Lee Hein - Monticello
Running for Region 1 - Jones County and portions of Cedar & Linn Counties
Lee and his wife Jacky have two children and three grandchildren. Lee was born and raised near Monticello, Iowa. In 1981, he established Witsam Inc., the family’s farming operation that includes 900 acres of corn and soybeans as well as 1500 head of cattle and custom feed 3200 pig spaces for JBS Pork. In addition he established Witsam Trucking, a livestock and grain trucking firm, in 2019.
• Currently serves on the Jones County Board of Review.
• Iowa House of Representatives for 12 years serving as Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee 4 yrs., Ag Chairman 3yrs, Environment Protection Chairman 2 yrs., and Assistant Leader for 2 yrs.
• Monticello School Board served as Board President for 5 of the 9 years.
• Member of Iowa Farm Business Association and served as Board President.
• Member of Jones County Cattlemen, Jones County Pork Producers.
• Member of Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn Growers.
• Church affiliation: St. Matthews Lutheran Church.
• MVEC Member Since 2012 for his residence (Family has been members since the Co-op was formed).
Why are you interested in serving on MVEC's board?
With my experience as a legislator, I worked on legislation that benefited Maquoketa Valley REC. I have followed the board’s actions and have been interested in participating as a board member.
What strengths will you bring to the Board if elected?
My communication skills will help me be an effective board member. Listening has always been an essential skill for me. Obtaining answers to questions for constituents was always important and will continue to be a must. My experience chairing multiple committees at the State House taught me how to work in board settings and gave me the ability to reach a consensus. Being a board member is not a job that only takes place during meetings. My approach is that this role requires being available and active in the district all year to provide a voice for the members of the cooperative.
What is your greatest hope for the Cooperative's future?
I want to keep electricity affordable for our members while maintaining a strong and secure infrastructure that can meet our members’ power needs. Exploring all sources of electrical power generation, whether wind, solar or future technology, we will need to produce more electricity as the demand increases.
Skott Gent - Monmouth
Running for Region 1 - Jones County and portions of Cedar & Linn Counties
Skott and his wife Christine have two children and one granddaughter. Skott graduated from Iowa State in 1990 with a degree in Agricultural Business. Skott lives on and operates a family farm in eastern Jones County. They raise corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Additionally, they have a small herd of crossbred beef cows, and raise purebred Berkshire hogs for Berkwood Farms.
• Since December 1997, Skott has been an Agronomy Advisor/Sales Specialist for Innovative Ag Service in Andrew.
• Prior to that, he worked a short time as a Soil Conservationist at the NRCS office in Anamosa, and several years as a Loan Officer for a bank in Maquoketa.
• Active with the Maquoketa FFA Alumni Board for 30+ years
• Served on the Board of Directors of the Jackson Co. Pork Producers for 25+ years including 20 years as President.
• Has held various officer positions during 15 years on the Jackson County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
• For the past 8 years, he has co-chaired the group that has planned, fundraised, and built a new $3.2 million Outreach Center on the Jackson County Fairgrounds.
• MVEC Member since 1994.
Why are you interested in serving on MVEC's board?
I am a strong believer and advocate for the cooperative business model. I look forward to the opportunity to be the voice of my neighbors on the Board of MVEC.
What strengths will you bring to the Board if elected?
I have a lot of experience working to reach consensus among groups of people with common goals, yet different ideas on how to reach those goals.
What is your greatest hope for the Cooperative's future?
I look forward to being a part of keeping our Cooperative on the leading edge in providing dependable power and communication to our patrons.
Tom Stewart - Preston
Region 2 - Jackson County and portions of Clinton County
Tom and his wife Linda have one son and live on their fifth-generation family heritage farm, connected in
1938 near Preston where they have a beef operation, raise corn, soybeans, hay and oats.
• Jackson County Zoning board member.
• First United Methodist Church member, past Administrative Council Chairman and past chair of the Youth Board.
• Jackson County Farm Bureau member.
• Past President of the Jackson County Cattlemen Association.
• Past Chairman of the Jackson County Extension Board.
• Past committee chair of Jackson County FSA.
• MVEC member since 1982 and Board Director since 2004. Currently serving as President, Vice President from 2017 to 2024. Earned NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate in 2006; Earned Board Leadership Certificate in 2012; Director Gold Certificate in 2016, 2019, and 2025.
Why are you interested in serving another term on MVEC's board?
I have been honored to represent the membership of MVEC as a Director. Electrical power is a vital service in our lives. I enjoy contributing to the industry that brings reliable, affordable energy to our members.
What strengths do you bring to the Board?
I believe my experience and training will continue to serve the co-op well. My accessibility to the membership is also a responsibility I take seriously. Whenever a member has reached out to me, I have listened to their concerns and followed up to the best of my ability.
What is your greatest hope for the Cooperative's future?
My hope is the co-op continues to serve the membership’s future needs through up-to-date technology, sound management, and the personal cooperative touch.
Ron Thielen - Bellevue
Region 3 - Dubuque County
Ron and his wife Lori have two married children and three grandchildren.
• Graduated from Northeast Iowa Community College, AAS in Industrial Electricity.
• National Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training graduate and Journeyman Electrician since 1988.
• Member of St. Donatus Parish, past finance committee member.
• Retired from Westphal & Company, Inc. after 40-year career; most recently served as Vice President.
• National Electrical Contractors Association representative
--Dubuque Division, served as Chairperson from 2010 to 2012.
--Iowa Chapter, most recently served on the Statewide Board of Directors as Governor, and represented Iowa on the national association’s Board of Governors.
• Dubuque Area Labor Management Council, served on Board of Directors.
• Past Commissioner for the Governor appointed Mississippi River Parkway Commission.
• MVEC member since 1988, Board Director since 2004. Served as President from 2017 to 2024; currently serving on CIPCO Board.
• Earned NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate in 2008; earned Board Leadership Certification in 2018 and Director Gold in 2020 and 2024.
Why are you interested in serving another term on MVEC's board?
To continue to research new industry innovations such as battery storage, wind and solar power and to help MVEC keep pace with or stay ahead of any other new or emerging technologies. Having served on the Board already, I enjoy being a part of the MVEC team. I look forward to helping the cooperative navigate the increasing demands and continuing to build an all-of-the-above power portfolio that meets members’ needs well into the future.
What strengths do you bring to the Board?
I believe with my education, work experience and previous director experience that I can continue to be an asset to the board and will work to be a part of all solutions for the many challenges that may arise at the co-op. My background in electricity along with business management experience brings a different perspective to the board.
What is your greatest hope for the Cooperative's future?
I would hope that MVEC will be able to continue to offer safe, reliable, affordable electricity and internet service to all members and continue to look to the next best service that we may be able to offer for many years to come. For example, we will have to find solutions on how to charge many electric vehicles if the current trend in EVs continues.
David Robinson - Cascade
Running for Region 3 - Dubuque County
David resides in Cascade with his son and has been a proud employee of John Deere Dubuque Works since 2009, where he currently serves as an electrician. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering from Hamilton Technical College, as well as an Experimental Engineering Test Technician Journey-person Card through the UAW.
• Developed strong technical expertise through his prior roles as a Test Technician at Rockwell Collins in Bellevue, Iowa, and as a Broadcast Maintenance Engineer at KLJB FOX 18 in Davenport, Iowa.
• Active volunteer with several nonprofit organizations including UAW, International Skilled Trades Advisory Council, Boy Scouts of America, Dubuque Area Labor Harvest, and Dubuque Area Labor-Management Council.
• MVEC member since 2011.
Why are you interested in serving on MVEC's board?
MVEC has provided electric service to my home and hobby farm for over 14 years. The recent addition of broadband services creates new opportunities to integrate these offerings with the cooperative’s core utility functions, enhancing member value and improving peak load management. Serving on the Board would allow me to apply my technical background and industry experience in service to the cooperative and its members.
What strengths do you bring to the Board if elected?
I bring hands-on knowledge of electrical distribution, fiber optic communications, solar generation, and battery storage systems. I also have experience interpreting bylaws and contracts and have participated in meetings conducted under Robert’s Rules of Order through my involvement with the UAW. These skills would be valuable assets to the MVEC Board.
What is your greatest hope for the Cooperative's future?
My hope is that MVEC continues to enhance its already strong customer experience by embracing emerging technologies and delivering the best possible value to both residential and commercial members.
Billie Zumbach - Coggon
Region 4 - Delaware County and portions of Buchanan & Clayton Counties
Billie and her husband Doran have two children and seven grandchildren. Billie is an agriculture producer, specifically raising corn and soybeans with their son and grandson. Billie is a West Delaware High School and Hawkeye Tech graduate with a Certified Lab Assistant Degree.
• Two-year employee of NEIFB Association; 35-year employee Farm Management Association; Bookkeeper for Clean Wash Company in Ryan.
• Member at First Lutheran Church: Council member and Lay Ministry Committee and involved with mission projects, freezer meal team and three fencing projects for Kansas Fires, Missouri Valley Flood and Godspeed Equine in Dallas Center, IA (equine therapy for at-risk youth).
• Past Delaware County Porkette Board member.
• Past Leader Buffalo Belles 4-H Club.
• Past Good Neighbor Society President.
• MVEC member since 1978; Board Director since 2010, currently serving as Secretary and on the Policy Committee; earned NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate in 2011; Board Leadership Certificate in 2021; Director Gold in 2023.
Why are you interested in serving another term on MVEC's board?
Because of the membership and the connection we have. Members will call me if they have questions or concerns and know that I am available and will relay those issues on to MVEC staff for resolution.
What strengths do you bring to the Board?
I bring experience with the cooperative and an understanding of MVEC’s electric and fiber systems.
What is your greatest hope for the Cooperative's future?
The vision to move forward like we’ve done in the past and not be afraid to jump into new things to make the system better to improve reliability and capabilities for members.