Watch your mailbox, your 2022 election ballot will arrive soon
Members may vote one of three ways: through the SmartHub app, online, or by mail. If you choose to mail in your vote, please mail your ballot early to ensure delivery by the voting deadline of June 2. Winners will be announced at the annual meeting of members June 4, beginning at 9 a.m.
If you can’t make it to the meeting, you can watch the annual meeting video recap for a chance to win 1 of 2 $100 energy credits.
Election Timeline
May 2022
- Official meeting notice in May OCL magazine
- 05/13/2022 – Latest weekday ballots can be mailed to members (at least 20 days prior to annual meeting)
- 05/31/2022 – Regular board meeting
June 2022
- Final meeting notice in June OCL magazine
- 06/02/2022 – Ballots due
- 06/04/2022 – Annual meeting, 9 a.m. atURE office
- 06/28/2022 – Reorganization meeting to elect board officers
2022 Election Candidates
District 2
Jerod Cook
10133 Corona Lane, Plain City
Employment / Education / Other Experience
Financial Advisor, Dublin
Capital Management, LLC – 2015 to Present
Ameriprise Financial – 2001 to 2015
Dublin Chamber of Commerce
Ambassador – Sept. 2009 to Present
NAIFA - Columbus
Trustee – Jan 2013 to 2021
Ohio University BBA – Finance, Finance and Economics 1995 to 2000
What in your opinion are the greatest challenges facing the cooperative in the next three to five years?
The greatest challenges in the next 3 to 5 years are inflation, public relations and responsible growth. Overall price inflation will be noticeable on both producer and consumer sides of the relationship. Costs for materials for production and transmission will be increasing. Managing the pass-through of increases to customers is a sensitive matter. With good forecasting and management of public relations that negative feedback and response from customers can be minimized. Informing the customers of price changes can minimize a negative response and is always easier to accept versus an unpleasant surprise. As for responsibility, this can apply to choice of energy sources, materials used for equipment, and environmental considerations for ongoing management and growth.
Why are you interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees or serving another term?
I am interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees because I can not only relate to the perspective of the consumer side, but with my more than 20 years as a financial advisor, I can evaluate data and forecast trends and expectations. I feel that having the ability to relate to both sides of the cooperative-client relationship adds the most value to the URE Board of Trustees.
Jodi Daume
10438 Ivy Chase, Plain City
Employment / Education / Other Experience:
I have a BA in Accounting from Capital University and my CPA (Inactive). My previous employments have included being a Controller at Manheim Auto Auction for four years and an Auditor for Cardinal Health and Lancaster Colony for two and two and a half years, respectively. As Controller, I was responsible for all accounting functions, including managing a staff of five. As an Auditor, I was responsible for verifying the internal controls and efficiencies of various accounting and operational processes.
What in your opinion are the greatest challenges facing the cooperative in the next three to five years?
One potential challenge in our area is the large number of homes being built. URE needs to make sure all these homes are able to get reliable electricity. Another potential challenge would be to make sure that the price paid for electricity is competitive. An ongoing challenge in the world is being able to move electricity production to more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Why are you interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees or serving another term?
I have taken some time off of (outside) work to raise my children. As they continue to grow up, I have more time for other activities. I was previously very involved as a Room Mom and Girl Scout Leader over the years. I was on the Board (and Secretary) for Dublin Community Preschool (a non-profit Board run preschool) for two years when my children were younger where I was heavily involved in day-to-day decisions. Now, I am ready for a new challenge.
JR Geoffrion
9171 Brenham Way, Dublin
Employment / Education / Other Experience:
My 25-year international career spans executive roles across strategy and as a management consultant to the C-suite. In my global role at Microsoft, I have orchestrated some of our largest strategic partnerships with landmark customers such as PepsiCo. At IBM, I have led strategic planning, and improved operations by more than $500 million.
- The Wharton School, International Management
- M.B.A., Schulich School of Business, York University
- Engineering, University of Toronto
- Harvard University, Sustainability Leadership, 2021
- INSEAD, Artificial Intelligence, 2021
- Kellogg School of Management, Insights & Analytics, 2020
- INSEAD, Negotiation, 2019
More: JR Geoffrion's LinkedIn page
What in your opinion are the greatest challenges facing the cooperative in the next three to five years?
- Continue to live URE’s mission to make a difference in our community by delivering safe and reliable energy to our residential and commercial members at fair prices.
- Offer sustainable and renewable energy options.
- Leverage technology to help membership optimize their energy consumption.
- Continue to balance the 7 Cooperative Principles.
- Manage explosive growth
Why are you interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees or serving another term?
- Become the benchmark for co-ops – not just in our region or Ohio, but across the United States.
- Continue to serve my community and serving a greater purpose – I have been serving my community for the last 25 years, including as Coach at OSU, President of my HoA, mentor to engineering and MBA students, as well as numerous other functions.
- Bring an in-depth sustainability and technology perspective to the Board – Share my Harvard, Microsoft, and IBM experiences.
Mark Lotycz
9880 Montery Drive, Plain City
Employment / Education / Other Experience:
- Retired elementary school principal 1985 to 2022
- Mentored school administrators through OAESA
- Ohio University, Bachelor’s
- University of Toledo, Master’s
- Member of Milford Center Lions Club
- Attends and has held numerous positions at Cypress Church in Dublin
- Father of 3 girls (Andrea, Ashley & Amanda) and one son (Adam)
- Married 42 years to my fantastic wife, Donna.
What in your opinion are the greatest challenges facing the cooperative in the next three to five years?
The greatest challenge is the massive growth coming to the area. We are seeing industrial and commercial properties, along with major residential subdivisions in Union County. Maintaining strong customer service will need to continue to be a high priority, while supplying affordable and reliable energy products. The need to attract and retain highly skilled URE workforce will remain a challenge.
Why are you interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees or serving another term?
Retiring in June has afforded me the opportunity to serve on the board. I have always been impressed with URE’s education, safety, and scholarship programs. Being involved in the Ohio Energy Project (energy efficiency kits), building student leadership by hosting an Energy Workshop (kids teaching kids). I would like to see these programs and the safety assembly continue. Our daughter, Ashley, was fortunate to receive a scholarship, along with many other high school students. I in turn would like to give back to the cooperative.
David Manion
9313 Brock Road, Plain City
Employment / Education / Other Experience:
I graduated from The Ohio State University in 1988 and worked in transportation and logistics before joining Honda in 1991, where I worked for Honda Trading America. There I led various teams to provide supply chain support services to Honda factories and their suppliers worldwide. This required constant planning, communication, collaboration, and willingness to listen and learn. I think this background has prepared me well to serve the needs of our cooperative.
What in your opinion are the greatest challenges facing the cooperative in the next three to five years?
We will need to navigate demands in the larger electricity infrastructure for upgraded broadband, electric vehicle charging, and a growing population of consumers, while being good stewards of cooperative assets and our environment. The most important task is to ensure that our cooperative community has the information needed to make good decisions, and the voice to communicate those decisions to industry and government, to effectively navigate together.
Why are you interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees or serving another term?
I grew up in suburban Columbus. When my wife and I established our home in Jerome township back in 1999, I learned that we would be served by a rural electric cooperative. I wasn’t sure what this meant. Beginning with a high-efficiency water heater supplied by URE, an introduction to something called capital credits, and affordable and reliable power over 23 years, I’ve come to appreciate the strength of the cooperative, and would like the opportunity to serve fellow members in advancing the cooperative promise.
Arthur Rifflard
9955 Elsinore Court, Plain City
Employment / Education / Other Experience:
Employed by The Columbia Gas System (Now known as Nisource) for 28 years in Accounting, Taxes and Budgets, mostly as Director of Taxes. Also provided written and oral testimony before state Utility Commissions. Employed by The lRS for 6 years auditing major corporations headquartered in Central Ohio, the biggest of which was a major Electric Utility. Bachelor of Science Degree from The Ohio State University, Accounting major; Master’s Degree in Finance from The University of Dayton. CPA in the State of Ohio. 2 years in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war era. Married 50 years, 2 children, 10 grandchildren.
What in your opinion are the greatest challenges facing the cooperative in the next three to five years?
Maintaining competitive and affordable electric and gas rates for co-op members, monitoring ever changing rules and regulations and staying involved in the political process. Also assuring safe, uninterrupted services and maintaining the infrastructure needed to provide these services, all while controlling costs.
Why are you interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees or serving another term?
Being retired for several years, I would like to use my business skills to assure that the cooperative is run professionally, safely, and wisely. This includes assuring that all decisions are made with the interests of the members in mind.
Scott Sonnenberg
770 Wells Road, Plain City
Employment / Education / Other Experience:
- Retired Owner Eco-Design and Engineering, a civil engineering and landscape architecture company specializing in environmental restoration, 2000 to 2021.
- Ohio State University, BS Landscape Architecture 1979.
- Clemson University, MS Civil Engineering 1986.
- Member Ohio Board of Landscape Architects 2004 to 2018.
- Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District associate member 2007 to 2009.
- Jerome Township Board of Zoning Appeals Member 2000 to 2006.
- Retired Ohio Registered Landscape Architect, Past Ohio Registered Professional Engineer, Certified Professional Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Quality.
- Past member of ASLA, ASCE, IECA.
What in your opinion are the greatest challenges facing the cooperative in the next three to five years?
Retaining quality employees, maintaining infrastructure, and continuing quality customer service in an era of changing technologies, environmental regulations, and societal pressures. Maintain awareness of legislative actions affecting the distribution system of the cooperative. Review the Annual Work Plan and Budget, Financial Forecast, Four-Year Construction Work Plan, Long-Range Construction Work Plan, and Annual Power Requirement Study for compatibility with current regulations, technologies, and partner organizations.
Why are you interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees or serving another term?
Over the years I have offered my time and experience to various organizations and Boards when I could be of assistance. Since I have retired with some extra time, between traveling, volunteering, church, woodworking and family, I would like to be of service to URE and hope that some of my experience and knowledge may be helpful.
Bob Zigmund
9308 Concord Road, Powell
Employment / Education / Other Experience:
- Retired after a career in the Electric Utility industry
- BS, Electrical Engineering, Ohio Northern University
- MS, Electrical Engineering concentration in Electric Power Systems, The Ohio State University
- Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio
What in your opinion are the greatest challenges facing the cooperative in the next three to five years?
There are many changes under way in the electric utility space including load growth as transportation electrifies, more solar and backup generation and more complex controls on distribution lines. As pressure to decarbonize electric generation increases and other energy intensive processes look to leverage electricity it will be extremely important to keep electric rates affordable for all cooperative members. These trends will increase the complexity on distribution circuits and it will be important to maintain safety standards for both cooperative staff and customers. This increased complexity must also be managed so that reliability is maintained or improves.
Why are you interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees or serving another term?
Reliable electricity is a critical asset for all of us. My entire career has been spent in the electric utility industry. I am now retired, but still very interested in this industry. This is a time of big changes in the industry and I feel my technical background and years of experience would be an asset to the cooperative members. I would like to ask for your vote and would be honored to serve if voted onto the Board.
District 7
Tanalee Stoll
17680 Bear Swamp Road, Marysville
Employment / Education / Other Experience:
- Huntington National Bank; Director of Finance, Marysville, Ohio.
- The Ohio State University, Bachelor of Science
- Licensed Realtor
- Licensed Property and Casualty
- Licensed Life and Health
What in your opinion are the greatest challenges facing the cooperative in the next three to five years?
- Providing renewable, clean energy at an affordable price to URE’s members. Considering the recent growth in Union County and neighboring counties, this could prove a challenge in coming years.
- We have seen in the past two years people retiring at a record pace, and businesses not having the talent to replace retirees. Succession planning is a must to attract young talent to the Energy Industry, URE.
- It’s also imperative to have employee benefits that help to attract new employees as well as keep benefits for current employees and retirees.
- Awareness of URE, who we are, what we do, our values. As our community continues to grow, we need to provide awareness and education to the community. Industry competition is growing, we need to make sure our members are aware of the benefits of being a URE member.
Why are you interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees or serving another term?
I want to make sure members of URE have renewable, clean energy provided at an affordable price.
Jeff Wilson
16021 Allen Center Road, Marysville
Employment / Education / Other Experience:
- Retired owner of an independent insurance agency
- URE trustee since 1995
- URE Board Chairman 20 Years
- Present URE Board Secretary
- Served as a board member on URE’s state trade association on numerous committees including leadership roles.
- Business Administration, University of Maryland
- Hold all trustee education certifications
What in your opinion are the greatest challenges facing the cooperative in the next three to five years?
- Hold costs down while maintaining affordable rates without sacrificing safety, reliability and consumer service.
- Plan for serving a diverse and high growth territory.
- Be responsive to new energy demands.
- Protection against cyber-attacks.
- Managing the political and EPA issues facing cooperatives as well as encouraging our members to take a proactive role in the political process.
Why are you interested in becoming a member of the URE Board of Trustees or serving another term?
Experience matters, as your incumbent District 7 trustee since 1995 I have been diligent in achieving all the educational certifications available to a trustee so I can better serve as your trustee. I have been willing and able to take leadership positions as your local URE Chairman and now Board Secretary. I was also selected by my fellow trustees to represent URE at our state trade association where important decisions are made concerning the welfare of URE. The experienced District 2 trustee retired, and we will now be electing a new trustee, and I feel my experience and leadership will be extremely important going forward.