Wheat Belt Public Power District Director achieves credential in today’s electric utility competencies

Wheat Belt Public Power District President Brian Zimmerman presented the NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) Credential Cooperative Director certificate to Toni Blomenkamp of Broadwater during the May Board Meeting.

The NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director (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 Operating and Process

· Strategic Planning

· Financial Decision Making.

An ever-changing business environment has imposed new demands on electric cooperative and public power district directors, requiring increased knowledge of changes in the electric utility business, new governance skills and solid knowledge of the cooperative principles and business model. Public power districts have a commitment to work through NRECA and the statewide organization (Nebraska Rural Electric Association) to sharpen this body of knowledge for the benefit of their customers.

Blomenkamp has been on the Wheat Belt board since January 2021.

“it is an important asset for our directors to receive education through NRECA because it provides specific context to help us with the new challenges and opportunities that the public power industry faces. You get a chance to network with other fellow directors and this knowledge has helped me to analyze the boardroom information more efficiently and help make more informed decisions for my local public power district and to better serve our customers,” she said.