Birkeland joins Beltrami Electric Cooperative

Beltrami Electric Cooperative welcomes Mike Birkeland as its new vice president of electrification and member experience. He comes to the co-op with more than 30 years of management experience, formerly as executive vice president of Minnesota Forest Industries and the Minnesota Timber Producers Association. Prior to his work with the forest industry associations, Mike served as the director of member service, community relations and strategy at Grand Rapids-based electric cooperative Lake Country Power. Prior to that Mike was the regional communications manager for Potlatch Corporation in Cloquet.

“Mike’s dedicated leadership to our industry strengthens our cooperative and positions us to advance our beneficial electrification efforts with a focus on the member experience,” said Jared Echternach, president and CEO. “We’re excited for Mike to join our cooperative family.”

“I look forward to serving alongside employees of Beltrami Electric to serve members of the cooperative,” said Birkeland. “Electric co-ops have powered rural communities for more than 80 years, and with innovation and technology advancing at a rapid pace, Beltrami Electric will play an even more important and essential role supporting members and shaping communities in the region well into the future.”

Beltrami Electric Cooperative is a member-owned distribution cooperative located in Bemidji, Minn. Established in 1940, Beltrami Electric provides power to more than 17,900 member-owners within a 3,000 square mile service area located in the beautiful lakes region of north-central Minnesota.