Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative
Director Candidate Profile
Name: Ken Purdy
Address: 23423 Highway 92 City: Columbus Junction State: IA Zip: 52738
Years at Current Address: 44 years Eastern Iowa REC member since: 1976
Phone: 319-212-0188
Family: Brother Art Purdy of Davenport, sister Miriam Orr of Muscatine
Education/Career/Job History: Bachelor of Science – Mathematics, Master of Science – Mathematical Statistics. 24 Classes with National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) relating to electric cooperative directors. Eastern Iowa Light and Power REC (EILP) Director 8 years, EILP Assistant Secretary 2 years, EILP Treasurer 2 years. Louisa County Board of Supervisors 8 years serving as chairman 3 times, High School Mathematics and Computer Instructor 34 years, Wrestling coach 18 years, Track coach 30 years.
Other Positions Held: Chairman of the Louisa County Zoning Board of Adjustment, President of the Washington Flyer’s Club. Past chairman and a founding member of the Louisa County Community Foundation, Founding board member of the Louisa Development Group, Southeast Iowa Regional Planning, Southeast Community Action, Advisory Board for Southeast Iowa Regional Transit, Louisa Regional Solid Waste Agency, Southeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging chairman, and the Louisa County Board of Health.
Other Activities/Interests: Flying, water skiing, boating, pickleball, playing cards, and computer work. Fly tow plane for Blackhawk Soaring Club in Muscatine. Fly Piper Archer out of Washington. I am a Certified Flight Instructor for Powered Parachutes and one of only a few Powered Parachute pilots with a private pilot rating in the nation. I am a founding member of the Columbus Jct. Lions Club.
1. Why are you seeking re-election to the Cooperative’s board of directors?
I have two electric meters--one Alliant and one REC. REC is hands down the most reliable, quickest to get back on after an outage, and the easiest to deal with of the two organizations. I want to give back to the Cooperative that has given so much to my communities and me. I have eight years of experience on the REC board of directors and I obtained national accreditation with Credentialed Gold Director Award and Board Leadership Award after taking 24 National Rural Electric Cooperative classes. I have the experience, contacts, and proven ability to make decisions after reviewing the facts. I want to continue the good work REC does and will strive to help the Cooperative provide reliable, safe and environmentally friendly source of power at the least possible cost. I enjoy working with people and making informed logical decisions with a positive attitude.
2. What strengths would you bring to the board of directors if elected? Positive upbeat person that fits the nature of Cooperative Directors. Ability to read and digest information and make informed decisions. A degree in mathematical statistics with an analytical mind. Eight years of experience as a Cooperative director and taken 24 National Rural Electric Cooperative classes to improve my cooperative decision-making. Leadership experience eight years as a Louisa County Supervisor and leadership roles in many organizations. Taught HS mathematics and coached track and wrestling 34 years and learned to deal with the public and make important decisions. Eight years on the Louisa County Board of Supervisors has given me contacts in Johnson, Washington, Muscatine and Louisa counties and I have met with our federal and state legislators as a positive representative of REC. Co-owner of CP Enterprises, a successful apartment rental business.
3.How would you describe the role of a Cooperative director?
Advise and counsel the CEO. Represent the interests of members in a positive way. Make informed decisions as to budget matters and patronage allocation (profits) to our members, long term decisions for the cooperative, set policies for the Coop.
4. What do you see as the most important issues facing the Cooperative? To keep the Cooperative financially sound, to give the member-owners the best and most reliable service at the least cost, to make sure we have enough base load generation facilities to support renewable energy growth and to develop new policies dealing with solar and wind generation, battery storage, and distributed generation in general. To be ready to take advantage of new technologies to benefit the members.
5.What do you feel is the greatest benefit of a cooperative business?
It is member owned and every member-owner is working for the same common goal - best service with safety at the least cost. There are no stock holders. Since we are a non-profit organization, margins (profits) are returned to the member-owners as patronage. The directors are member-owners also and are working for the best for all cooperative member-owners. (any entity that has an EILP REC meter is a member-owner)