A Cooperative is democracy
in action. The member/owners run the cooperative through their elected
representatives on the Board of Trustees. Flathead Electric includes nine
districts, each with a representative on the Board of Trustees. The Board
of Trustees is the governing body of the cooperative. State and federal
law, the articles of incorporation or conversion, and the bylaws of the
cooperative govern the actions of the board.
Flathead Electric is governed by a nine member Board of Trustees
elected by the membership to represent the various districts in which they live.
Emery Smith
Has lived in the Flathead Valley since 1977 and owner of
Computer Connections a full-service computer business that he
founded in 1986. Previously a project engineer and purchasing
manager at Columbia Falls Aluminum and owned a chain of video
stores. Smith attended colleges in California and holds two
engineering degrees.
Jay Downen
Is the owner of Last Mile Technologies, which helps set up
cooperative organizations around the country. He has worked with
electrical cooperatives for 25 years including 15 years with the
Montana Electrical Cooperatives' Association in the 1980's and
1990's.
Alan Ruby
Vice President
Is the owner of Alan's Wall Coverings in Kalispell. He has lived
in the Flathead Valley for over 23 years and currently serves as Vice
President of the Glacier National History Association and as a
board member of Don't Gamble with the future.
Duane Braaten
As owner and operator of
Farm-To-Market Pork, Duane Braaten has 32 years of agriculture and
retail business experience. He and his wife, Janette, have raised 4
children. Duane has served on numerous boards, including the Montana
Board of Livestock and the West Valley School Board. Duane served on
the Rates Review Committee for FEC in 2006..
Doug Grob
Is a third-generation Flathead Valley resident. He graduated
from Flathead High School and the University of Montana, was a
high school teacher in Australia, and currently is a
semi-retired home builder.
Paul Holland
Is a self-employed plumbing and heating contractor dba Bigfork
Plumbing and Heating. He formerly served on the board of Copper
Valley Electric Cooperative in Glennallen, Alaska, where he owned
a plumbing and heating contracting business and two guest lodges
in South-central Alaska.
Chris Byrd
Has served on
the Flathead Electric board since 1997. A resident of Martin City,
Chris owns Southside Liquor in Kalispell and a liquor store and
mini-storage facility in Hungry Horse. He has served on
the Flathead Airport Authority for Glacier International Airport
for 15 years.
Earl Messick
President
Retired after 30 years with GTE in Libby. He grew up in
Maryland and came to Northwest Montana in 1956, serving at a
U.S. Air Force radar site in the Yaak.
George R. Taylor
Secretary/Treasurer
Is a native of Montana, and retired back here after a career as an
engineer for Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. He was a trial and civil
practice lawyer and partner in a law firm for 18 years, and then served
on the Superior Court bench for ten years.
