Districts & Directors
Kris M. Martes – Board President
Row River District
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Occupation
Retired Police Sergeant
Educational Background
Bachelor’s Degree from Portland State University
Civic & Public Affairs
Former State Director for the Law Enforcement Torch Run — Special Olympics. Retired Law Enforcement Officer – 29 years of service. As a police officer, worked a variety of assignments — Patrol, Violent Crimes, Background Investigations, Bomb Squad, Bike Patrol, Crowd Control Team and Campus Sergeant
Dean Livelybrooks ā Vice President
Central District
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Occupation
- Emeritus Physics Faculty, University of Oregon
Educational Background
- Ph.D., Physics, University of Oregon, 1990
- B.Sc., Earth and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1977
- Graduated from Brandywine High School, Niles, Michigan, 1973
Civic & Public Affairs
- Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District 66 Board of Directors, 1998-2021
- Oregon School Board Association Board of Directors, 2008-2012
- Graduate of OSBA’s Leadership Oregon Academy
- Leadership Team, EWEB (Electric Vehicle) Solar Challenge, 1998-present
- Former Chair, University of Oregon Campus Planning Committee
- Member of the University of Oregon Scholarship Committee
I am a geophysicist and University of Oregon Physics faculty member with a long record of service as a former school board member and as a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) career advocate.
My background includes serving on boards, supporting K-12 through community college and university students with National Science Foundation scholarships and activities, and a deep background in applying electricity and magnetism to understanding the Earth.
I live near Crow, Oregon, and am a grateful fan of the services provided by Lane Electric Cooperative.
My factory-worker father taught me the importance of service to your community, so I hope to serve my community as a Lane Electric Cooperative board member.
Susan Knudsen Obermeyer ā Secretary
Oakridge District
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Occupation
Retired from United States Forest Service as Operations Staff Officer overseeing Timber, Silviculture, and Special Forest Products.
Educational Background
- Attended Elementary and High School in the Oakridge School District
- Attended some college at Lane Community.
- Completed many classes through the Forest Service in leadership, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.
- Certified National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Cooperative Director Certificate
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board Leadership Certificate
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association āGold Certificateā for continuing cooperative education.
Cooperative Roles
- Currently Board President, Lane Electric Cooperative
- Board Member, Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association
- Budget Committee, Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association
- Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, Lane Electric Cooperative
- Audit Committee, Lane Electric Cooperative
Civic & Public Affairs
- Treasurer and Board member for the non-profit Southern Willamette Solutions and the following committees:
- Oakridge Air and Ambassador
- Southern Willamette Forest Collaborative
- Project specific committees
- Implementation Advisory Committee for watershed projects
- Recreation committee
- Oakridge Fire Safe Council
- Highway 58 Herald, an on-line local newspaper that stretches from Cresent to Pleasant Hill. Treasurer
- State Forestry Advisory Committee to provide advice on the program of work.
- Oakridge/Westfir Museum Board
- Delivery Angel for Positive Community Kitchen to bring healthy food to folks going through health crisis due to life-threatening illness.
- 30+ years of coordinating and organizing Senior Citizenās Christmas Baskets
- 12 years on the Oakridge School Board
- Oakridge Tree Planting Mini Olympics.
- Forest Service Scholarship Committee
- Oakridge/Westfir PTA and Booster Club
- Prior to becoming Management in the Forest Service, served as Union Representative and Treasurer for the Forest Service Union.
Chris Seubert – Treasurer
Central District
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Occupation
Retired for 33 years from Qwest Communications, Ikoso Kits, manufacturer of educational toys
Educational Background
Iāve completed all of the required education and have been certified as a Credentialed Cooperative Director through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). In addition, my continuing education, attendance at conferences, and participation on a variety of industry-related committees have helped prepare me for the challenges facing our co-op.
Civic & Public Affairs
- Eugene-Springfield Chamber of Commerce Leadership Steering Committee
- Past member of United Way of Lane County Resource Allocation Committee
- Edgewood Elementary School classroom volunteer
J. Ingrid Kessler ā Director
Central District
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Occupation
Veterinarian, Retired
Educational Background
- Cornell University: Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics
- Stanford University: Graduate work in Classics
- Michigan State University: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
- Certified Cooperative Director
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association āGoldā for Co-op Continuing Education
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Board Leadership Certificate
Cooperative Roles
- Oregon Director, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
- Secretary-Treasurer, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
- Chair, Action Committee for Rural Electrification, Oregon
- Government Affairs Committee, Oregon Electric Cooperative Association
- Joint Task Force on Governance and Ethics, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation
- Vice President and Secretary, Lane Electric Board of Directors
- Scholarship Committee, Lane Electric Board of Directors
Civic & Public Affairs
- City Club of Eugene, Treasurer, Board of Directors
- Lane Community College, Scholarship Reading Team
- Oregon Community Foundation, Climate Change and Healthy Habitats Group
- Kids FIRST, President, Board of Directors
- Lane County, Multi-Disciplinary Team for the Prevention and Intervention of Child and Animal Abuse
- Greenhill Humane Society, Board of Directors
- Eugene Chamber of Commerce, Local Government Affairs Council
- Rotary International, Downtown Club
- Eugene Science Center, Board of Directors
Kathy Keable ā Director
McKenzie District
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Occupation
Retired from: Teacher at McKenzie Elementary, Special Uses Coordinator at McKenzie Ranger District, Site Manager at HJ Andrews Experimental Forest (each 13 years)
Educational Background
- BS Education, University of the Pacific 1971
- MS “Outdoor Education,” Southern Oregon College 1973
- Hitchhiked to Peru, trekked in Nepal and bicycled Athens to Amsterdam, sailed in Galapagos
Civic & Public Affairs
- Started McKenzie Outdoor School 1980
- Appointed to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Salmon Trout Enhancement Board (Education Chair) by Governors Goldschmidt and Atiyeh.
- Served on EWEB’s Citizen Review Committee for Leaburg and Walterville Hydro Projects
- Elected to McKenzie School District’s Board of Directors in 1998
- Appointed to Lane County Budget Committee for 2 years
- Co-founded the McKenzie Education Foundation 2000 – current board member
- Completed Ford Family Foundation Leadership and Community Ambassador training
- Co-created Canopy Connections so middle schoolers could climb 80 feet up an old-growth tree
- Currently on the Board for the Upper McKenzie Community Center
- Elected to Lane Electric Board 2014
- Certified Co-op Director
- Continuing Education Gold Director
- Board Secretary and Vice-Chair
- Scholarship Committee Chair
Jimmy Martini ā Director
Email the Oakridge District Director
Oakridge District
Occupation
Owner, Bridge Town Market (Lowell)
Educational Background
- Bachelor of Science, Accounting – University of Oregon
- Yoncalla High School Valedictorian
Civic & Public Affairs
I have enjoyed working with the City of Lowell to help implement a Downtown Master Plan that will maintain our small town feel with managed growth and community development.
I am excited to serve on the board of directors. My goal is to help leadership efficiently manage its assets and resources for its members and employees.
