LPEA Director Jeff Berman earns electric utility credential

DURANGO, Colo. – Durango resident Jeff Berman, a director on the La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) board of directors representing District 3, has completed the required courses and earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
Berman was recognized for his commitment to education at NRECA’s Region VII meeting in Omaha, Neb., Oct. 2, 2008. He and 28 fellow co-op directors from across Colorado were congratulated before an audience of more than 500 electric cooperative officials from Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Wyoming.

Berman holds a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida. A manufacturing process, monitoring and design engineer, he is currently CEO of San Juan BioEnergy LLC, a bioenergy operation, which he founded. His non-profit experience includes serving as former executive director of Colorado Wild and as a founding member of the Southwest Colorado Renewable Energy Society (now Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado).
Berman currently serves as chairman of the LPEA board’s System’s Operations and Planning Committee.
The NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director, or CCD, program requires attendance and demonstrated understanding of the basic competencies contained in five core courses:
¨      Director Duties and Liabilities
¨      Understanding the Electric Business
¨      Board Roles and Relationships
¨      Business Planning
¨      Understanding Financial Planning
“Today’s electric utility environment imposes new demands on electric cooperative directors, particularly increased knowledge of changes in the electric utility business, new governance skills and a working knowledge of the cooperative principles,” said Greg Munro, LPEA CEO. “Electric co-ops in Colorado have a commitment to work through the Colorado Rural Electric Association and its national organization to sharpen this body of knowledge for the benefit of their electric cooperative member-owners. We applaud Jeff for his commitment.”
LPEA, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative established in 1939, provides to its nearly 30,000 members with more than 40,000 meters, safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, while being environmentally responsible. For further information, visit www.lpea.coop.