LISBON, ND – The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) recognized Terryl Jacobs with the 2017 Cooperative Leadership Award at its annual meeting in January. For more than two decades, Jacobs served as a member and officer for several electric cooperative boards at local, state, regional and national levels, proving to be an influential leader for North Dakota’s electric cooperatives.

Jacobs began serving on Slope Electric Cooperative’s board of directors in 1996. As a board member, one of her greatest contributions was her vision and passion for forming Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative. Reaching its 10-year milestone in 2018, the Alliance provides professional management and support services to four electric cooperatives.

“As a leader, Terryl didn’t limit herself to what was of the moment. She would look into the future and say, ‘This is where we need to go.’ Then, she would help take the co-op there,” says Don Franklund, co-general manager and CEO, Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative. “She’s very passionate in what she does. She is very committed. Her dedication helped shape the Alliance into what it is today.”

During her tenure as a board member for Slope, Jacobs held several officer positions, including board president, and served on the board of directors for Innovative Energy Alliance Cooperative, Rural Development Finance Corporation (RDFC) and Operation Round Up. She also served as a vice chair of the Midwest Electric Consumers Association’s Resolutions Committee, and as the Region VI representative on the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) board of directors, quickly rising through various leadership positions to board president.

“Her devotion to duty and commitment to cooperatives contributes in countless ways to build and preserve the heritage of cooperative principles and ideals,” says CFC CEO Sheldon Peterson. “Terryl is unwavering in her resolve to always finish the race, even under daunting circumstances.”

In 2017, Jacobs’ fulfilled her final term on the Slope board of directors. North Dakota’s electric cooperatives thank Jacobs for her numerous contributions during her 21 years of dedicated service.

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 via 196,000 meters. NDAREC services include legislative advocacy, line worker safety training and professional development