Honoring the team behind the scenes
It takes a team of dedicated professionals
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Seth Lothspeich, journeyman lineworker for Capital Electric, performs a training exercise during the 2006 Rubber Gloving School. The training was sponsored by the Apprentice Safety and Training department of the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives. Seth was recently honored for working five years with the co-op. |
to ensure the lights stay on. From planning new substations to answering the phones, employees at Capital Electric Cooperative work diligently to serve our member-owners.
Our co-op employs 34 full-time and 6 part-time employees who use their experience and knowledge to provide affordable and reliable electric service to our member-owners. Each employee, from the general manager to the interns, plays an important role at the co-op. These people work behind the scenes to scan checks, dispatch line crews, fix outages, track capital credit claims, plan annual meetings, read meters and handle hundreds of other important responsibilities.
Capital Electric Cooperative recently honored several employees who deserve credit for the milestones they’ve reached in their co-op careers. Larry Wittmayer was honored for 30 years of service; Ron Lipp was recognized for 20 years; Dana Solem was commended for 10 years; and Jeff Holzer, Erica Roth and Seth Lothspeich were thanked for five. The managers and board of directors wish to thank these individuals, along with the rest of the staff. We employ quality workers, some of whom occasionally work in extreme conditions to make sure our members have power—so we thank the mall for their dedication to Capital Electric Cooperative.
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WITTMAYER |
Larry Wittmayer says his career of climbing poles and fixing outages “wasn’t in the cards,” although he still misses the work he did as a journeyman lineworker for Capital Electric. After an accident left him disabled, Larry accepted the position of system supervisor in 1985. He currently dispatches line crews to fix outages, manages materials and handles other daily jobs.
SCADA, the co-op’s substation control and data acquisition system, has helped Larry tremendously over the years. He says it cuts down outage hours because it allows him to check some substation breakers, air break switches and transmission breakers, and switch the feed from different directions from the office to save valuable time when the power goes out.
Larry says the best part of his job is working with the cooperative employees and meeting the consumers. His job is different every day, and he says he’s proud to have worked for the co-op for 30 years.
Along with a fulfilling career, Larry is thankful for his marriage. On Feb. 9, he will celebrate 35 years with his wife, Marlyss. In honor of the occasion, they will travel to Arizona to attend a Barrett-Jackson classic car auction in Scottsdale.
Larry and Marlyss spend many of their weekends at their second home on Lake Tschida, which is one of Larry’s favorite fishing spots. They have three grown sons; one in Bismarck, one in Mandan and one in Eugene, Ore., and some day hope to have grandchildren.
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LIPP |
Planning a substation is no small task. Ron Lipp, the manager of engineering and operations, is currently planning a new substation to serve co-op members in Lincoln and the surrounding areas. After the consulting engineering company conducts a voltage drop study, Ron will meet with them to determine where the load center will be. This will help decide the location of the new substation.
Ron says much of his time as engineer is spent planning for 2008 and well into the future. “We do power requirement studies with our power suppliers like Basin Electric and Central Power Electric, and hopefully continue designing and upgrading our system for the peak of the year,” he says.
Proud of the growth he’s witnessed over the past 20 years, Ron says new technology keeps his job interesting. He continues to enjoy his job, thanks to the relationships he’s built with the line crews, fellow managers and coworkers, as well as co-op members.
Outside of work, Ron says he likes to hunt, play volleyball and spend time with his family. Ron and his wife, Brenda, live in Bismarck. They have four grown children: Jake, Chelsea, Sidney and Mackenzie.
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SOLEM |
Capital Electric Cooperative serves a consistent number of members who prefer to stop by co-op headquarters and pay their monthly electric bills. If you’ve dropped by to make a payment or ask a question, you’ve possibly visited with Dana Solem, cashier-receptionist. Along with Michelle Colton, secretary-billing clerk, Dana sits at the front desk where she greets consumers and answers phones. She also works with service orders and TWACS, the co-op’s two-way automatic communication system.
Working with and for the cooperative family has made a decade fly by, Dana says. She credits her job satisfaction to helping members and working efficiently with her partner and friend, Michelle.
For the first time in almost 11 years, members might find Dana temporarily absent from the office. This March, she and her husband, Dayne, will welcome their first baby. After spending some much-needed time with family, Dana will return to
JEFF HOLZER, JOURNEYMAN LINEWORKER
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HOLZER |
Each year, the North Dakota Rural Electric Cooperative
Managers’ Association recognizes a graduating apprentice lineworker for outstanding academic achievements and on-the-job performance, in completing his apprenticeship training. In 2006 at the 42nd annual Apprentice Training and Safety conference, Jeff Holzer earned the honor of being named “outstanding apprentice of the year” for 2005. Jeff now works as a journeyman lineworker for Capital Electric, constructing and maintaining overhead and underground power lines.
A native of McLaughlin, S.D., Jeff says his five years with Capital Electric have been comfortable and stable, and he appreciates working with a good line crew.
In the winter, Jeff says he enjoys winding through snowmobile trails on his sled in Montana. During the summer, he tracks the progress of his racehorse.
SETH LOTHSPEICH, JOURNEYMAN LINEWORKER
While working around high-voltage transmission lines can be
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LOTHSPEICH |
dangerous, Seth Lothspeich says he’s never been scared. As a journeyman lineworker, Seth helps the line crew construct and maintain overhead and underground power lines. He says he chose the career because he was inspired by his father, who has worked as an electrician for 35 years.
One reason he appreciates his job is it gives him the opportunity to work outdoors. He says he doesn’t mind tackling outages on bitterly cold days; as a native of Grand Forks, he says, he is immune to the elements.
At the end of his work day, Seth goes to his second job: coaching the Bantam“A” Generals hockey team. He works with teenage boys from mid-October to mid-March six days a week and appears quite proud of his team’s accomplishments.
In his rare moments of free time, Seth says he takes advantage of the state’s hunting opportunities, focusing on deer and antelope.
ERICA ROTH, ACCOUNTANT
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ROTH |
A problem solver who is good with numbers, Erica Roth says she
feels satisfaction in balancing accounts. For the past five years, Erica’s job as the co-op’s accountant has entailed handling payroll and month-end closings, and managing capital credits. While there have been changes in personnel and responsibilities over the years, she says the job has remained consistent and she appreciates the stability it provides.
An active athlete, Erica stays in shape playing tennis, running and keeping up with her three teenagers: Ashley, Joe and Andie. She and her husband, Shane, live in Bismarck where he works as head mechanic of Waste Management.