Mac McLennan is the President and CEO of Minnkota Power Cooperative, a Generation and Transmission Cooperative based in Grand Forks, N.D. Minnkota provides wholesale electricity to 11 member cooperatives in eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. A Wyoming native and Jamestown University graduate, McLennan has dedicated his career to serving the rural electric cooperative industry. Prior to becoming Minnkota’s CEO in 2011, he served as Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Member Relations for Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. McLennan has also worked for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) as Director of Environmental Affairs.
Todd Brickhouse, chief executive officer and general manager, joined Basin Electric in 2022 as its senior vice president and chief financial officer. He was named chief executive officer and general manager in December 2023. Brickhouse started working in the utility industry at Old Dominion Electric Cooperative in 2000 and served as Old Dominion’s vice president and treasurer from 2010-2022. He spent his early career in the financial services industry and has a background in securities trading, investment banking, and investment management. Brickhouse holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington.
Garret Senger is the Chief Utilities Officer of MDU Resources Group, a member of the S&P SmallCap 600 index that provides essential products and services through its regulated energy delivery businesses. With the company for 40 years, Senger is well-versed in regulated utility operations. In his role, he leads the day-to-day utility operations focusing on ensuring the company safely serves its customers with reliable, affordable electricity and natural gas. Senger holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s degree in business administration from the University of Mary in Bismarck. He is a U.S. Army veteran.
Wade Mann is a Partner in the Bismarck office of Crowley Fleck PLLP, and a member of the Energy and Environmental, and Oil and Gas Practice Groups. His practice is primarily focused on oil and gas and energy related regulatory work and litigation. He appears regularly before the North Dakota Industrial Commission and North Dakota Public Service Commission, as well as handling matters in state and federal courts.
Wade previously served as an Administrative Law Judge and Director of the North Dakota Office of Administrative Hearings. He has also represented and served as a hearing examiner for the Oil and Gas Division of the North Dakota Industrial Commission.
Wade received his J.D. with Distinction from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2002. He is a member of the Lignite Energy Council, the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, the American Association of Professional Landmen, and the Dakota Petroleum Club.
He is an active member of the Bismarck community and currently serves as President of the Bismarck State College Foundation Board of Trustees.
Ms. Julie Pierce, Vice President Strategy and Planning for Minnesota Power is responsible for long term strategy development. This area includes integrated strategic planning, new technology origination and regional markets. She has 25 years in the energy sector and has held senior executive and leadership roles in developing and executing the EnergyForward strategy that has transformed Minnesota Power to a visionary renewable energy leader in the Midwest.
Trinity Turnbow is the vice president and plant manager at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant which is operated by Dakota Gasification Company (DGC). With a career spanning over two decades, Trinity brings extensive expertise in the oilfield and chemical industries. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. Since joining DGC in 2008, he has progressed through a variety of roles at the Synfuels Plant, including process engineer, process engineering supervisor, operations section manager, assistant plant manager, and vice president and operations manager. Trinity resides in Bismarck with his wife, Lindsay, and their two daughters.
Tim Rogelstad was named President of Otter Tail Power Company in April 2014. He also serves on the executive team of Otter Tail Corporation, Otter Tail Power’s parent organization, as Senior Vice President, Electric Platform. Tim joined Otter Tail Power in 1989 and advanced in roles throughout Transmission Planning, which later became Delivery Planning. In December 2012 Tim was named Vice President, Asset Management, and was the executive in charge of delivery planning, delivery maintenance, delivery engineering, system operations, and project management. Tim earned his Bachelor of Science in electrical and electronics engineering from North Dakota State University.
Stacy is a founder of Rainbow Energy Center and Nexus Line. He was instrumental in leading the Rainbow Energy Center team in the purchase of Coal Creek Station, a 1,151 MW power plant. He also played a huge role in the Nexus Line purchase of the HVDC facilities, containing the 436-mile-high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line. These acquisitions saved over 600 jobs: an estimated impact of $1.5 billion in local ND communities. These foundational developments are near and dear to his heart, as unlocking the potential of his local community brings a great level of purpose to his entrepreneurial journey.
Chris joined North American Coal, now known as NACCO Natural Resources, in March 2014 as Land Manager and moved into his current role, VP – Land, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, in 2023. In addition, he serves as the President of North American Coal Royalty Company, NACCO Properties, LLC, and Otter Creek Mining Company. He handles legal, regulatory, and environmental issues for all NACCO subsidiary companies, regularly interacting with the judiciary and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, county, and local level.
Chris is a graduate of North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he graduated with distinction. Prior to joining NACCO, he was a Partner with Crowley Fleck law firm in Bismarck.
Ryan is a seasoned structural engineer and project leader with over 20 years of experience spanning diverse industries. He has a proven track record of developing and leading complex projects for clients in the power production, mining, petrochemicals, water treatment, fuels, and other heavy industrial sectors. Currently, Ryan's focus lies at the intersection of his industrial expertise and the evolving energy landscape. He is passionate about driving innovation and exploring transformative technologies to address the world's ever-changing energy needs.
Twylah Blotsky is the CEO of Butler Machinery Company, a family-owned heavy, mining and agriculture equipment dealership with locations across 4 states. Since assuming leadership, she has focused on strengthening the company's core values, emphasizing customer service and workforce development. Blotsky holds an accounting degree from UND giving back on the UND Alumni Assoc & Foundation Board and the board overseeing the Ralph Engelstad Arena. She and her husband Jim have 2 adult sons and reside in Fargo ND.
Charles D. Gorecki, CEO of the EERC, leads a team of 280+ experts tackling pressing energy and environmental challenges. Under his leadership, the EERC has been a global leader in fossil fuel research, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, biofuels, advanced materials, critical minerals development, and sustainable water management. Gorecki’s previous role as Director of Subsurface R&D saw him manage key programs, including the PCOR Partnership and Bakken Production Optimization. He’s a Petroleum and Geological Engineering graduate from UND and has shared his insights on energy and the environment worldwide, contributing to innovation and progress across industry.
Jeff Hammes is the Vice President - Industrial Segment with the Jamar Company and President of Industrial Contractors, Inc. (ICI). Jeff is responsible for the industrial segment of Jamar's business spanning from the Pacific northwest to the Great Lakes.
Jeff joined the company in 2012 as the Vice President of ICI and became the president in 2015. In 2019, when ICI was integrated with Jamar, he was also named vice president of Jamar. Prior to his time with the company, he worked in several other industrial based companies as an engineer, project manager, and engineering department manager. He received a bachelor's and master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Dakota and later earned his Professional Engineer's license.
Jeff is married with one daughter and enjoys outdoor activities, woodworking, exercise, and traveling, and spending time with his family.
