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Mund contributes life experiences to board

Technology continues to amaze Ervin Mund. After all, it

Erv and his wife, Karen, use computer technology to keep in touch with their grandchildren including Jordan, Ali, Megan and Connor (left to right).

It also makes him a savvy board director for Capital Electric Cooperative. By reading a TWACS (two-way automated communication system) report, he and the Capital Electric crew can estimate what time a member wakes up or washes clothes, based on the amount of electricity being used.

While technology may be relatively new to Erv, the cooperative business model is not. As a property owner, he’s a member of Capital Electric, McLean Electric and Oliver-Mercer Electric, and he appreciates cooperative advantages such as capital credits and voting privileges.

The newest director to join the board in June 2006, Erv says he wanted to serve on the board because he felt he had experiences to contribute—as a member, a former farmer and current businessman. As Bismarck and surrounding areas experience rapid growth, Erv says he feels there is a need for strong leadership and decision makers to keep the cooperative a viable force in the utilities industry.

A diverse career

Erv grew up on Mor-Gran-Sou Electric lines in Leith. He graduated from Carson High School in 1965, attended Bismarck Junior College and continued his education at the University of North Dakota, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics.

After college, Erv began employment with the N.D. Department of Transportation as a real estate appraiser and farmed part time near Wilton. He became certified as a commercial appraiser and spent 25 years appraising real estate on a parttime basis. As a young entrepreneur, Erv and a small group of farmers formed the N.D. Sunflower Growers Cooperative. They tried to raise enough money to bring a sunflower crushing plant to Jamestown. While they didn’t succeed in building the plant, he says their work made a difference to the state’s economy.

“It spurred ADM (Archer Daniels Midland) and Cargill to build plants in North Dakota. In a lot of ways, we helped out the farmers,” Erv says.

In 1974, he accepted a job with Northwestern Federal Savings and Loan, which introduced him to the banking business. While there, he was promoted to senior vice president. Double busy with two careers, Erv quit farming in the mid 1980s. In 1989, Erv was named the president of St. Alexius Community Credit Union in Bismarck. He says his duties include “everything” ranging from preparing the annual budget to approving and rejecting loans.

After investing nearly 33 years in the financial world, Erv still seems to have a soft spot for farmers.

“I’d like to see more small farmers, but in today’s environment, it’s difficult for the small farmer to survive. The investment is just so high,” he says. “Agriculture always was, and always will be, important to North Dakota.”

A future plan

After full careers, retirement is looking more and more attractive to Erv and his wife. Karen currently serves as the legislative administrator for the N.D. Legislative Council. Married for 38 years, they look forward to spending more time together: golfing, traveling and enjoying their summer cabin in Pick City. They also plan to visit their three grown children and four grandchildren more so they can nudge them in person—for hugs.