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.
|
District |
Board Member |
|
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Doylene Garvey |
Download a map of our current director districts. Download the director district descriptions. |
|
2 |
Kevin Cooney | |
|
3 |
Dave Alexander | |
|
4 |
Tobin Brown | |
|
5 |
Rube Felicelli | |
|
6 |
Debbie Cokes | |
|
7 |
Terry Rhoades |
The Board
.
| District #1 - Doylene Garvey, Secretary/Treasurer | |
 |
Contact: P.O. Box 555 |
| Territory: |
Parts of Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray and Dolores Counties including |
| Date elected: |
June 2012 / Re-Elected June 2016 |
| Offices held: | None At Present |
| Occupations: |
|
Why did you choose to run to the SMPA Board of Directors?:
I am committed to making the West End of Montrose County a better place to live. Live by the motto; be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:
I have lived in the community for 46 years. I am married with three grown children and two grandchildren. I am very community committed, have served on the Chamber Board, School Board, School Accountability Board, and am currently chairman of the West End Accountability. I am also currently a member of the Spruce and Columbine Garden club and a mentor with One to One.
| District #2 - Kevin Cooney, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Representative | |
 |
Contact: P.O. Box 4132 |
| Territory: |
Parts of San Miguel and Ouray Counties including most of the town |
| Date elected: |
Elected 4 Year Term June 2019 |
| Offices held: |
None At Present |
| Education: |
|
| Occupations: |
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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)
| District #3 - Dave Alexander, Vice President, CREA and Western United Representative | |
 |
Contact: P.O. Box 45 |
| Territory: |
Parts of Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Dolores and San Juan Counties |
| Date elected: |
June 2010 / Re-Elected June 2018 |
| Offices held: |
None At Present |
| Education: |
Norwood High School, Automotive School in Denver |
| Occupations: |
|
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
| District #4 - Tobin Brown, Director | |
 |
Contact: 106 Aldasoro Rd. |
| Territory: |
Parts of Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel Counties including Colona and |
| 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.
| District #5 - Rube Felicelli, President | |
 |
Contact: PO Box 3223 |
| Territory: |
Part of San Miguel County including Mountain Village and Ophir |
| Date elected: |
June 2009/ Re-Elected June 2013/ Re-Elected June 2017 |
| Offices held: |
|
| Education: |
BA Political Science, Wheeling Jesuit University; graduate work |
| Occupations: |
|
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
| District #6 - Debbie Cokes, Director, alternate Secretary/Treasurer | |
 |
Contact: 25 Juniper Lane |
| Territory: |
Part of Ouray County including Ridgway and much of Log Hill Village. |
| Date elected: |
June 2014 |
| Offices held: |
Board of Directors for Tri-County Water Conservancy District |
| Education: |
B.S., Civil/Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder |
| Occupations: |
Owned successful engineering company in Denver for 19 years. |
Why did you choose to run to the SMPA Board of Directors?
Local businesses, tourism, recreation, farms and ranches, and regional water providers all rely on power provided by SMPA to operate, grow and thrive. I want to represent community members on a fair and impartial basis for the interests of all members
Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:
- Ouray Trail Group Steeing Committe
- Uncompahgre Watershed Patnership: OTG trail worker and map sales
- Ridgway RiverFest
- Second Chance Human Society
- Town of Ridgway Parks & Open Space Task Force
- 2011 Ouray County Economic Development Committee participant
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
