(HOOD RIVER, OR) – The Hood River Electric Cooperative (Ore.)
Board of Directors has selected Libby Calnon to serve as the co-op’s next
general manager. Calnon will replace John Gerstenberger, who is retiring next
month after 32 years of service to members.
Calnon has 20 years of experience in public power and serves
as the community and public relations supervisor at Columbia River PUD in Deer
Island, Ore. In that role, she represents the PUD within the community,
advocates for customers on regional industry issues, and collaborates with
others for projects related to economic development, strategic planning, outage
management, emergency response, and efforts to improve services for customers.
She is the third generation in her family to work in the electric utility
industry.
“I’m blessed to have this opportunity,” Calnon said. “HREC
is a well-run cooperative and it will be my goal to continue to build upon
their long tradition of providing excellent service and affordable rates to
members.”
Calnon earned a Master of Business Administration from
Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in technical journalism
from Oregon State University. She is currently working toward her Cooperative
Finance Professional Certificate through the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association.
Calnon and her husband, Rick, have two grown children. They
are looking forward to moving to the Hood River Valley, where they have family
ties.
