They’re your fellow members!
Three from our Southern District, and two from our Northern District.
Starting May 13
Be on the lookout for your mailed and emailed ballot around that time.
June 11 at 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott
Voting open from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
The Northern District shall be defined as and include Townships 2 through 5 South, Ranges 87 and 88 West and Townships 2 through 6 South, Ranges 79 through 86 West, generally described as the Gypsum to Vail area. The Northern District shall be represented by four Directors.
The Southern District shall be defined as and include Townships 7 through 12 South, Ranges 82 through 87 West, lying easterly of the Eagle County/Garfield County line extended to the south, generally described as the Basalt to Aspen area. The Southern District shall be represented by two Directors.
The Western District shall be defined as and include Townships 6, 7, and 8 South, Ranges 90 through 96 West, generally described as the New Castle to Parachute area, and Townships 6 through 12 South, Ranges 87, 88 and 89 West, lying westerly of the Eagle County/Garfield County line extended to the south, generally described as the Glenwood Springs to Marble area. The Western District shall be represented by one Director.
You have a voice and the right to vote for your Board of Directors.
Directors serve four-year terms and are elected by the entire membership.
The election schedule follows a four-year pattern to elect Directors from the following districts:
In 2026, we will hold an election for two seats.
One seat representing our Northern District, the general area east of Glenwood Canyon along the I-70 corridor to Vail Pass, including Gypsum, Eagle, Edwards, Avon, and Vail.
One seat representing our Southern District, the general area southeast of Carbondale along Highway 82 including El Jebel, Basalt, Snowmass, and Aspen.
The Northern District shall be defined as and include Townships 2 through 5 South, Ranges 87 and 88 West and Townships 2 through 6 South, Ranges 79 through 86 West, generally described as the Gypsum to Vail area. The Northern District shall be represented by four Directors.
The Southern District shall be defined as and include Townships 7 through 12 South, Ranges 82 through 87 West, lying easterly of the Eagle County/Garfield County line extended to the south, generally described as the Basalt to Aspen area. The Southern District shall be represented by two Directors.
The Western District shall be defined as and include Townships 6, 7, and 8 South, Ranges 90 through 96 West, generally described as the New Castle to Parachute area, and Townships 6 through 12 South, Ranges 87, 88 and 89 West, lying westerly of the Eagle County/Garfield County line extended to the south, generally described as the Glenwood Springs to Marble area. The Western District shall be represented by one Director.
Eligible candidates must:
It is important to review HCE’s Bylaws regarding directors (beginning on page 4) and the corporate policy regarding board matters.
Within 5 business days, we will email you a Candidate Packet containing the following:
You can also pick up a hard copy of the Candidate Packet at our Glenwood Springs headquarters.
The following must be submitted by April 9, 2026, for a candidate to be listed on the ballot:
The HCE Bylaws, Article IV, Directors, Section 2 addresses director qualifications in detail. Please review the bylaws and, specifically, this section carefully. A director candidate must comply with many general qualifications/requirements, including:
Once you are elected as a director, you are expected to:
Being a board member of an organization with annual revenues exceeding $135 million, employing over 170 employees, and providing an essential service to nearly 60,000 locations with over 3,000 miles of electric line is a significant responsibility involving:
Each member of the Board of Directors receives compensation for their involvement with and time spent carrying out their duties as directors. Generally, the compensation is as follows:
Please also take the time to review the full official Bylaws and Corporate Policies regarding the Board of Directors.
Click on a button below to jump to a candidate’s Q&A.
I am a strategic leader with a proven record of building innovative workforce and community infrastructure that strengthens rural economies and advances local capacity. I have lived in Eagle County since 1994, and for more than three decades I have been personally and professionally invested in Colorado’s mountain communities.
As Director of Teacher Education at Colorado Mountain College, I lead the design and delivery of pathways that recruit, train, and retain local talent across a geographically vast mountain region. My work spans communities throughout the Northern District and beyond, ensuring that local systems are responsive to community needs and grounded in place-based development.
I hold a doctorate in Higher Education Administration and Policy and am an architect of Colorado’s teacher apprenticeship initiative, a statewide registered model that expands access to high-quality preparation while keeping learners and professionals rooted in the communities they serve. I have secured millions of dollars in public investment to strengthen rural workforce infrastructure and have mobilized partnerships among school districts, higher education institutions, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations to close critical talent gaps in mountain communities.
My leadership extends across county, state, and national arenas, where I contribute to policy design and advance long-term infrastructure strategy that supports sustainable regional growth. I bring disciplined governance, fiscal stewardship, and collaborative leadership — qualities essential to guiding a member-owned cooperative like Holy Cross Energy.
I am committed to resilient rural communities, thoughtful growth, and long-range planning that ensures reliable, sustainable systems for generations to come.
I want to serve as a Board Member of Holy Cross Energy because I believe deeply in locally owned and operated community infrastructure. Cooperatives represent the might of small, localized systems working together to serve their members. Mountain communities need leadership that balances innovation with fiscal responsibility and sustainability with affordability.
I raised my family here in Eagle County. As a middle-class working professional in this valley, I understand firsthand how critical affordability and reliability are to everyday life. Energy costs, housing pressures, and the realities of rural living require thoughtful stewardship and strong consumer advocacy. I believe the cooperative model exists to protect members, ensure transparency, and keep decision-making grounded in local needs.
Throughout my career, I have built partnerships and infrastructure designed to strengthen rural systems for the long term. I want to bring that experience to Holy Cross Energy and serve members with integrity, while advocating for affordability, and helping ensure that our cooperative remains resilient, forward-thinking, and accountable to the people it serves.
Over the next five years, I believe Holy Cross Energy faces both exciting opportunity and serious responsibility.
The biggest opportunity is leading the transition to cleaner energy while remaining true to our mission: providing safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable power that improves quality of life. Holy Cross Energy has set ambitious clean energy goals, and we have the chance to continue expanding local renewable projects, energy efficiency programs, battery storage, and electric vehicle infrastructure. Done thoughtfully, this transition strengthens energy independence, supports local jobs, and positions our mountain communities as leaders in innovation.
At the same time, the greatest challenge is balance. As a member-owned cooperative, affordability and reliability must remain at the center of every decision. Integrating more renewable and distributed energy resources adds complexity to grid management, wildfire mitigation, and system resilience. We must modernize infrastructure, protect against extreme weather and fire risk, and ensure cybersecurity — all while keeping rates stable for working families.
Growth in our region also adds pressure. As more homes electrify and energy demand evolves, Holy Cross Energy will need long-term planning, disciplined financial stewardship, and strong member engagement to ensure costs are shared fairly and transparently.
I believe the opportunity ahead is to prove that a locally governed cooperative can lead responsibly by delivering cleaner energy, protecting affordability, and strengthening resilience for generations to come.
I believe I can contribute to the Board by bringing a combination of policy expertise, proven governance experience, and a deep commitment to member-centered decision-making.
Throughout my career, I have worked at the intersection of local implementation and state-level policy. I have collaborated with legislators, testified before committees, and helped shape funding and regulatory frameworks that support rural communities. I understand how policy decisions made at the state and federal levels impact local infrastructure, rates, and long-term planning. That experience would allow me to thoughtfully engage in advocacy on behalf of Holy Cross Energy and its members, ensuring our cooperative’s voice is strong, informed, and constructive.
I also bring a strong record of stewardship. I have secured and managed millions of dollars in public investment, led multi-year strategic initiatives, and overseen complex budgets with transparency and accountability. As a board member, I would approach financial oversight with discipline, always centering affordability, reliability, and long-term sustainability for members.
Most importantly, my work has focused on innovation in rural communities — building practical, locally rooted solutions that strengthen infrastructure without losing sight of the people they serve. I believe cooperatives are powerful precisely because they are member-owned and locally governed. I would contribute by listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, building consensus, and helping guide strategic decisions that position Holy Cross Energy to lead responsibly into the future.
Member support and inspired leadership has enabled Holy Cross Energy (HCE) to make remarkable progress, delivering 85% renewable power while keeping rates among the lowest in Colorado. I would consider it a privilege to join the team tasked with completing the transition to 100% clean, affordable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. I will add practical experience in local government, business and sustainability to meet the challenge.
Climate action and water supply security have been my focus since 2014. As Avon town councilor and mayor, I championed the adoption of HCE’s 100% PURE program, enacted municipal code changes to encourage energy efficiency, and was a driver of the Regional Transportation Authority initiative to bolster public transit. While on the boards of our water/wastewater utility – one of HCE’s largest energy users – we have offset 100% electricity use, designed an equitable rate structure, and passed a $93 million bond for infrastructure upgrades. I worked closely with Walking Mountains to train more home energy analysts to help residents qualify for energy efficiency rebates. This background, and chairing the Climate Action Collaborative from its founding in 2016 through 2022, has helped build the technical foundation I’ll bring to the HCE board.
I settled here 36 years ago, first commuting to China selling American industrial machinery, then operating small businesses and teaching at Colorado Mountain College. I live in Avon, happy that my two sons live and work locally.
Opportunities:
Achieving energy independence by completing the transition to locally/regionally generated clean energy;
Educating members on choices they can make to help keep rates stable and affordable by spreading their electricity use throughout the day, away from peak times when supply is most expensive;
Supporting members’ transition away from fossil fuels for heating, cooking, and transportation;
Engaging and training contractors in new generation clean energy technology;
Energy supply innovation;
Cost savings, reliability through a Regional Transmission Organization;
Leadership succession planning;
Heightened community awareness of necessity of extensive wildfire mitigation measures
Challenges:
Designing a rate structure that is affordable and equitable while ensuring long-term financial stability as costs escalate and energy markets evolve;
Staying the course, not backsliding on renewable energy content while maintaining affordable, safe, reliable service;
Funding local clean energy generation;
Navigating the transition to organized regional wholesale markets; Potential leadership transition;
Helping members understand the role they can play in keeping rates stable and affordable;
Regulatory and legislative changes;
Retaining a skilled workforce
I will contribute many lessons learned on leadership, policy, strategic planning and financial management from service to the Town of Avon and on the boards of our local water/wastewater utility, local and statewide climate action organizations, and the Eagle County Charter Academy. I will contribute the practical perspective gained through years of self-employment in business and boots-on-the-ground volunteering. Most importantly, I will bring my conviction that we owe our families, the environment, and our livelihoods the healthy, sustainable future that clean energy can deliver.
It’s been an honor to serve you on the Holy Cross board. As utilities face unprecedented change, challenges, and opportunities, Holy Cross is leading the industry as an affordable, modern, financially sound, and environmentally responsible cooperative.
While our groundbreaking ‘Journey to 100’ clean energy plan has captured headlines, this clean energy objective rests on our board’s longstanding commitment to responsible progress: holding rates among the lowest in Colorado, maintaining outstanding reliability and safety records, and providing superior member service.
During my service, I have led Board efforts to create our first energy efficiency goals and pushed for expanded communications and member engagement. I was a leading voice to establish Energy Assistance as a strategic goal, and the HCE staff enthusiastically launched programming to help members who struggle with their bills. Despite low rates, member bills can be stressfully high. Advanced energy efficiency and innovative financing programs are effective resources to empower our dedicated staff to make a meaningful difference in members’ lives.
Our business model must continue to evolve to ensure that Holy Cross remains financially strong while capitalizing on opportunities from changing market forces and technologies. With energy in the headlines almost every day, I am eager to continue working with my dynamic and talented colleagues on the HCE board to ensure that Holy Cross takes advantage of our nimble, innovative structure to serve our communities both now and into the future. Thank you for your support!
As a 40+ year area resident, I am deeply connected to the community. My kids have grown up here and we all cherish the wonderful environment, culture, and history of our valleys. Holy Cross Energy has the opportunity – and the obligation, in my view – to preserve these incredible values for our families and all future residents.
My service on the Holy Cross Energy board has been the honor of a lifetime. I have been involved in the electric utility industry for more than thirty years. My motivation to join the Holy Cross Board came from working with industry leaders and innovators from across the country, and a desire to bring these best practices to my home utility.
That original motivation remains as strong today as it has ever been. Our board has been centrally involved with the culture and strategy development for our cooperative, and we are poised to capitalize on emerging opportunities, while navigating the ever-present uncertainties and risk. The same outstanding performance across all departments which we appreciate locally as Holy Cross members has made our cooperative a national leader and an inspiring model of what is possible. It’s a dynamic time and I’m eager to remain involved in the continuation of this outstanding journey.Electric utilities face a rapidly changing mix of challenges and opportunities, caused by market forces, economic pressures, regulatory shifts, and technology developments. A primary challenge for HCE is – and will continue to be – maintaining affordability in the face of continually rising cost pressures.
Current and prior HCE boards have set ambitious clean energy goals, then worked with staff to ensure that progress has not come at the expense of the power supply cost increases and system reliability. I’m proud to have been involved with the decisions which have delivered an industry-leading clean power supply while at the same time actually REDUCING the budget spent to purchase the electricity we provide. Although we cannot predict how power supply costs will change in future years, previous power supply cost savings have enabled HCE to make additional investments in system enhancements like wildfire mitigation and cybersecurity – all while maintaining low rates, delaying rate increases for several years, and maintaining exceptional reliability.
It’s important to recognize that power supply costs are just under half of overall our operational expenses, and operational categories of labor costs, materials, and other services are all subject to the upward pressures from inflation, supply chain issues, and the high cost of living throughout our region.
There are innumerable opportunities which will arise from new technologies and shifting market forces. I’m most excited about energy storage and automated controls, which can reduce member bills while improving comfort, convenience and performance for our homes and businesses.
The board of directors of an electric cooperative has a fundamental responsibility to oversee the provision of safe, reliable, and affordable electricity while ensuring the financial, environmental, and community health for its members. It carries an additional responsibility to assess the risks and opportunities in an appropriately balanced way.
In the complex world of electric utilities, my experience with the HCE board and electric utility industry overall will help provide perspective for a board where the majority of current directors have five or fewer years of service. I have always brought a more national perspective to my board role, including working with the national association of rural electric cooperatives (NRECA), national energy assistance organizations, and innovative energy efficiency and energy management professional organizations
I am a General Partner at B Capital and an experienced entrepreneur, investor, and board member, with a deep commitment to community‑serving, mission‑driven organizations. I was one of the founding executives at Box, where I led go‑to‑market activities, defined the company’s partnership and business development strategy, cultivated C‑level relationships, launched strategic initiatives, and founded Box.org. Earlier in my career, I worked on the Enterprise GTM team at Apple, leading the commercial channel, strategic partners, the Mobility Partner Program, and the Industry team.
I currently serve on the boards of Centivo, Certn, and Overstory, a vegetation management company committed to preventing forest fires and protecting critical infrastructure-an issue of particular importance in Colorado and the rural communities Holy Cross Energy serves. I also serve as a board observer to leading enterprise and healthtech companies including Pendo, Highspot, Phenom, Remote, Isaac Health, Story Health, Kandji, Clari, and Percent. I previously served as a trustee at the Computer History Museum, the Newseum, and on the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
I specialize in building businesses from zero to high growth, driving double‑digit expansion, and defining and executing net‑new initiatives. I am passionate about strategic partnerships and business development grounded in data‑driven analysis, clear prioritization, and disciplined execution. I care deeply about aligning growth, innovation, and technology with long‑term resilience, affordability, and sustainable impact-priorities that are central to Holy Cross Energy’s mission to provide safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to its members and communities.
I want to serve on the Holy Cross Energy Board because I care deeply about the same things the cooperative is working to protect: safe, reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy for the communities where we live and work. As a Snowmass Village resident who understands both the benefits and vulnerabilities of mountain communities, I’m particularly focused on wildfire risk, grid resilience, and the long‑term affordability of essential services for rural and working families.
Professionally, I bring decades of experience helping organizations use technology, data, and partnerships to solve complex, high‑stakes problems. At Box and Apple, I led efforts that combined infrastructure, software, and ecosystem partners to deliver reliable, secure services at scale. Today, I serve on the board of Overstory, a vegetation management company committed to preventing wildfires and protecting critical infrastructure, and I see a clear opportunity to apply that experience to Holy Cross Energy’s wildfire mitigation and resilience objectives.
I am inspired by Holy Cross Energy’s 100×30 goal and its leadership role in the responsible transition to a clean energy future, and I would be honored to contribute my skills in strategy, technology, risk, and governance to support that work on behalf of member‑owners.
Over the next five years, I see Holy Cross Energy navigating significant opportunities and execution challenges as it continues to make the transition to a cleaner, more resilient, and affordable energy system for its members.
Opportunities:
Accelerating toward 100×30 and beyond: Holy Cross is already delivering very high levels of clean energy, and has a roadmap to reach 100% carbon‑free electricity by 2030, creating opportunities to expand local generation, storage, and member‑sited DERs including solar, while maintaining reliability.
Leveraging member investments and new technologies: As members adopt EVs, heat pumps, rooftop solar, and batteries, HCE can turn these into flexible grid assets that enhance resilience and reduce system costs, building on its existing work in grid modernization and demand flexibility.
Leading on resilience and wildfire mitigation: HCE is already a national example in wildfire risk mitigation and grid resilience; continued investment in vegetation management, smart devices, and community microgrids can protect members and position HCE as a model for other co‑ops.
Challenges:
Balancing clean energy goals with affordability: Delivering 100% carbon‑free power while keeping rates in the bottom tier of Colorado utilities will require very disciplined capital allocation, careful contracting, and smart use of federal and state funding in a volatile cost and policy environment.
Managing load growth and electrification: Rapid growth in electric demand from transportation and building electrification will stress power supply and local distribution systems, requiring timely infrastructure investments and robust planning.
Increasing climate and wildfire risk: More frequent extreme weather and heightened wildfire risk raise the stakes for system reliability, vegetation management, and community preparedness, demanding continued innovation, partnerships, and clear communication with members.
I can contribute to the Holy Cross Energy Board by bringing a combination of technology, climate‑risk, and governance experience that aligns directly with the co‑op’s mission and strategy.
First, my operating background at Box and Apple is in building and scaling critical infrastructure and partner ecosystems, which is highly relevant as HCE modernizes its grid, deepens local clean energy resources, and manages growing complexity in its power supply and member programs. I’m used to working with technical teams, large enterprise partners, and complex data to make disciplined, member‑centric decisions at scale.
Second, through my role at B Capital, I’ve invested in and served on the boards of companies like Overstory, Pendo, Highspot, Centivo, Isaac Health, Kandji, Clari and others that use software, data, and analytics to improve reliability, efficiency, and service quality in highly regulated, mission‑critical environments. Overstory, in particular, gives me hands‑on exposure to vegetation management and wildfire‑risk mitigation for utilities, which is directly relevant to HCE’s focus on resilience and wildfire risk reduction in Western Colorado.
Third, I have a long track record of board and trustee service and understand what it means to govern on behalf of a broad set of stakeholders, not just investors. Holy Cross Energy is a member‑owned cooperative, and I would bring a strong orientation toward transparency, listening to members, and balancing ambitious clean‑energy goals with affordability and reliability for the communities we serve.
My name is Ryan Slack, and I’ve been proud to call Basalt home since 2008. My wife Bonnie and I are raising our two children here. In addition to my civic work, I own and operate a local property management company.
For the past eight years, I’ve served on Basalt Town Council, where I’ve worked alongside Holy Cross Energy as a key community partner. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for the role Holy Cross plays in the lives of our neighbors and local businesses.
I believe in thoughtful, community-first leadership, and I’d bring that same commitment to the Holy Cross Board. I would be honored to earn your vote.
I’m running for the Holy Cross Board because I care deeply about our community’s future. I believe in practical solutions, strong communication, and making sure members’ voices are heard. My experience in local government and owning and operating a property management company has given me a well-rounded perspective on energy — from policy and planning at the community level, to the real-world challenges of managing costs, upgrading equipment, and navigating new requirements on the ground. Two priorities I would bring to the Board are keeping energy costs affordable for our members and supporting the incredible team that makes Holy Cross run. In a high cost-of-living region like ours, both are real challenges that deserve thoughtful, committed leadership. I want to help ensure Holy Cross remains a place where talented people want to work and a cooperative our community can always count on.
Holy Cross faces real challenges in the years ahead, and I think three stand out most. First, keeping energy costs affordable. As our region grows and infrastructure needs to evolve, maintaining rates that work for everyday families and small businesses must remain a top priority. Second, staff retention. Holy Cross succeeds because of the people who show up every day to keep the lights on and serve our members. Attracting and retaining talented, dedicated employees — especially in a high cost-of-living area like ours — is essential to the cooperative’s long-term health. Third, climate change. Holy Cross is already leading the way on clean energy, and I’m proud of that. But the work isn’t done. Wildfires, extreme weather, and shifting energy demands will continue to test our grid and our planning. We need to keep investing in resilience and innovation while staying true to our commitment to sustainability. These aren’t easy challenges, but they’re exactly the kind that require steady, community-focused leadership — and they’re why I want to serve.
My experience on Basalt Town Council and as a property manager gives me a well-rounded understanding of energy needs from multiple perspectives — residential, commercial, and community-wide. On Town Council, I’ve seen firsthand how energy decisions ripple through a community, affecting housing, economic development, and quality of life. As a property manager, I deal with the practical realities of energy costs, equipment upgrades, and the real challenges that come with implementing new systems and meeting evolving requirements. I understand that what looks good on paper doesn’t always translate smoothly to the ground level. That combination of policy experience and hands-on, real-world perspective is something I’d bring to every Board conversation. I’d ask the right questions, represent the full range of member needs, and help bridge the gap between big-picture goals and practical implementation — so Holy Cross can keep moving forward in a way that works for everyone.
As a member of our cooperative, you have a voice and the right to vote for your Board of Directors.
Members now have four different ways to vote, starting May 13, 2026.
Mail back the paper ballot you receive in the mail.
Ballots will be mailed to you in mid May.
Vote online using the unique credentials emailed to you or printed on your mailed paper ballot.
Ballots will be emailed starting May 13.
Vote by logging into your SmartHub account – no credential from your printed ballot needed.
Vote in person at our Annual Meeting.
June 11 at 5:00 p.m at 4 Eagle Ranch.
Voting Open from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.1