Deyoe and Hauser Elected To Pioneer Electric Board of Trustees

Pioneer Electric Cooperative’s 79th Annual Meeting was held on Sept. 14 in the Grant County Civic and concluded with the board of trustees election. Members voted to elect: incumbent Michael Brewer (District 2) and nominees Lori B. Deyoe (District 1) and Marieta A. Hauser (District 7).

“Our board of trustees act as the collective voice of our membership,” said Lindsay Campbell, Pioneer Electric Interim CEO. “We welcome Lori and Marieta and look forward to working with them in continuation of providing safe, reliable and sustainable service to our members.”

Cooperative trustees oversee the policies and bylaws of the cooperative, represent the membership and serve as ambassadors of the cooperative’s viewpoints, objectives, programs and service. Candidates for the board of trustees election are selected annually by a selected group of members, known as the committee of nominations.

Candidates for the board of trustees are voted on by the membership through mail-in or in person balloting. Districts rotate on a three-year election term.

More information regarding Pioneer Electric’s Board of Trustees, the election process and a list of current Trustees is available here.

2023 Annual Meeting Information

Pioneer Electric members are invited to join us at the Grant County Civic Center on Thursday, Sept. 14, for the 79th Pioneer Electric Annual Meeting.

Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. in the South Room. Members should enter through the former Civic Center Office door. Signage will be in place to direct members.

Members who did not submit a mail-in ballot must register to vote at the meeting. Members who have already voted by mail-in ballot can visit registration to receive their annual report and attendance gift.

Once registered, members can take part in a FREE meal and find a seat inside the auditorium where the business meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

Trustee Elections

Each year, members are appointed to serve on the committee on nominations. This committee, acting as the voice of the members, is tasked with selecting candidates they believe would make qualified trustees. Those nominated to the ballot must reside in the district they wish to serve and meet the qualifications outlined in the cooperative’s bylaws.

Candidates selected by the committee on nominations are placed on the trustee ballot for election at the cooperative’s annual meeting.
Casting Your Vote

Each member is entitled to one vote on each matter presented on the annual meeting ballot. Pioneer Electric members may cast their ballot one of two ways:

  1. Vote by mail.
  2. Vote in person at the annual meeting.

Members who opt to submit a mail-in ballot will not be permitted to vote in person at the annual meeting, but are still encouraged to attend.

Vote by Mail

Members received a mail-in ballot attached to their annual meeting notice in August. Ballots cast by mail must be returned to Pioneer Electric’s office properly sealed, no later than Sept. 9 to be considered valid. Instructions on returning your mail-in ballot are included with the annual meeting notice and below.

Commercial members must include a signed resolution (attached to notice) inside their privacy envelope with their ballot.

Returning Your Mail-In Ballot

Step 1: Cast your ballot
Members of Pioneer Electric are entitled to one vote on each matter submitted on the ballot. Please mark your selections clearly.

Step 2: Seal Your Ballot
Once you have made your selections, insert your ballot into the provided privacy (smaller) envelope. Insert the privacy envelope into the provided return mail envelope. Your return envelope MUST include your name, address and account number. Any envelopes lacking an account number will be spoiled.

Step 3: Return Your Ballot
Please return your ballot using the envelopes provided. Ballots must be sealed in the PRIVACY ENVELOPE. Your privacy envelope must be sealed in the RETURN ENVELOPE and received by our office no later than Sept. 9, 2023.

Voting at the Annual Meeting

In-person voting will be available at the annual meeting on Sept. 14 at registration. A marked ballot box will be available for members to place their ballots in once they have finished voting.

Campbell Selected To Serve as Pioneer Electric Interim CEO

Ulysses, Kan.—July 20, 2023— The Pioneer Electric Board of Trustees voted to instate Lindsay Campbell, executive vice president – assistant Chief Executive Officer and general counsel, as interim CEO for Pioneer Electric. Steve Epperson, Pioneer Electric CEO, has been appointed to serve as interim president and CEO of Sunflower Electric Power Corp. Chantry Scott, executive vice president and Chief Financial Officer, was appointed to serve as the cooperative’s interim assistant CEO.

Campbell has served the cooperative as its general counsel since her hire in 2014. In 2020, Campbell assumed the role of assistant CEO.

Scott has served the cooperative since 2011 as CFO. Scott was promoted to executive vice president in 2020.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Pioneer Electric and Southern Pioneer during this transition,” Campbell said. “Pioneer Electric will remain member-focused, continuing forward with the progress Steve as made and our mission of providing safe and reliable electricity to the members we serve.”

Epperson will replace Todd Hillman, who served as Sunflower’s president and CEO since January. Sunflower will begin a search for a new permanent successor as soon as possible.

Epperson has served as the CEO of Pioneer Electric Cooperative and Southern Pioneer Electric Company since 2011.

“I am honored to be chosen by my fellow Sunflower board members to lead Sunflower during this transition period,” Epperson said. “As always, our focus will be on taking care of our members and those they serve by supplying reliable energy at the lowest possible cost. The Sunflower board and staff remain committed to delivering excellent service and innovation our members and communities have come to expect from us.”

Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc. is dedicated to providing members with safe and reliable electric service. Headquartered in Ulysses, Kansas, Pioneer Electric is a distribution cooperative owned and controlled by its members. Pioneer Electric serves approximately 15,900 retail electric meters across 10 counties in southwestern Kansas. The system is made up of more than 117 miles of transmission line, 3,600 miles of distribution line and 21 substations. All of Pioneer Electric’s electricity is procured by Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, which is owned by Pioneer Electric and five other Kansas electric co-ops. Pioneer Electric is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.