The 2024 AT&S Conference was held Jan. 10 - 12 at the Bismarck Hotel and Conference Center. 

2023 Graduating Apprentices NDAREC

UPDATES FROM THE 2024 CONFERENCE

NDAREC recognizes 17 lineworker apprenticeship graduates

Seventeen lineworkers have earned journeyman status, following completion of a robust apprenticeship program of the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC). Graduates were recognized during a Jan. 11 awards ceremony at the NDAREC Apprenticeship, Training and Safety Conference.

“On behalf of NDAREC, I’d like to congratulate this year’s graduates,” says NDAREC Executive Vice President and General Manager Josh Kramer. “The apprenticeship program is a critical pipeline for developing lineworkers in the technical and professional aspects of the job. Many graduates will work the remainder of their careers in the electric cooperative system. The paid on-the-job training and education apprentices receive is a fundamental aspect of our workforce, which helps build generational greatness in our industry.”

The following lineworkers graduated from the apprenticeship program in 2023:

Kaden Jaeger, Central Power Electric Cooperative
Cory Iverson, Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative
Samual Schmidt, Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative
Conner Moe, McLean Electric Cooperative
Leopold Halko, McKenzie Electric Cooperative
Alex Helgeson, McKenzie Electric Cooperative
Paul Gapp, McKenzie Electric Cooperative
James Williams, McKenzie Electric Cooperative
Ryan Zastoupil, McKenzie Electric Cooperative
Korbin Knutson, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative
Kaine Tonniges, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative
Max Stromsodt, Nodak Electric Cooperative
Talon Thompson, North Central Electric Cooperative
Jorden Omlie, Northern Plains Electric Cooperative
James Rosencrans, Northern Plains Electric Cooperative
Bradly Schmitt, Slope Electric Cooperative
Ethan Kuntz, 3C Construction

    Alex Helgeson, McKenzie Electric Cooperative, received this year's Outstanding Apprentice Award, which is sponsored by the North Dakota Managers Association. Helgeson was the highest-ranking apprentice in both related studies and on-the-job performance. His co-workers describe him as smart and dependable.

    “I never had to worry about Helgeson’s work,” McKenzie Electric Cooperative Line Manager Bill Hanson says. “He worked hard, didn’t complain and learned fast. He did things the right way, and he didn’t take chances.”

    Over the past 65 years, more than 700 people have completed NDAREC’s apprenticeship program. To graduate, apprentices must complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and more than 400 hours of study.

    NDAREC is the statewide trade association for 17 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives operating in North Dakota. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to more than 250,000 North Dakotans. NDAREC services include legislative advocacy, line worker safety training and professional development services, cooperative business development, and communication services including publication of the North Dakota Living magazine.

     

    Electric cooperatives recognized for 2023 safety achievements

    The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) is proud to recognize four individuals and 11 North Dakota electric cooperatives for safety achievements in 2023.

    “At North Dakota’s electric cooperatives, safety is a top priority. Working with high-voltage electric infrastructure and power lines makes line work one of the most dangerous professions, and our cooperatives prioritize the safety of their crews, their members and the communities they serve. We are proud to recognize their safety achievements,” says NDAREC Executive Vice President and General Manager Josh Kramer.

    On Jan. 11, NDAREC held an awards ceremony and presented the following awards:

    • The Life Saver Award recognizes heroic actions that contribute to life saving efforts of another person. This year, NDAREC presented the award to four Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative lineworkers:

      • Jason Bruner

      • Terry Knutson

      • Richard Thomas

      • Kyle Helmers

      The Safety Excellence Award recognizes outstanding performance in safety. To achieve this award, a cooperative must not have had a lost time case accident for five consecutive years.

      • McLean Electric Cooperative

    • The Certificate of Safety Achievement recognizes successful participants of the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP), a national safety program that encourages electric cooperatives to achieve and maintain high safety standards for the protection of employees and the community. The following cooperatives earned this certificate for 2023:

      • Cass County Electric Cooperative

      • Central Power Electric Cooperative

      • McLean Electric Cooperative

      • McKenzie Electric Cooperative

      • Slope Electric Cooperative

      • Verendrye Electric Cooperative

    • The Safety Performance Award is presented to cooperatives with zero recordable injuries for one year. Cooperatives and contractors that achieved this safety initiative between Dec. 1, 2022, and Nov. 30, 2023, are:

      • Capital Electric Cooperative

      • Cavalier Rural Electric Cooperative

      • Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative

      • KEM Electric Cooperative

      • McKenzie Electric Cooperative

      • McLean Electric Cooperative

      • Roughrider Electric Cooperative

      • 3C Construction

    Through its safety awards and recognition program, NDAREC has recognized outstanding safety performance for 60 years.

    NDAREC is the statewide trade association for 17 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives operating in North Dakota. These distribution cooperatives provide electricity to more than 250,000 North Dakotans. NDAREC services include legislative advocacy, lineworker safety training, professional development and cooperative business development. The association also provides its members with a variety of communication services, including publication of the North Dakota Living magazine.