Board of Directors
As a cooperative, United Power is governed by a member-elected board of directors. The board, which meets monthly, is responsible for helping to set guidelines for our operation, oversee the costs and spending at the cooperative, and to help plan our future direction.
East District
Tim Erickson is retired, after working as a family farmer and rancher for more than 40 years. Tim and his family have been active participants in the Ft. Lupton community for the last 38 years. He has experience with crop farming, as well as cattle and dairy production. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Northern Colorado. He has served on United Power’s board twice – from 1991 through 2000, and began his most recent term in 2009. He is a Certified Credentialed Director and Board Leadership recipient by NRECA, and has previously served as Secretary/Treasurer for the United Power board.
Erickson previously served on the board of directors for the Mountain Prairie Girl Scout Council and on the board of the Weld County Women’s Place. He was a political adjutant with the Future Farmers of America. Erickson is a lifetime member of the Weld County 4-H and “friend” with National Jewish Hospital and Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado.
Elizabeth “Beth” Martin is a real estate broker and since 1977, co-owner (not to mention “chief bottle washer”) of the Pepper Pod Restaurant in Hudson. She earned her BA from CU Boulder, GRI and ePRO designations from the National Association of Realtors and is currently completing her Masters of Real Estate studies. Martin has also completed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Directors Certification, Board Leadership and Director Gold programs.
She’s a former Mayor Pro-Tem of Hudson, and served as the Finance and Administration Officer for the Town of Hudson. Martin is a Past President of the Brighton Kiwanis Club, and has served as a director for the organization since 2008. She served on the Board of Director as Secretary for Kidz Quiltz, and as a founding director for the Hudson Harvest Festival. Martin volunteers or has volunteered at the Adams County Animal Shelter, Brighton Housing Justice, Special Olympics, Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Salvation Army. She’s a member of NAR, the Denver Regional Board of Realtors, and the Colorado Association of Realtors.
James Vigesaa is the CEO and owner of BVB General Contractors, a commercial construction company located in Brighton. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
Vigesaa served on the Broomfield Land Use Commission from 1997-2001, as well as Chairman of the Brighton Economic Development Corporation from 2010-2014, where he has also contributed two years as treasurer and four years as a board member.
South District
Keith Alquist was appointed by the Board in November 2017. Keith has been a Brighton resident for more than 25 years and brings a rich background in cooperative business and an intimate knowledge of the United Power community to this position.
Alquist served as Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer for the American Pride Co-op for more than 20 years, retiring after the co-op merged with Agfinity in 2012. In this position he served cooperative members throughout Brighton, Ft. Lupton, Hudson and Mead. He is a long-term member of the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) which also serves electrical cooperatives. Also an active community member, Alquist is a member of the Brighton Rotary club, which spearheads a Read-to-Me project at South Elementary, a dictionary project for third graders, and the distribution of U.S. Constitution booklets to fifth graders.
I have been a resident of Brighton, Colorado my entire life. My family worked and owned a dairy farm while I was growing up. On the farm, I learned about dedication and hard work. I have supported the Brighton community by seven years of volunteer service on the Brighton Police Department, as a volunteer reserve officer. I quickly made the rank of lieutenant and managed twelve volunteer reserve officers. I have coached various youth soccer and football clubs in Brighton, while my sons were younger. I believe in giving back to your community with service and involvement.
My greatest personal accomplishment is my long-term marriage of 28 years to my wife, Deborah Case. She is a special education teacher at Southeast Elementary. My oldest son is Kyle who served six years in the United States Air Force and received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Wyoming. He is a local real estate agent. Lastly, my youngest son Erick, graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. I am very family oriented and enjoy camping, snowmobiling, and fishing during family vacations.
I have owned and operated in Brighton, Case Powdercoating, which enables flexibility in my schedule to dedicate my services to United Power. I have many repeat customers and referrals, due to my competitive pricing and quality of service. Previously, I worked at Majestic Metals, a precision manufacturing shop, for 34 years. I have managed up to 80 employees. I have personally managed, organized, and monitored million-dollar projects. These projects have included wind and solar projects, which I completed on time.
My father retired from Xcel Energy with over 40 years of service, so I learned about electricity first-hand, by an experienced lineman. I graduated with a degree in Computer Science from the Denver Institute of Technology. I am knowledgeable in electricity from my father and school. I believe I would be a valuable member on the United Power Board, due to this practical knowledge. I would enjoy the opportunity to help grow and develop the cooperative electrical company and give back to my community. I believe in the cooperative and underlying fundamentals of giving back to United Power’s customers in diligent management of our energy resources. I could offer United Power my extensive management experience. I believe in educating customers In home energy efficiency, auditing, and new opportunities in sustainable renewable energy.
West District
Ginny Buczek has lived in Firestone for 29 years and currently works part-time in Design Review. Her work experience includes hardware store manager, head buyer and merchandiser for a chain of home centers and as a key accounts manager for Chevron. She attended Red Rocks Community College studying accounting, business management and economics. She earned received the Colorado Municipal League’s Elected Officials Advanced Training Certification. During her tenure she has served as the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, and currently chairs The Audit Committee. Buczek is United Power’s director on the Colorado Rural Electric Association Board (CREA). She is Vice President of the CREA Board, serves on CREA’s Executive and Policy Committees. She has served as CREA’s Secretary, Treasure and Budget and Finance Chair. Buczek represents United Power on the Tri-State G&T Contract Committee.
Buczek served on the Weld County Council 2005-2012, she was resident in 2008 and Vice-President in 2007 and 2012. She served on the Technical Committee for the Southwest Weld Study, served as chair and co-chair for the Firestone Planning Commission and on the Firestone Park Commission. Buczek served on the Firestone Board of Trustees, as a director for the Tri-area Ambulance Service and the Tri-area Planning Commission. She was a United Power Round-Up Foundation Director from 2003-2008, and on the United Power Consumer Resource Committee in 1998, 2001 and 2003. She has been active in many civic groups including 4-H, Girl Scouts, Relay for Life, Neighborhood Watch and at Frederick High School. Ginny is a member of the West Point Parents Club, has served on congressional and senatorial Military Academy Boards and is a member of Weld County’s Bright Futures Advisory Board.
Brian McCormick is self employed. He previously worked as a Programmer Analyst for the City of Thornton, an IT Specialist for the City of Greeley and as Wastewater and Stormwater Maintenance Supervisor for the City of Boulder. He recently completed his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University. McCormick served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, holding a number of leadership roles with the 25th Infantry Division. He later served as a First Lieutenant and Captain in the Colorado Army National Guard.
McCormick has been a United Power member since 2001 and has served as a United Power board member since 2009. He is currently our representative to the Western United Electric Supply board. He also earned certification as a Credentialed Director through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. McCormick is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Solar Energy Society and the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society. He and his family live in Frederick.
Ursula J. Morgan is a wife and mother of two. She has worked as a real estate appraiser, in e-commerce and in senior healthcare/hospice. She has been a member of United Power since 1995. She attended the University of Northern Colorado and has completed the National Rural Electric Cooperative’s Board Leadership Program and the Credentialed Cooperative Director Training Program. Morgan had also completed the Elected Officials’ Training and Advanced Training programs through the Colorado Municipal League. She is a volunteer for The Children’s Hospital Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Children’s Miracle Network.
Morgan served on the Board of Trustees for the Town of Mead, including serving as Mayor Pro Tem. She also served as one of the Town of Mead’s Planning and Zoning Commissioners. She served on the Board of Directors for the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) as a Policy Setting Committee Member with the Colorado Municipal League (CML), and on the Transportation and Air Quality Planning Councils for the Upper Front Range and North Front Range of Colorado. She is a past president of the Weld County Positive Partnerships. Morgan has also served as a committee member for the Colorado Women in Government.
Mountain District
Greetings fellow United Power members:
My name is Stephen Whiteside and I am a candidate for United Power Director in the Mountain District. I have been a United Power member for over 30 years. Our family homesteaded near the Big Thompson river in Loveland. Grandfather was a lineman for the telephone company. My wife Sara and I live in Coal Creek Canyon. We have four children and three grandchildren. We enjoy our community of friendly neighbors; beautiful mountains and all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer. Coal Creek is a community where people watch out for one another and are quick to lend a hand when needed.
The flood in 2013 caused a lengthy emergency situation with road closures and power outages. It put a fine point on two issues. The first is how community members immediately step up to help one another. The second is how something we take for granted – electrical power – can be suddenly disrupted. Once the water subsided revealing significant damage to roads and utilities, United Power sent crews who worked non-stop to restore electric power to canyon residents. It was a huge effort and Coal Creek was not the only area affected by the flood. It really brought home the importance and value of members of our cooperative.
After graduating from the University of Colorado I operated a small business in Japan for 8 years. Upon returning to Colorado I worked as a sales representative for a western boot manufacturer. I started my own company in 1990 and currently have two retail stores. Since 2005 I have been a member of the United Power Round-Up board.
Fundamentally our cooperative is a business. I would bring my experience as a small business owner to the United Power board. Businesses evolve with new technologies, new procedures and new management. Crucial to any business is careful planning, fiscal responsibility and wise use of resources. As a board member my focus would be to continue improving the reliability, affordability and sustainability of our electric power grid.
Tamra Waltemath is an attorney with her own practice in Westminster, Colo. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado and Denver University Law School. Tamra has served on the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association for over 11 years. During her time on the CCCIA board she has served as President, Vice President and fundraising Chair.
Tamra is an active member of her church and chairs the church’s Trust that grants money to local and national charities. While her daughter was in school she also served as a member of the Parent Teachers Student Association. Tamra is a widow and mother, and lives in the Coal Creek Canyon.