, is raising 2 wonderful grandchildren, and her husband works in the field of Geophysics.

Educational background
BS '70 Stanford University--did research in Laser Communications, with publication in the American Physics Teacher
MD '76 Creighton University
Internship in ObGyn at Maricopa County General Hospital in Phoenix
Certification in Family Medicine from University of Colorado, St. Mary's Family Medicine Program, Grand Junction, Co.

As a board member you would have fiduciary responsibility to the members of the cooperative. What is your financial background?
My operation of a Medical Clinic with 2-3 FTE's, plus myself, gave me experience in profit and loss data sets as well as generally accepted accounting practices, and use of Intuit QuickBooks. We also used rather advanced electronic billing software, and I was in charge of maintaining and upgrading the computer software as needed.
Management of the Clinic, including payroll and hiring and firing of personnel.
Eventual sale of the Clinic, with smooth transfer of operations.
Past Chief of Family Medicine Department, St. Mary's Medical Center, Grand Junction, CO

What unique ability or knowledge do you think you would bring to the DMEA board?
My prior business background helps with knowing how to keep an operation up and running efficiently, while maintaining flexibility. My experience with multiple other Boards of varying types gives me the understanding of how cooperative planning and collaboration can be very effective in moving things forward. As current co-chairman of Public Lands Partnership, I have learned the benefits of a collaborative group. I have had some professional leadership and contract review training in the recent past that has been quite helpful. My 12 years with National Ski Patrol has shown me what can be done with teamwork. The legislative experience I have gained over the past several years with the Colorado Medical Society Council of Legislation should help with any political hurdles the DMEA may encounter in the future, especially at the state level.

Please list your involvement in community organizations or boards on which you currently serve or have served in the recent past.
Current longtime board member and former President of the Mesa County Medical Society.
Current council of Legislation member, Colorado Medical Society
Co-Chair, Public Lands Partnership
Official Olympic Volunteer, Men's Alpine Downhill, 2002 Salt Lake Olympics and 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics
Currently on the Recreation Committee in Cedaredge

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing electric cooperatives nationwide?
Cooperatives have to show that they are viable and relevant in today's energy world. They need to keep their rate and contract structures appropriate for their specific situation, and adapt to the new energy needs of society.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing DMEA?
The biggest challenge are the changes DMEA is going through coming off the Tri-State contract. DMEA now has a great opportunity to develop a new contract that will allow rates to stabilize and to provide more opportunity for local renewable generation. Throughout this, DMEA still has to be sure to provide a stable supply of electricity to all it's customers. Also, another challenge is to obtain grants to allow Elevate to expand to our more rural parts of DMEA's supply territory.

What does the word cooperative mean to you?
Cooperative is a business model that pools groups that have a common need together, and requires collaboration and a desire to work together for mutual goals.

Do you agree with the cooperative business model? Why or why not?
For the purposes of providing a service such as electric utilities and high speed internet in rural areas, the cooperative model works best. There have been numerous examples of investor-owned companies that have tried and failed with coming into rural areas and trying to provide such services. It also is a non-profit model, which I like.

What do you think is the most important of the 7 cooperative principles and why?
Keeping the community that you are working in most in mind with any decisions that have to be made is the most important. Being a proper representative for your District is also important. To do so, you have to be willing to listen to your constituents and their issues, and help them when you can.

What do you feel is the primary function of DMEA? 
The primary function of DMEA is to supply a reliable amount of electric service to it's members, and ultimately to get high speed internet to all those members that need or want it. It needs to do this at competitive rates. Now that renewable energy is becoming economically feasible, and will probably become even more economical as time goes by, DMEA needs to look toward to a new era of energy generation.

What is your vision for DMEA?
Getting High Speed Internet to more of the members will greatly improve business productivity and attract new business, which we do need in our area. We already have seen businesses from the Front Range move to our area just because they had access here to high speed internet. 
Additionally, we have a great opportunity to add more self-generation now that we are not bound to the 5% limit with Tri-State. This will undoubtedly be in the renewable category and will help DMEA stabilize rates. DMEA might even be able to make Time-of-Use rates better as well.

How would you describe the roles and responsibilities of cooperative board members?
Board members need to always keep their fiduciary responsibility in mind.
A long-term perspective is very important.
It is important to be a member advocate, and to become knowledgeable in the general operations.
Board members also need to think independently but also know how to be collaborative.

Is there anything about DMEA that you would like to change? If yes, what and why?
Change is the name of the game currently at DMEA, and with these dramatic changes, we have to be careful to maintain a stable organization and leadership structure, always thinking about what we can improve on. I think that overall, DMEA is going in the right direction.

Candidate Background Statement:
A DMEA board member needs to have a reasonable background in business as well as some board experience. I have both these with my operation of a private medical clinic for over 31 years and my active current participation on multiple boards and committees. Teamwork is important as well. I have worked with Winter Olympic Teams in 2002 and 2010 as an Olympic Volunteer, team activity on National Ski patrol, and Team USTA Tennis. I am interested in electrical generation and would love to be your representative on the DMEA board for District 7. My goal is to help maintain stable electric rates, provide a positive transition from Tri-State, and be an independent voice on the board representing all members.

Stacia Cannon
920-207-8831
staciaforDMEA@gmail.com


Employment
Topp Fruits, LLC: Farmer, co-owner
Black Canyon Veterinary Clinic: Relief Veterinary Technician


Family
I was born on a small farm in Wisconsin, the daughter of a livestock auctioneer and computer programmer. I moved to Colorado to attend school at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where I studied ag. business and animal science. After graduating, I was fortunate enough to migrate to the Western Slope and joined my partner’s family orchard business in Paonia. Through the years we have worked to establish markets and customize operations in our orchards to reflect our values. Beyond being certified organic, we have worked to improve soil and tree health, improve water efficiency, increase yields and increase biodiversity through the integration of livestock into our orchards. In 2018 we put down roots in Hotchkiss where we continue to build our knowledge and grow our passion for agriculture.

Educational background
Bachelor of Science, Equine Science, Minor in Business Administration, Colorado State University, 2017

Additional trainings and certifications:
New Director Orientation, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, 2019
Credential Cooperative Director (CCD) Certificate, National Rural Electric Association, 2019
Empowering Women in Agriculture Training, Annie’s Project, 2018
Whole Farm and Ranch Land Management Training, Holistic Management International, 2017


As a board member you would have fiduciary responsibility to the members of the cooperative. What is your financial background?
As a farmer and small business owner, I am familiar with the risks, challenges, and opportunities that come with volatile industries such as agriculture and energy. Since my appointment to the DMEA Board of Directors two years ago, I’ve cultivated an understanding of the membership needs and the broader forces shaping how cooperative utilities operate.
Beyond my experiences on the board, I have furthered my education by completing the Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) program through National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and earned the Credentialed Cooperative Directors Certificate. The CCD prepares directors to effectively govern their cooperatives so they may fulfill their fiduciary duty as elected officials serving on behalf of their membership. 


What unique ability or knowledge do you think you would bring to the DMEA board?
It is important for the rising generation, and for those who have not historically had a seat at the table, to have an opportunity to sit on these boards. Through my community involvement and investments, I understand the diverse needs of our community, and how to sit at the table with multiple stakeholders. I always strive to understand the viewpoint of my neighbors and colleagues, and use the best information available to inform my opinions.


Please list your involvement in community organizations or boards on which you currently serve or have served in the recent past.
2019-2020 DMEA Board of directors, North Region
2019-2020 Elevate Board of directors, Vice-chair
2020 Fire Mountain Canal and Ditch Company Board of directors, ex-officio
2019 Fire Mountain Canal and Ditch Company Board of directors, ex-officio
2017 Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Montrose Chapter, Secretary
2017 Montrose County Delegate RMFU Farm Bill and Policy Planning

Other professional membership/community involvement:
Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Valley Organic Growers Association, North American Babydoll Sheep Association Registry, Western Colorado Horticulture Society, National Young Farmers Coalition.


What do you think is the biggest challenge facing electric cooperatives nationwide?
The biggest challenge facing electric cooperatives nationwide is a lack of flexibility and inclusivity within the power system which restricts a cooperative’s ability to make choices that are appropriate for their unique situation and member needs. Without organized wholesale electricity markets along with open access to the transmission grid, cooperatives are unable to chose a power supply mix that meets their individual goals. 

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing DMEA?
I believe the biggest challenge facing DMEA is finding a balance between investing in ongoing operations while pursuing more transformational changes in order to meet member demands, especially as it pertains to building out the broadband network. Bringing high-speed Internet access to rural and remote areas is a costly and complicated undertaking. DMEA has done an incredible job fighting for the membership to secure state and federal grants but I believe it will continue to be a challenge for DMEA as funding opportunities becomes more competitive. 


What does the word cooperative mean to you?
To me, the word cooperative means the active and engaged participation of individuals working together towards a common goal.

Do you agree with the cooperative business model? Why or why not?
Yes, I agree with the cooperative business model. Cooperatives are unique and powerful businesses because they are democratically controlled and created by the members, for the members. They are social enterprises developed to meet community needs--and who best to make decisions that impact the community than the members themselves?

What do you think is the most important of the 7 cooperative principles and why?
Part of what makes cooperatives so effective is their inclusion of all seven principles. However, the principle whose value stands out to me is democratic member control.

Cooperatives not only give members a seat at the table, they empower members to engage and speak up. The voices and votes of the membership direct the business of the cooperative. Elected board members are representatives of and accountable to the member owners, rather than outside investors or other interests. 


What do you feel is the primary function of DMEA? 
DMEA was a direct product of rural community electrification needs. I believe the primary purpose is to continue to provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity to members while making decisions and investments in the best interest of the member-owners.

What is your vision for DMEA?
My vision for DMEA is that we continue to promote our communities by pursuing economic development opportunities, including local energy production, as well as the continued expansion of broadband to all members. 

How would you describe the roles and responsibilities of cooperative board members?
Individuals have an obligation to understand the cooperative, its governing documents and to conduct business in accordance. Individuals need to familiarize themselves with laws, regulations, legal responsibilities and terms of contracts. 

Individual board members stay active, involved and informed through regular and special meetings as well as through participation in training programs.

Collectively, board members are responsible for making policy decisions, developing business strategies, planning and conducting meetings, directing employees (manager, auditor, legal counsel) and for engaging with members and other organizations. 

Board members act as a group to establish policy and direct the cooperative towards its overall objectives. 


Is there anything about DMEA that you would like to change? If yes, what and why?
While continuing DMEA’s strong tradition of providing safe, affordable, reliable electricity I would like DMEA to also offer the membership greater choices with their services. Some members want more control over their use of electricity, some want a choice in the source of their energy or the option to self-generate, others value DMEA’s role in economic development and broadband deployment, while some members may want predictable, stable costs. I would like DMEA to provide the members with safe, affordable, reliable and customizable energy services to satisfy the diverse needs of the membership.


Candidate Background Statement:
I am running to retain my seat as the North Region Director for DMEA’s board of directors. 
This is an important time of transformation and growth for DMEA. I bring passion and enthusiasm to negotiate that transformation in the best interest of the membership. As a farmer and small business owner I am familiar with navigating the risks, challenges and opportunities of volatile industries such as the farming and energy. We are working in a complex, multivariable system and must consider the circumstances of today while anticipating and planning for the needs of tomorrow. As your representative to the Delta Montrose Electric Association Board of Directors, I will go the extra mile to stay informed and make decisions that realize the needs of the membership.