Jason Bohrer
Jason Bohrer

President & CEO

Jason Bohrer’s background as an attorney, a communications director for the Idaho Republican Party and as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) provide a diverse skill set in his role as president and chief executive officer of the Lignite Energy Council. He is a graduate of North Dakota State University and earned his law degree from George Mason University. Prior to joining the Lignite Energy Council in 2013, Bohrer worked nine years in Washington, D.C.

Mike Holmes
Mike Holmes

Executive Vice President – 
Research & Development
& Technical Advisor to the NDIC

Mike Holmes, prior to joining the Lignite Council, served as the director of Energy Systems Development at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) in Grand Forks, where he oversaw fossil energy research areas. His principal areas of interest and expertise include CO2 capture; fuel processing; gasification systems for coproduction of hydrogen, fuels, and chemicals with electricity; process development and economics for advanced energy systems; and emission control technologies.

Jonathan Fortner
Jonathan Fortner

Vice President –
Government Relations & External Affairs 

Jonathan Fortner, prior to joining the Lignite Council, worked in a variety of roles as a legislative staffer for the Minnesota House of Representatives and as a lobbyist for the Faegre Baker Daniels law firm in Minneapolis, MN. He is a graduate of the University of North Dakota where he received master’s degrees in business administration and public administration. He is a Policy Fellow at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and his background includes working on many local, legislative and statewide campaigns in Minnesota politics.

Kay LaCoe
Kay LaCoe

Vice President – 
Marketing & Communications

Kay LaCoe is a graduate of the University of Mary with a bachelor’s of science degree in business communications and a master’s degree in organizational leadership. Kay’s background includes writing, public affairs, website development, graphic design, integrated marketing, and social media management. Prior to joining the Lignite Council in 2008, Kay spent the early part of her career at Basin Electric and Agency MABU working in the communications, marketing, and project management fields. Kay is married to Shane and together they have a teenage son, three Chesapeake Bay Retriever dogs, and two horses.

Rachelle
Rachelle Anderson

Office, Finance & Benefit Manager

Rachelle Anderson received a bachelor’s degree in production management with a minor in economics from Utah State University. She also received a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Rachelle’s  background includes purchasing, human resources duties, real estate, taxes, bookkeeping, auditing, and a cost analysis. Rachelle has five children with her husband Mathias.   

Angie
Angie Hegre

Research & Development
Program Manager

Angie had 10 years of energy industry experience prior to joining the Lignite Energy Council in August of 2019. Angie attended Central New Mexico College and lived in New Mexico for over 20 years before moving back home to North Dakota in 2009.

Retha Mattern
Retha Mattern

Director –
Education & Membership

Retha Mattern was previously the Director of Admissions & Outreach, the Business & Outreach Coordinator for the BSC National Energy Center of Excellence, and Director of the Great Plains Energy Corridor. She also worked as a reporter and assistant news director for KFYR-TV, the NBC affiliate in Bismarck. Mattern also served for three years as a non-voting member of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education. Mattern holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science degree in Management from Minot State University.

Shari Schneider
Shari Meissner

Graphic Communications Specialist

Shari Meissner has more than 25 years of graphic design, marketing and communications experience. She joined the Lignite Energy Council in February of 2018. Shari is a native of Glen Ullin, ND, attended NDSU, and obtained her degree in Graphic Design from Minnesota State Community and Technical College.