2026 Board of Directors

Executive Committee:

President

Karla Organist

Senior Program Manager

University of Northern Iowa - Institute for Decision Making

[email protected]

1st Vice President
Chairperson - 2026 Annual Conference
Kris Williams
Director of Energy Services
Ozarks Electric Cooperative Corp.
[email protected]

2nd Vice President
Chairperson - Membership
Jennifer Wakeman
Executive Director 

DRIVE
[email protected]

Past President 
Chairperson - Nominating
Lisa Hurley
Executive Director
York County Development Corporation
[email protected]

Directors:

Appointed
Jan Ahlen
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC)
[email protected]

Appointed
Chairperson - Strategic Alliances
Co-Chairperson - Professional Development
Scott Bialick
Manager, Member Engagement & Strategic Partnerships
Touchstone Energy/NRECA
[email protected]

Appointed
Josh Seidemann
VP of Policy & Industry Innovation
NTCA-the Rural Broadband Association
[email protected]

Director
Co-Chairperson - Professional Development
Allie Bennett
Mgr. of ED & Member Services
Northeast Missouri Electric Power Coop
[email protected]

Director
Beth Bilyeu
Forest City Economic Development
[email protected]

Director
Brad Ebersole
Economic Development Executive
Consolidated Cooperative
[email protected]

   Director
   Shalimar Mazetis
   Rural Economic Development Manager
   Advance Southwest Iowa Corp.
   [email protected]

   Director

   Co-Chairperson - Rural Issues
   Brandon Lane

   Economic Development & Community Relations Executive

   Sioux Valley Energy

   [email protected] 

    Appointed

    Joe McKinney
    Executive Director

    National Association of Development Organizations

    [email protected]

  Director

    Richard Blackwell
    Vice President, Business Development

    Agracel, Inc.

    [email protected]

  Appointed

    Chris Martin
    Vice President, Member & Industry Relations

    NRTC

    [email protected]

  Director

    Devin Sonnenfelt
    Senior Business Development Specialist

    White River Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.

    [email protected]

  Director

    Donna Walker

    Economic Development Manager

    Dairyland Power Cooperative

    [email protected]

   Executive Director

   NREDA
   [email protected]