This course is designed to help directors understand the electric utility
industry is an evolving high-tech system that must be designed and
engineered to meet regulatory and consumer standards for reliability,
quality and safety. This in turn requires an appropriate investment on
a planned and ongoing basis. This course provides directors with an
understanding of the key components of the electric utility industry.
Key Topics
Basic functions and cost components of generation, transmission and distribution
Current and emerging technologies that are impacting utility operations and policies
Issues related to distributed generation the board may need to address
Environmental issues and national policies that impact the cooperative
The board’s role to ensure a safe working environment
Instructor: Wallace Barron has nearly 40 years of experience in the electric utility industry, 15 of which have been associated with
cooperative systems. He is currently president of the consulting firm, Barron & Associates, Atlanta, which specializes in consulting
to the energy industry in the areas of strategic planning, marketing, rates and customer service, both domestic and international.
Barron previously worked as the vice president of marketing, customer service and distribution technology at Florida Power
Corporation in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Strategic Planning
Jan. 12—Ulmer Center, Mandan Register Online
Boards have ultimate responsibility for ensuring and evaluating the long-term health of the organization. They
help fulfill this duty by identifying goals through strategic planning and by authorizing the appropriate allocation
of resources through the adoption of financial policies, budget review and approval. This course teaches directors
how to participate effectively in a strategic planning process.
Key Topics
Understanding the purpose, value and components of strategic planning
Preparing for a strategic planning session
Understanding the components of a strategic plan
Using a “SWOT” analysis to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
Translating board guidance into operational plans by staff
Instructor: Wallace Barron
Social Media Marketing for Business
Jan. 18—Bismarck Register Online
This seminar is co-sponsored by the N.D. REC Member Services Association (NDMSA), and will be held in conjunction with the NDMSA winter meeting.
Corey Perlman, author of “eBoot Camp: Proven Internet Marketing Techniques to Grow Your Business,” will
provide the techniques to maximize your cooperative’s exposure on the Internet. Learn whether and how to use
Web sites, blogs, Twitter and other social networking sites, press releases and video. Perlman will give many practical tips to get your co-op noticed. Most importantly, participants will learn the maintenance
required for each Web medium to achieve benefits and avoid negative results.
Key Topics
How to successfully promote your business with Facebook
How to use LinkedIn and Twitter to grow your business
How to use blogs, articles, press releases and e-newsletters to stay connected with your customers
and build your brand
Why video is the quickest and easiest way to get your message out to the masses
Instructor: Corey Perlman is the author of the social media and Internet marketing book, “eBoot Camp: Proven Internet Marketing
Techniques to Grow Your Business,’ which became an Amazon.com bestseller and is in major bookstores worldwide.
Perlman is also the co-founder of Urbane Camp, which is a social-media marketing company that builds and manages
online marketing campaigns for businesses.
His true passion is teaching and in 2010 alone, Perlman conducted his critically acclaimed eBoot Camp workshop at
more than 25 conferences and events in cities across North America. To learn more, visit
www.TheEbootCamp.com
Engineering & Operations Conference
Feb. 16 and 17—Fargo Register Online
The N.D. REC Engineering and Operations Association collaborates with NDAREC every year to provide
technical training locally, for engineers, construction and operations personnel.
This year’s conference will feature an opening keynote presentation by Jason Makansi, author of “Lights
Out: The Electricity Crisis, the Global Economy and What It Means to You.”
Key Topics
Alternative energy interconnection
Right-of-way management
Substation integration and automation
Oil spill cleanup
FEMA hazard-mitigation programs
Keynote Speaker: Jason Makansi. A prolific author, respected industry thought leader and seasoned communicator, Jason Makansi has been analyzing the technological, business and regulatory issues in electricity production and delivery for more than 25 years. His experience includes serving as director of Power Generation for Myplant.com, a division of Honeywell, and as editor-in-chief of Power and Electric Power International magazines. During his 18-year tenure with the McGraw Hill Companies, Makansi researched and analyzed every aspect of electricity generation — visiting power plants around the globe.
Challenging Financial Management
Aug. 16—Brainerd, Minn. Register Online
This course will be offered as a pre-conference session for the Finance Managers Quad-State Conference, August 17 to 19.
This seminar will give participants the opportunity to actually calculate about 150 key ratios, using
their system’s last three years of year-end Form 7s. A working knowledge of Excel and how to make
changes to formulas is recommended. Participants are asked to bring a laptop computer, the last three
years of Form 7 with the Excel spreadsheet filled out, and a calculator.
Key Topics
Calculate your system’s Borrower Statistical Profile and CFC’s Key Ratio
Trend Analysis
Analysis of system’s optimum equity
Data management
Data management
Instructor:Kim Mikkelsen is president of KW Consulting, a firm based in Yakima, Wash. For more than 30 years, she has served as a consultant and trainer across the United States in the areas of public power finance and accounting issues. As a consultant, Mikkelsen conducts customer accounting training; on-site training of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Rural Utilities Service office personnel; conversion of computerized systems; development and delivery of courses on rates, accounting and work orders; financial forecasts; and work order procedures.
Effective Boards: Why Some Succeed and Some Fail - NRECA #938.1
Oct. 5—Mandan. Register Online
Boards of electric cooperatives and other corporations are composed of community and business leaders who
want to do a good job. But as demonstrated in recent corporate scandals, boards can fall into habits and modes
of behavior that lead to failure. This course is for experienced directors who will work in small groups to analyze
actual case studies in corporate governance. The groups will review news articles and governance documents,
involving real corporate boards received a great deal of public scrutiny and lawsuits brought by owners and investigations
by committees of Congress.
Key Topics
Relevant facts in the case that are significant from a board perspective
Critical governance issues
Board actions that caused it to get into trouble
Actions to decrease risk of lawsuits or investigations by legislative or regulatory bodies
Instructor:Monica Schmidt leads NRECA’s National Consulting Group in delivering value to its membership in the areas of governance, strategic planning, utilities management, executive search, safety and human resources process improvement. She has more than 20 years of broad-based strategic leadership experience in the electric utility industry, specializing in corporate and non-profit governance and the emerging trends likely to impact the cooperative sector.
This workshop is based on the premise that every co-op employee and every task performed at the utility has an
impact on the ultimate bill sent to the member-owner. Participants will learn how the impact of their jobs can be
measured and evaluated, and how to improve favorable outcomes and minimize those that are not as favorable.
Participants need to bring the cooperative’s last two year-end financial statements and a calculator.
Key Topics
Analysis of the financial report
Review of key ratios
Accounts turnover ratio, write-offs, over 90-day accounts
Inventory turnover ratio, inventory as a percentage of total plant and acceptable inventory variances
Engineering and operations: construction work, pole replacement, depreciation, idle services,
overtime ratio, contributions in aid of construction and continuing property recordss
Financial management: equity changes, capital credits, TIER, general funds, cash management and
cost-of-service study
Instructor:Kim Mikkelsen.
Rate Strategies for 21st Century Challenges, NRECA #974.1
Nov. 8—Mandan. Register Online
“21st Century Rate Strategies for 21st Century Challenges,” a publication developed jointly by the National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation
(CFC), is featured in this course. Cooperative directors will discuss the complex issues they must
balance when they consider business plans, financial policies, alternative rate philosophies and strategies,
and the current focus on energy efficiency and conservation. They will gain an understanding of how current
rates methodologies affect rising power costs. Case studies will be used to analyze and discuss issues such
as equity goals, long-range revenue requirements, achieving fairness for multiple rate classes, and dealing
with proposed rate increases.
Note: This course is recommended for all directors and managers, including those directors who have completed Advanced Rate Decisions for
Experienced Directors, NRECA #968.1. This course replaces NRECA #968.1, which is no longer offered. Directors who completed #968.1 have
earned one credit toward their Board Leadership Certificate (BLC) and are eligible to earn one additional credit by completing #974.1.
Key Topics
Components of a rate philosophy
Key steps in the rate-making process
Integration of rates with the business plan
Effective rate design that will support financial and other strategic goals
Instructor:Scott Luecal. Since 1991, Scott Luecal has been providing consulting and training services to consumer-owned utilities, their business subsidiaries and community-directed organizations. These consulting services have included strategic planning facilitation, financial planning, cost-of-service and rate design, organizational structure and related personnel decisions, board and CEO evaluations, diversified business plans, and programs related to training and educating directors and management on the changes taking place in the electric utility industry.
Capital Credits: Legal and Financial Issues,
NRECA #975.1
Nov. 9—Mandan. Register Online
According to the Capital Credits Task Force Report of 2005, adopting and implementing a capital
credits policy is a key responsibility of a co-op's board of directors and management. As the elected
representatives of the members, directors must understand the co-op's capital credits policy to be able
to explain why it was adopted and how it works, to members who have questions. Management and staff
are responsible for executing the board's policy.
Note: This is an advanced course for REC board members. NRECA recommends that board members
who wish to take this course, have completed NRECA #2640.
Key Topics
Funds allocated to members
Member notice of allocations
Amount of capital credits to retire each year
Retirement method to use
Special retirements
Discount of any retirements and the discount rate to use
Instructor:Scott Luecal.
North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives| 1.800.234.0518 |PO Box 727, Mandan, N.D. 58554 |www.ndarec.com |
