Board Profiles

East District

Don Cummins
Donald R. Cummins, is a past administrator for Aims Community College and Ft. Lupton Schools. He holds a B.A. degree from Colorado State College, and has a M.A. from the University of Northern Colorado. He serves as the secretary-treasurer for the Ft. Lupton Development Corporation, president of the Northern Colorado Medical Center, and treasurer for the Aims Community College Foundation.

He spent eight years on the Ft. Lupton City Council, including four years as the town's Mayor. He served on the Ft. Lupton Fire District Board and as Chairman of the Ft. Lupton Housing Authority. He has been active at the Ft. Lupton Methodist Church on the Administrative Board, with the Ft. Lupton Chamber, the Ft. Lupton Volunteer Fire Department, as well as Rotary and the Japanese American Citizens League.

East District

Dave Dunnell
David I. Dunnell served as the District 7 director since 1999. He is the Administrator for the Colorado Christian School, and was United Power's General Manager. Dunnell has a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Colorado.

He is Chair for the Community Education Center, Brighton Economic Development Corporation, Adams County Economic Development Corporation, and the Greater Denver Corporation. He is a member of the Brighton Chamber of Commerce, past President and Lt. Governor for Kiwanis, and serves on his church's Board of Elders. He served as Chair of the Valley District Boy Scouts, and co-chair for the Almost Home fundraising committee.

East District

Tim Erickson
Tim Erickson is a licensed expert, supporting management at Aurora Organic Dairy in Platteville, for transportation and quality control of raw milk receiving. He served as a manager with the Dairy Farmers of America handling driver protocols and procedures for Region 9 (Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming). He was a licensed lobbyist for the Political Action Trust representing 90% of the Colorado dairy farmers at the state legislature. He was a rancher and farmer in Weld County for more than 30 years. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Master of Arts in History from the University of Northern Colorado. He served as a director for United Power from 1991-2000.

Erickson previously served on the board of directors for the Mountain Prairie Girl Scout Council and on the board of the Weld County Women’s Place. He was a political adjutant with the Future Farmers of America. He is a lifetime member of the Weld County 4-H and “friend” with National Jewish Hospital and Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado.

Mountain District

Richard E. Newman
Richard Newman is the President and CEO of Thoro Products Company, Building Manager for Bluhill Park Partners, and a partner in the Gilpin Aerial Tram Enterprise. He earned his BA from Regis University in Economics and Government.

Newman serves on the boards of several Gilpin County organizations, including the Historic Preservation Commission, Family Preservation Commission, and the Health and Human Services Citizens Advisory Board. He served on United Power's Round Up Foundation board for ten years, serving as their Vice-President. He was instrumental in establishing, and has held a variety of positions in the community including seats on Gilpin County's Planning Commission, Library District, and the County Fair Board.

Mountain District

Douglas Pryce
Douglas R. Pryce, an attorney, has served on United Power's Board of Directors since 1990. He served as United Power's Vice-President from 1992-94, and as President from 1994-98.

Pryce, who earned is J.D. degree from University of Santa Clara in California, is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the First Judicial District Bar Association, and is the President of the United Service Affiliates board. A past director of the Colorado Rural Electric Association, Doug worked on numerous issues including work with the legislative and resolutions, policies and bylaws committees. He is a member and past President of the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association.

South District

Bill Berens
Bill Berens is a licensed professional engineer in Colorado, Idaho and Utah. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as an infantryman and drill Sergeant. He earned his Bachelor of Science in engineering from the University of Colorado, and his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado.

Berens is a former State Representative, serving from 2004-2006, representing Transportation and Energy, Capital Development and Local Government. He served as Mayor for the City of Broomfield from 1994-2001, Mayor Pro-Tem from 1987-1989 and council member from 1985-1994. He is President-elect for the Rotary and Vice-President of the Rotary Charitable Foundation for 2009. He served on the Board of Directors for the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, and chaired the E-470/Northwest Parkway Authority. He has been a United Power member for one year.

South District

Jim Jaeger
Jim Jaeger, owner of Jim's Shoe Repair in Brighton, has been a United Power member since 1993. Jaeger graduated from McCook Community College, and worked for JC Penney for 19 years. He was the manager of the Brighton JC Penney for seven years.

He has served as a board member for the 27J School District for seven years. He is a member of the Brighton Chamber of Commerce, Brighton Kiwanis, and is President of Congregation for Zion Lutheran Church in Brighton. He is a past board member for the Brighton Economic Development.

South District

Susan Petrocco
Susan Petrocco has been United Power's representative to the Colorado Rural Electric Association (CREA) Board, and United Power's voting delegate for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). She attended Metropolitan State College of Denver, studying Aviation Management. Susan works for Petrocco Farms. She previously worked as Director of Administration for Frontier Horizon Airlines.

She was the Adams County representative and District Chair on the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, and was District Chair for the Brighton Cultural Council. She is a director and Vice President for the Brighton Sister Cities program and served on the board of the Brighton Recreation District and the Adams County Planning Department.

West District

Ginny Buczek
Ginny Buczek is currently a homemaker and works part-time in Design Review. Her work experience includes managing a hardware store, head buyer and merchandiser for a chain of home centers, and as a key accounts manager for Chevron.  She attended Red Rocks Community College studying accounting, business management and economics. She received the Colorado Municipal League’s Elected Officials Advanced Training Certification.

Buczek is currently the President of the Weld County Council.  She has served on the council since 2005, and also served as their Vice-President.  She served on the Technical Committee for the Southwest Weld Study, served as chair and co-chair for the Firestone Planning Commission, and as Commissioner for the Firestone Park Commission.  She served on the Firestone Board of Trustees, as a director for the Tri-area ambulance service and on the Tri-area Planning Commission. She has been a United Power Round-Up Foundation Director since 2003, and served on the United Power Consumer Resource Committee in 1998, 2001 and 2003. She has also served on United Power’s Election Credentials Committee. She has been active in many civic groups including 4-H, Girl Scouts, Relay for Life, Neighborhood Watch, and at Frederick High School.

West District

Lewis F. Foster
Lewis Foster, currently retired, worked as Finance Manager and Risk Manager for Tri-State Generation and Transmission during the last 24 years. He worked as Controller for Michigan Gas Utilities Company, Audit Department manager for Marriott Corporation and an electric utility audit manager for Arthur Andersen and Co. He earned his Bachelor of Business Adminstration in Accounting and Economics from Central Michigan University, and his MBA in Accounting from the University of Michigan.

Foster is a Certified Public Accountant in Michigan, and volunteers at the Bill Payer program through AARP with Boulder Senior Services. He has served as a Trustee on the finance committee for Mt. View United Methodist Church, and as Treasurer with Orchard United Methodist Church.

West District

Brian McCormick
Brian McCormick is employed as an IT professional, programmer/analyst with the City of Thornton. His experience includes serving as a Captain in the Colorado Army National Guard, and Utility Maintenance Supervisor for the City of Boulder. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

A United Power member for eight years, Brian is also a member of the Colorado Renewable Energy Society.