Meet Your Interim CEO: Dan Husted
With CEO Tim Thompson announcing his new position with Crow Wing Power in Brainerd, Lake Region Electric Cooperative’s (LREC) Board of Directors has named Dan Husted to serve as interim CEO until a permanent replacement is hired. Husted began his role as interim CEO at the end of February.
Husted and his wife, Sarah, are longtime members of the Pelican Rapids community. Sarah works as a substitute teacher, primarily at Viking Elementary School. The couple has two daughters, Elizabeth (a doctor with Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin) and Mackenzie (a registered nurse at Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center, also in La Crosse).
Husted is looking forward to being back at the Cooperative as the search for a permanent CEO is underway. “A lot of changes have occurred in the four years since I’ve been gone,” he says. “We have several new employees and new board members who I am looking forward to meeting.”
Husted retired from LREC in 2021 after nearly 18 years of service at the Cooperative. He brings with him a background full of experience in energy services, communications, and customer service. At the time of his retirement, Husted was serving as LREC’s Vice President of Business Development.
During his tenure at the Cooperative, he was involved with the implementation of a long list of programs and initiatives. Examples include the geothermal program, community solar program, LED lighting program, Lake Region Energy Services natural gas company, first-of-its-kind wind solar project, MyMeter, and community storage.
As interim CEO, Husted plans to focus on continuity and stability. “Tim has done an outstanding job and has things well in place. As the interim CEO, I will continue to prioritize the Cooperative’s goals of providing safe, reliable, and affordable electricity, along with beneficial energy services offerings, for our members.”
Husted mentions a recent member quote featured in the February NewsFlashes CEO column. The member wrote how LREC really cares for and serves its members. Husted says this is always something he keeps in mind, adding how that is really what it’s all about. If members have a concern or an idea, he invites them to give him a call and let him know.
“I would like to thank the directors on Lake Region Electric Cooperative’s Board for their confidence in my ability to be the interim CEO while they conduct their executive search,” he concludes. “It is an honor to serve the Board and the members of LREC once again.”