ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES RECOGNIZE RETIRED USDA RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE EMPLOYEE TIM BOHAN

The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) presented Tim Bohan with the Helping Hand Award at its 80th annual meeting on Feb. 7. The award recognizes faithful friends and strong supporters of North Dakota's electric cooperatives.

For nearly 20 years, Bohan worked as a general field representative for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), which provides much-needed infrastructure or infrastructure improvements to rural communities. In this role, Bohan served many North Dakota distribution cooperatives, helping them establish construction work plans and obtain low-cost loan funding.

“Tim proved to be a great friend to North Dakota’s electric cooperatives, always going above and beyond what was required,” says NDAREC Executive Vice President and General Manager Josh Kramer. “Tim took an active role in guiding cooperatives through the often tedious and complicated process of creating RUS construction work plans and submitting loan applications. Moreover, Tim found a way to push through the red tape when needed, fairly advocating for the cooperatives he served, in service to rural people. Simply put, he cared deeply about helping co-ops obtain needed funding for projects and services that improved the lives of many.”

NDAREC congratulates Bohan on receiving this recognition and thanks him for his support of North Dakota’s electric cooperatives.

Every year, NDAREC recognizes individuals for generous contributions to North Dakota’s electric cooperatives and the communities they serve. An eight-member committee of the NDAREC Board of Directors selects award recipients from nominations submitted by NDAREC’s members, which include 16 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives.

NDAREC is the statewide trade association for 16 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives operating in North Dakota. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to nearly 250,000 North Dakotans. NDAREC services include legislative advocacy, lineworker safety training, professional development, cooperative business development and communication services, including publication of the North Dakota Living magazine.