SMPA Board of Directors

As a member-owner of SMPA, you have a voice in the direction of the co-op. Each member is represented by a democratically elected representative who is sits on SMPA's Board of Directors. Your director is given the task of representing your needs and interests. Our seven directors, each representing a different district, serve four-year terms and elections are held annually for different districts. 

All San Miguel Power Association board meetings are open to the public. Typically the meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. However, alternate days are sometimes chosen. Meeting locations may vary. If you have questions regarding an upcoming meeting, please call 970-626-5549.

Tom Loczy

Contact:

P.O. Box 522
Nucla, CO 81424
970-428-2268
tom.loczy@smpa.com

Territory:

Parts of Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray and Dolores Counties including Basin, Bedrock, Naturita, Nucla, Paradox, Redvale, Slick Rock and Uravan.

Date elected:

June 2024

Offices held: None At Present
Occupations:
  • San Miguel Power Association - Warehouseman, 1980
  • San Miguel Power Association - Journeyman Meterman
  • San Miguel Power Association - Journeyman Lineman

In your opinion, what is the best way for SMPA to fulfill its mission of providing safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible electric service?
As a previous employee of SMPA, especially in the metering department, I had the opportunity to field numerous customer complaints; from flickering lights to high bill complaints and ensuring customers safety concerns. I built SMPA’s high voltage demo and put on training all throughout SMPA’s service territory – fire departments, schools and public events. In simple English, I can explain to SMPA’s members what a KWH is, how the meter works, what the configuration of the overhead pole or underground line is on their property. I’ve built line through out SMPA’s service territory, maintained it and spent many nights and days on outages. I have been on almost every pole in my district performing maintenance. With confidence, I can answer most any question about SMPA’s power system and customer usage.

 

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:
As a long time resident of Nucla and previous business owner in Naturita, I have given thousand of hours in community service back to our community. I have served on our local school board and served on the area’s water system board (Mustang Water). Currently, I volunteer on Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse Search and Rescue and this year hold office as Board Director: In years past, I served as Secretary/Treasurer and as President. I assist our local game warden with his Hunter Safety Class, usually scheduled one week in March. Also, I am employed as Municipal Court Judge in Nucla (one day a month). I am also employed part-time as a hunting guide with Weimer Outfitters. Another volunteer position I perform is Snow Grooming for our local snow mobile club. I am the currant Commander of our local VFW Post 9058, the most important task we perform is Military Burials for our Veterans.

Kevin Cooney

Contact:

P.O. Box 4132
Telluride, CO 81435
303-875-0107
kevin.cooney@smpa.com

Territory:

Parts of San Miguel and Ouray Counties including most of the town
of Telluride.

Date elected:

Elected 4 Year Term June 2019.  Reelected in June, 2023

Offices held:

None At Present

Education:
  • M.S.C.E., Building Systems Engineering, University of Colorado
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Colorado
  • Advanced Management College, Executive Education Program,
    Stanford University
Occupations:
  • Managing Director and Global EE/DSM Leader, Navigant
    Consulting, 2010-2018
  • CEO, Summit Blue Consulting, 2004-2010
  • Vice President of Research, E Source, 1998-2003
  • Vice President/Product Development, Outdoor Footwear,
    Fila, 1996-1998
  • 1993-1995 Manager, Hagler Bailly Consulting, 1993-1995
  • Sr. Research Scientist/Engineer, Johnson Controls, 1988-1993

Why did you choose to run for the SMPA Board of Directors?
When the previous board representative retired, I decided I could bring my experience in the energy industry to the board and assist SMPA in making strategic decisions regarding how to best transition our power system to a cleaner, more resilient one. I’m a licensed engineer, and have worked on clean energy issues for over 30 years, consulting to utilities, regulators, and investors on policies, programs, and technology investments. My vision is we will have a regional power system that is supplied primarily by local, renewable sources, with tools to help optimize electricity consumption patterns. If we plan wisely, costs will go down for all members, reliability will improve, and emissions will be minimized.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:
I lived and worked in Telluride in the late 1970s, managing the local food coop and working as a carpenter. I was fortunate to return to the area a few years ago. I currently serve on local boards for EcoAction Partners and the Telluride Mountain Club. I also continue to serve on various energy industry boards and committees, including: Energy Evaluation Asia Pacific (EEAP) and the International Energy Program/Policy Evaluation Conference (IEPPEC)

Dave Alexander

Contact:

P.O. Box 45
Norwood, CO 81423
970-596-8895
davea@smpa.com

Territory:

Parts of Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Dolores and San Juan Counties
including Dunton, Norwood, Placerville, Rico and Sawpit.

Date elected:

June 2010 / Re-Elected June 2014 / Re-Elected June 2018 / Re-Elected June 2022

Offices held:

None At Present

Education: 

Norwood High School, Automotive School in Denver

Occupations:
  • Self-employed Rancher

 

Why did you choose to run for the SMPA Board of Directors?:
A very large portion of SMPA members were not being represented. My family was a member in the very beginning of SMPA and will continue to be one well into the future. I feel I need to help make good, common-sense decisions now, so my family won't have to pay for rushed concepts in the future.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work: 

  • Norwood School Board, 13 years
  • Farmer's Water Development, 6 years
Tobin Brown

Contact:

106 Aldasoro Rd.
Telluride, CO 81435
970-729-0456

toby.brown@smpa.com

Territory:

Parts of Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel Counties including Colona and
portions of Log Hill Village and Telluride. 

Date elected:

June 2020

Offices held:

None at present

Leadership
Experience:

Telluride R-1 School Board, San Miguel County

Occupation:

Telluride Real Estate Corp., Vice President and Broker Associate

 

In your opinion, what is the best way for SMPA to fulfill its mission of providing safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible electric service?
This is an exciting and dynamic time in the power industry.  We're swiftly moving away from fossil fuel sources toward rapidly improving renewable energy and storage technologies.  If SMPA is strategically positioned, we can benefit from this necessary and inevitable transition.  In doing so, we must also manage disruption to vulnerable members of our community.  I believe SMPA's mission calls for the co-op to lead our community boldly through this transition, and I believe if we do so, we can secure cleaner, more affordable, and equally reliable power for our members.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:
A real estate agent by trade, I also have a history of community leadership with the Telluride R-1 School Board and San Miguel County, among others.  Through these endeavors, I have exercised leadership and strategic planning skills in community-wide initiatives.  I am committed to helping shape the sustainable future of this region and believe SMPA will play a critical role in that mission.

Rube Felicelli

Contact:

P.O. Box 3223
Telluride, CO 81435
970-708-1406
rube@smpa.com

Territory:

Part of San Miguel County including Mountain Village and Ophir

Date elected:

June 2009/ Re-Elected June 2013/ Re-Elected June 2017 / Re-Elected June 2021

Offices held:
  • Mountain Village Town Council 1999-2007, Mayor 2007
  • Chairman of Mountain Village Open Space and Recreation
    Advisory Board
Education:

BA Political Science, Wheeling Jesuit University; graduate work
at West Virginia University

Occupations:
  • Realtor and Retail Sales Associate
  • Telluride Real Estate Corp. and Telluride Sports

 

Why did you choose to run to the SMPA Board of Directors? 
To represent our members and move towards renewable energy programs.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:

  • Board President for Telluride Council for Arts & Humanities
  • Board member for San Miguel Bicycle Alliance
  • Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
  • Mountainfilm and Telluride Film Festival volunteer
  • Telluride Jazz Festival volunteer
  • Announcer for Mountain Village Sunset Concert Series
Val Szwarc

Contact:

P.O. Box 438
Ridgway, CO 81432
970-316-3703
val.szwarc@smpa.com
 

Territory:

Part of Ouray County including Ridgway and much of Log Hill Mesa.

Date elected:

 Appointed, May, 2024

Offices held:

None at present

Leadership Experience:

Formerly a Principal & Senior Staff System Engineer & Senior Project Leader/Architect & Atmospheric & Renewable Energy Staff Scientist of approximately 37 years.

Education:

University of Pennsylvania
     Master of Science in Engineering - Technology Management Program

University of Colorado
     Executive Master of Business Administration

Pennsylvania State University
     Bachelor of Science in Meteorology

Occupations:

Positions included: Principal Engineer / Requirements Manager, System Engineer, Senior Staff Project Architect, Lead Project Engineer, Renewable Resource Assessment Scientist

Currently: Retired, highly active in volunteer community organizations:

  • Ridgway-Ouray Community Council member of the Board
  • Dark Sky Committee Co-Chair and Regional Dark Sky Consultant
  • Member of IEEE, DarkSky International
  • Dallas Meadows Community Association Architecture Review Committee (Former Chair and currently Vice Chair)

In your opinion, what is the best way for SMPA to fulfill its mission of providing safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible electric service? 
 

Transition to the partial generation suppliers for a share of SMPA’s member requirements that offer lower wholesale rates with a larger percentage of renewable resources, plus reliable service, and flexible contracts that allows increasing integration of renewable sources at the local level. Consider innovative net meter policies that are consistent to state requirements and that promote policies that encourage the integration of technologies to mitigate some of the temporal issues of renewable generation. Continue with the rollout of TOU rate structure that matches billing to SMPA costs. In my opinion, TOU rates are important to SMPA’s financial health, and I applaud SMPA’s education campaign and their Member Services Transition Plan to address member concerns during the transition next year.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:

I am very active in the local community and have served and am currently serving on several non-profit Boards of Directors / Officer positions. Among these are: the Ridgway-Ouray Community Council (ROCC), and the local Dark Sky Committee. I have consulted with several communities within SMPA’s service area providing suggestions to their lighting ordnances to be Dark Sky friendly and have led the collaboration between ROCC, Top of the Pines, and the Ouray County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in obtaining a Dark Sky Park certification for TOP (2021). Plus, ROCC and I collaborated with the Town of Ridgway in obtaining the Town’s Dark Sky certification in 2020.

Terry Rhoades

Contact:

P.O. Box 24
Silverton, CO 81433
970-387-5308
terryr@smpa.com

Territory:

Parts of Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan and San Miguel Counties
including Ouray and Silverton.

Date elected:

June 2013/ Re-Elected June 2017 / Re-Elected June 2021

Offices held:

San Juan County Commissioner 20 years; Housing Solutions for Southwest
Board of Directors 20 years; Safety Officer for Silverton Volunteer Fire
Dept. 22 years

Education:

Graduated from Silverton Public High School in 1973

Occupations:

Foreman for Maisel Excavation, Heavy Equipment Operator

 

Why did you choose to run to the SMPA Board of Directors? 
To do my best. To make sure everyone in SMPA co-op has the best price on electricity. And to make sure all linemen and other employees are in the safest environment possible.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:

  • Silverton Volunteer Fire Dept., Hardrockers Holiday Committee since 1978
Board District Map

Download a map of our current director districts.

Download the director district descriptions.