November 25, 2024

Written by Rick Hummell, Cooperative Network Communications Specialist

Cooperative Network (CN) announced the results of its recent Board of Directors election and re-elected two of three executive committee members during the board’s reorganization meeting Monday, Nov. 25.

Three of nine board seats were up for election. Newly elected were (pictured below, l-r) Mike Golat, Jason Olsen, and Shawn Redman (who was appointed to the board in July). The board election, held virtually, concluded November 21.

During the meeting, Sadie Frericks was re-elected board chair and Christa Hoffman was re-elected vice chair. Michelle Gubser was elected secretary/treasurer, replacing Marie Barry, who did not seek re-election. Board members, who serve three-year terms, help guide the future activities of the organization as representatives of cooperative members throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The nine-member board now consists of:

  • Sadie Frericks, chair, representing Land O’Lakes
  • Christa Hoffman, vice-chair, representing Genex
  • Michelle Gubser, secretary/treasurer, representing Allied Cooperative
  • Mike Golat, representing Eau Claire Energy Cooperative
  • Amanda Hoefling, representing Dairyland Power Cooperative
  • Amber Horn-Leiterman, representing Land O’Lakes
  • Jason Olsen, representing Minnesota Power Employees Credit Union
  • Bridget Petersen, representing Blaze Credit Union
  • Shawn Redman, representing Heartland Credit Union

Also during the meeting, it was announced Jennifer Wickman, CN’s Government Affairs Director-Wisconsin, has been appointed interim executive director of the organization. Wickman has been with Cooperative Network since 2019 and has more than 25 years of legislative and government affairs experience.

“It’s an honor to serve as Cooperative Network’s interim executive director,” said Wickman, “and I look forward to working with returning board and executive committee members. They bring a diverse set of skills and expertise and provide meaningful counsel to Cooperative Network and our mission of providing world-class government affairs, cooperative advocacy, and professional development programs to our membership.”