Passing the torch: Basin Electric board of directors welcome a new director to the boardroom

The old saying, “When one door closes, another one opens” can apply to many experiences we have throughout our lives: business opportunities, career paths, relationships, etc. Those changes can be exciting, challenging, and even scary.

For District 8 Director Allen Thiessen who has served on the Basin Electric Board of Directors for 12 years, change comes in the shape of retirement.

“Working together in cooperative fashion to address the changes and challenges in our industry has been both fun and rewarding,” Thiessen says. “I may not have fully understood the challenges another co-op had and they may not have understood mine, but we listened to each other and came to conclusions that benefited our members.”

He admits he’s a co-op junkie. “My dad and his brothers served on about every co-op board in our area,” Thiessen says. “My uncle, C.R. Thiessen, was a founding member of Basin Electric and talked me into running for his Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric Cooperative board seat when he retired.” After that, Thiessen was hooked and went on to serve on both Montana and North Dakota rural electric associations, Upper Missouri Power Cooperative, and Midwest Electric Cooperative Corporation. “It’s been a very rewarding experience,” he says.

Although Thiessen will no longer serve on the Basin Electric Board of Directors, he’ll still be busy in his role as board vice president of the Upper Missouri Power Cooperative, a Basin Electric Class A member, and board president of the Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric Cooperative, a Basin Electric Class C member. Both cooperatives are located in Sidney, Montana. Thiessen is also an active member in his community of Lambert, Montana.

Thiessen says he’ll miss the fellowship of the board and staff the most. “Everyone has been so wonderful, and I’ve been friends with a lot of them outside of our meetings. You get to meet their families at social events and keep up with what’s happening each month,” he says. “I still miss past board members; only Wayne Peltier, board president, and Kermit Pearson, secretary of the Dakota Coal and Montana Limestone boards, are still here from when I began.”

As Thiessen spends more time with family and doing some of the things he’s been putting off, like restoring old cars, he will continue to be a dedicated Basin Electric supporter and looks forward to working with the board to make the world a better place for its members.

New opportunities

With Thiessen’s retirement from the board, a door opens on a new opportunity for Anthony Larson, vice president of the Slope Electric Cooperative board in New England, North Dakota, as he fills Thiessen’s seat on the Basin Electric Board of Directors. Larson is the fourth-generation owner and operator of 1910 Larson Ranch, a beef cow/calf, yearling, and forage operation. He has worked in bank management and lending and is a former board member of the Rural Development Finance Corporation. He also holds a National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Director Gold Certificate. 

“My whole life has been focused on service, and I’ve had opportunities to serve in a variety of ways,” Larson says. “When I saw the chance to serve on the Basin Electric board and the impact that Basin Electric has on so many lives throughout such a big service territory, I knew I could use my skills and experiences to make a difference.”

Larson is passionate about the cooperative business model, which provides a solid foundation from which to make decisions. “That foundation allows us to serve the interests of all. By fully understanding the needs not only of my Upper Missouri family but the needs of the Basin Electric membership as a whole, I can position myself as an effective director,” Larson says.

Larson values healthy discussions and ensuring all sides of an issue are explored. He even appreciates non-unanimous votes, viewing them as a sign of diverse viewpoints and experiences being represented. “It is important that all perspectives are considered prior to making board decisions and that the board is unified once a decision is made,” Larson says. “By valuing other people’s input, listening, and being fully engaged by doing the necessary homework, the interests of the Basin Electric membership will be best served.”

Change often creates opportunities and clears the way for new possibilities. Every change, whether planned or unexpected, invites us to explore new paths, develop new skills, and connect with different people. Throughout the past 12 years, Thiessen shared his knowledge and love of the cooperative family with his fellow board members, often making difficult decisions in the face of an ever-evolving energy industry and always with the membership in mind. Those decisions have paved the way for Larson to continue the important work of a board director, inspiring a deep commitment to the cooperative model and a fresh perspective.