The Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives of Iowa are driven by our commitment to community.
To celebrate local volunteers, the Shine the Light contest returned for a fifth year and received 88 volunteer nominations during June, the second highest number in the history of the contest! This year’s entries came from 27 Iowa electric co-ops and one municipal utility served by Central Iowa Power Cooperative. Employees and member-consumers of Iowa’s locally owned electric cooperatives were invited to nominate someone who makes a positive difference in their community.
Three winners will be awarded a $3,000 donation to their charity or community organization of choice and will be featured in next month’s issue. Please join us in celebrating these nominees for their outstanding commitment to community. Learn more at www.IowaShineTheLight.com.
To follow are this year’s nominees, listed alphabetically by electric cooperative.
2025 SHINE THE LIGHT NOMINEES
Access Energy Cooperative
Steven Klein from Salem was nominated by Shelly Adkison for his work with Thank You is Never Enough.
Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative
Arnold Guyer from Clermont was nominated by Deborah Guyer for his work with European Rural Heritage Institute (Heritage Farm Park).
Butler County Rural Electric Cooperative
Al Buseman from Dumont was nominated by Joel Noelting for his work with Revitalize Dumont.
Stephanie Duhrkopf from Sumner was nominated by Nancy Meyer for her work with Sumner Daycare and Learning Center.
Patty Hummel from Allison was nominated by Linda Pruin for her work with Butler County 4-H, Allison City Swimming Pool, Wilder Park.
Deb McWhirter from Allison was nominated by Sheila Wangsness for her work with Wilder Park.
Debra White from Clarksville was nominated by Lynn Bolin for her work with Clarksville Open Door Youth Center.
Calhoun County Electric Cooperative Association
Melanie Bach from Clermont was nominated by Collin Bauch for her work with Northeast Iowa Wellness & Recreation Center.
Marlene Schossow from Pomeroy was nominated by Nancy Olson for her work with Pomeroy Historical Society.
Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Dave & Pam Haugen from Tracy were nominated by Joyce Housley for their work with Bellefountaine Military Monument.
Jena Wiley from Chariton was nominated by Lori Johnson for her work with Almost Home Animal Rescue.
Clarke Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Annette Brummel from Peru was nominated by Jodee Jorgenson for her work with Murray Saddle Club.
Consumers Energy
Christopher Alleman from Slater was nominated by Pete Hunter for his work with Alleman Betterment.
Lynn Marr-Moore from Kelley was nominated by Reed Moore for her work with Charlie’s Angels Cystic Fibrosis Fundraising Team.
Michael Nusbaum from Nevada was nominated by Amber Nusbaum for his work with Scouts of America Troop 128.
East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative
Ricky Davis from Marengo was nominated by Joyce Davis for his work with Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere.
Donna Delagardelle from Jesup was nominated by Monica Bengston for her work with St. Athanasius School.
Steve Ries was nominated by Katie Stadheim for his work with Aiming for a Cure Foundation.
Randy Scheel from Garrison was nominated by Becky Van Wey for his work with Benton County Conservation Foundation.
Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative
Terri Becker from Wilton was nominated by Nathan Sawvell for her work with Wilton Legion Auxiliary.
Kenan Todd from Columbus Junction was nominated by Doris Mougin for his work with United Fund of Columbus Junction.
Franklin Rural Electric Cooperative
James Abbas was nominated by Scott Hagenson for his work with AGWSR FFA Chapter.
Roger Kregel from Dumont was nominated by Madison Alert for his work with Revitalize Dumont.
Grundy County Rural Electric Cooperative
Derek Snakenberg from Parkersburg was nominated by Allyson Miller for his work with Veteran Flagpole Initiative.
Aleah Wegener from Dike was nominated by Pat Pruisner for her work with Dike Public Library.
Guthrie County Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Marlene Schossow from Pomeroy was nominated by Jennifer Mosinski and Mary Clancy for her work with Pomeroy Historical Society.
Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative
Margo Hansen from Dunlap was nominated by Jill Schaben for her work with Dunlap Betterment Group.
Bette Jensen from Woodbine was nominated by Laura Hansen for her work with Women for Veterans.
Carolyn McDermott from Neola was nominated by Marilyn Alfers for her work with St. Anne’s Charity Quilt Group.
Mary Wadsworth from Dunlap was nominated by Morgan Wadsworth for her work with 4-County Fair.
Heartland Power Cooperative
Jeremy Baughn from Charles City was nominated by Susan Birkholz and Kenneth Howe for his work with Operation Second Chance.
Jerry Fisk from Osage was nominated by Krista Koschmeder for his work with Mitchell County Historical Society.
Randi Johnson from St. Ansgar was nominated by Brian Reis for his work with Mitchell County Mountain Goats Bicycle Club.
Gayle Nelson-Kiehm from St. Ansgar was nominated by Gutsy Adams for her work with St. Ansgar Recreational Trail (START).
Ed, Theresa, Tina and Molly May from Stacyville were nominated by Kimberly Schaefer for their work with Brat Trot.
Lisa Patterson from St. Ansgar was nominated by Kelsey Bundy for her work with Good Samaritan Society of St. Ansgar.
Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative
Barbara Brennan from Emmetsburg was nominated by Patricia Swanson for her work with Unity Lutheran Food Pantry.
Pam Caboth from Estherville was nominated by Crystal Pluth for her work with Estherville Elks Lodge #528.
Dave and Beth Carrico from Estherville were nominated by Jennifer Sievert for their work with Special Olympics Iowa.
Janet Deim from Swea City was nominated by Craig Deim for her work with Swea City Parks and Rec-Pool Plunge.
Lisa Markley from Ruthven was nominated by Maureen Horsley for her work with Lost Island Ruthven Betterment Association (LIRBA).
Linn County Rural Electric Cooperative
Melissa Janssen from Central City was nominated by Bryan Janssen for her work with Central City PTO.
Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative
Chuck Bildstein from Anamosa was nominated by Al Reiter for his work with Chelsey’s Dream Foundation.
Dan Wheeler from Earlville was nominated by Andrew Recker for his work with Earlville Fire Department.
Jackie White from Anamosa was nominated by Sonya Payne for her work with Animal Welfare Friends.
Midland Power Cooperative
Haley Admire from Ankeny was nominated by Kirsten Radkae for her work with No Foot Too Small.
Sue Ballard was nominated by Owen Ballard for her work with Camp Fire Heart of Iowa.
Karl Jungbluth was nominated by Andy Bartlett for his work with Friends of the Ledges, Inc.
Marilyn Jurgena from Hampton was nominated by Suzanne Rowen for her work with Hampton Senior Citizens Center.
Angie Kritzer from Gilmore City was nominated by Russell Naeve for her work with Gilmore City Hometown Pride.
Sue Lund from Jewell was nominated by Ortrude Dial for her work with The Lord’s Cupboard Food Pantry.
Pete Nelson from Boone was nominated by Nancy Sloan for his work with Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity.
Judy Whitney from Slater was nominated by Carole Harmon for her work with Slater/Sheldahl Food Pantry.
Nishnabotna Valley Rural Electric Cooperative
LaDonna Havick from Harlan was nominated by Kylie Beebe for her work with Harlan Lions Club.
Sheryl Holloway from Irwin was nominated by DeAnn Nielsen for her work with Shelby County Community Outreach.
Ann Schwieso from Harlan was nominated by Stephanie Nielsen for her work with In Memory of Mia.
North West Rural Electric Cooperative
Mandy Boersma from Alton was nominated by Dave Bosma for her work with Hospers Firefighters Association.
Gerry Holtrup from Hospers was nominated by Molli Griffin for his work with Partners for Patriots.
Hartbeat Piecemakers from Hartley was nominated by Linda Tewes.
Osceola Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Andrew Gacke from Ashton was nominated by Kyle Huss for his work with Ashton Fire Department.
Prairie Energy Cooperative
Lance Arnold from Klemme was nominated by Tish Arnold for his work with Iowa River Players Theater.
Kathy Deimerly from Clarion was nominated by Chad Chapman, Becky Chipman, Emily Cook, Robert Deimerly, Debra Keller, Judith Kirstein, Jo Olson and Barbara Redig for her work with Gift of Giving/Wright Community Connections.
Rodney Legleiter from Kanawha was nominated by Lilian Swanson for his work with Wright County District Junior Fair.
Aimee Goeman McKnight from Belmond was nominated by Sara Hansen, JoAnn Huedepohl, Linzie Morris and Jodi Pentico for her work with Luick Memorial Swimming Pool and with Build a Better Belmond – Pool Fund.
Tammy Range was nominated by Jan Libbey for her work with Wright Community Connections.
Debra Schimmelpfennig from Woden was nominated by Phyllis Schutjer for her work with Woden Commercial Club.
Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative
Barb Rench from Sac City was nominated by Kathleen Brenny for her work with Sac Community Foundation.
Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative
Jeff Emergy from Ottumwa was nominated by Becky Hellwig for his work with Wapello County Expo.
Pam Evans from Ottumwa was nominated by Vicki Rudd for her work with Heartland Humane Society.
Mary Jo Johnson and Rosalee Russell from Bloomfield were nominated by Joye Lore-Lawson for their work with Davis County Tourism.
Stuart Municipal Utilities
Carolyn Scott from Bloomfield was nominated by Kim Bigsby for her work with Davis County Fair.
T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative
Shannon Parker fromWilliamsburg was nominated by Cory Parker for her work with Iowa Mission of Mercy – Iowa Dental Foundation.
Western Iowa Electric Cooperative
Jean Stadtlander from Manning was nominated by Tim and Joni Kienast for her work with Manning Community Foundation.
Woodbury County Rural Electric Cooperative
Diane Drevs from Moville was nominated by Carol Copeland and Chris Countryman for her work with Moville Area Medical Clinic.
Amy McFarland from Anthon was nominated by Kevin Clausen for her work with Anthon Community Development Corporation.
