GARRISON DIVERSION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Chairman - Ward County
- President of the North Dakota Water Users Association Board
- Ward County - Chairman
Alan Walter has been on the Garrison Diversion board since 2002, and currently serves as Chairman of the board. Walter is a civil engineer and served the city of Minot from 1968 to 2012. He became the city's public works director in 1992. Alan currently works at the Ackerman-Estvold engineering firm in Minot.
Walter is the president of the North Dakota Water Users Association board and is a member of the North Dakota Water Coalition. He was appointed to the North Dakota Air Quality board by former Governor Schafer and again by Governor Hoeven. He is a 2011 recipient of the Commodore Award, recognizing his efforts in the North Dakota water industry. He is also a retired member of the ND National Guard. Alan and his wife, Judy, have four children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Chairman - Wells County
- Wells County - Chairman, Missouri River Committee
Bill Ongstad, Harvey, was appointed as the Wells County director in 2008, and serves as Chairman of the Missouri River Committee and also serves on the Agriculture Committee. He farms near Harvey. Bill belongs to many organizations and has held various offices including former president and current member of the US Durum Growers, vice chairman of board of directors for Farm Credit Services of ND, Wells County Better Seed & Grain Association and Advisory Committee Wells County Mentoring Partnership. He is also a 4-H leader and a past member of the Harvey school board and was the Fram Township treasurer. Bill and his wife, Anne, have four children.
Brandon Krueger was appointed to Garrison Diversion's Board of Directors by the Steele County Commission and began his service in 2015, where he currently serves on the MR&I Committee. Brandon attended NDSU and NDSCS, where he obtained degrees in agriculture, criminal justice, and psychology. After working as a Deputy Sheriff in Walsh County, he pursued a different career path, now owning and operating Innovation Ag, LLC, a seed and crop protection sales business. He is also an active member of the Steele County Park Board. Brandon resides in rural Hope with his wife, Tasha, and son Briggs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
Brian Orn was elected to represented Sargent County and has served on the board since 2021. He is a member of the Agriculture Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Member of the RECREATION COMMITTEE
- Chairman - LaMoure County
- LaMoure County As a Commissioner
- Moure County - Chairman, Recreation Committee
For the past 15 years, Bruce Klein has served LaMoure County as a commissioner, and in the 2016 election, he was selected to serve LaMoure County residents in a new capacity. He serves as chairman of the Recreation Committee. Bruce grew up in rural LaMoure and received a B.S. from NDSU. He is a full-time farmer, working the family farm with his brother. Bruce and his wife, Crystal, have been married for 44 years and have three grown sons and three grandchildren. Bruce is an avid fisherman, and together, they enjoy camping and spending time with family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Job Titles:
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Member of the PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
- Chairman - Pierce County
- Pierce County - Chair, Public Relations Committee
Dave Anderson assumed his position on the board in 2011, representing Pierce County. Dave is chairman of the Public Relations Committee. He also serves as a board member for the All Season Water Users District and is on the Family Farm Alliance Advisory Board. He recently retired from an ag lending career in Rugby and fills time traveling and hobby farming. Dave is also a dedicated public servant, committing time to multiple community and church organizations. He resides in Rugby with his wife, Pam. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Member of the RECREATION COMMITTEE
Job Titles:
- Member of the AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
Job Titles:
- Snake Creek Supervisor, Electronic Industrial Controls Specialist
Job Titles:
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Chairman - Stutsman County
- Stutsman County - Chair, MR & I Committee
Geneva Kaiser began her service on the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District's board of directors in 2015 after she was elected by Stutsman County constituents to serve on the board. She serves as chair of the MR&I Committee. Geneva attended Valley City State College where she studied office administration and accounting. She has worked for the Stutsman Rural Water District since 1989, and was promoted to General Manager in 2007. She has served two terms as the Managers Representative on the North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association Executive board and was the 2016 recipient of the NDRWSA Outstanding Water Works Employee Award. Geneva also serves on the Water and Waste Water Advisory Committee at Bismarck State College. She resides in Jamestown and has one daughter.
Job Titles:
- Member of the AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Member of the PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
- 2nd Vice Chairman - Barnes County
- Barnes County - 2nd Vice Chairman
Greg Bischoff, Valley City, was elected to the board in 2016, replacing his father, the late Roger Bischoff, as the Barnes County Director. Greg serves as 2nd Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and on Missouri River Committee. Greg graduated from Valley City State University with a B.S. in Business Administration. Greg worked for Wyoming State Parks for 20 years before returning to Valley City in 2005 to be closer to his ailing parents. He is the owner of Allard Trophy Co. in Valley City and a member of the local Eagles Club. He's an outdoorsman at heart and especially loves hunting and fishing. Greg also enjoys traveling to Alaska for an annual fishing trip and watching UND hockey.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Jason Siegert was elected to serve Traill County constituents and began his service to the Garrison Diversion board of directors in 2023. He sits on the RRV Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Member of the PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
- 1st Vice Chairman - Ransom County
- Ransom County - 1st Vice Chairman
Jay began his service to the board of directors in 2013, representing Ransom County. He serves as First Vice Chairman and as a member of the Red River Valley and Missouri River Committees. Jay works as the Senior Vice President of BankNorth in Lisbon. Jay has been involved with the water industry for many years, and serves on the Southeast Water Users board of directors. Prior to Southeast Water Users, Jay served the Ransom-Sargent Rural Water Board from 1994 to 2006. He is extensively involved in his Lisbon community. Jay and his wife, Terese, live on a farm near Lisbon and have two grown children and four grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Member of the ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Job Titles:
- Member of the ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Job Titles:
- Member of the AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
- Member of the Board
Kelly Klosterman has been a board member since 2007 and currently serves on the Agriculture Committee. He farms near Mooreton. Kelly is also a member of the Richland County Soil Conservation District and ND State Soil Conservation Committee, and was recently appointed to serve on the Carrington Research & Extension Center Advisory Board. He and his wife, Mickie, have two children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Member of the PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
- Chairman - Grand Forks County
- Grand Forks County - Chairman, RRV Committee
Ken Vein, Grand Forks, was elected to the Garrison Diversion board in 2005. He currently serves as chairman of the RRV Committee. Ken is a graduate of the University of North Dakota with a bachelor of science in civil engineering. He is an active member of multiple organizations, serving as the Vice President of the Grand Forks City Council, Vice Chair of the Lake Agassiz Water Authority, Vice Chair of the International Water Institute and a board member on the ND Water Coalition and the ND Water Users. He is also a past president of the UND Letterwinner Board. Ken was recently named director of design and construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
He is the former Administrative Director for Plant and Facilities at Altru Health System and also workd for the City of Grand Forks as the City Engineer/Public Works Director for 16 years. Some of the awards and recognition Ken has received are Corps of Engineers Recognition of ‘97 Basin Flood Response Effort, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Achievement Award, North Dakota Water Wheel Award and the North Dakota Chapter of American Public Works Association President Service Award. Ken and his wife, Debra, have two sons.
Kenny Rogers, a Maxbass native, was elected in 1997. He serves on the MR&I Committee. He is a semi-retired farmer and is presently serving on the All Seasons Water Users District Board, the NAWS Advisory Board, Assiniboine River Basin Initiative, and the Missouri River Advisory Council. He is also chairman of the Lewis Township board and Bottineau County Township Officers Association. Kenny has served on the North Central Experiment Station Board, Bottineau County Crop Improvement Association, Bottineau County NDSU extension advisory board, Prairie Hope Church council and the Maxbass Rural Fire District board. He and his wife, Elaine, have two children.
Job Titles:
- District Engineer / Deputy Program Manager for RRVWSP Engineering
Kyle Blanchfield was appointed represent Ramsey County in 2021. He is a member of the MR&I Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
Job Titles:
- Member of the PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Margo Knorr was elected to serve McLean County constituents and began her service to the Garrison Diversion board of directors in 2023. She sits on the Public Relations Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Chairman - Renville County
- Renville County - Chairman, Agriculture Committee
Mark Cook was appointed to the Garrison Diversion board in 2012 and serves as chairman of the Agriculture Committee and sits on the Missouri River Committee. He was raised in Kenmare, ND, and began his agricultural career in 1979 when he took over the family farm near Kenmare. Mark is no stranger to the water industry as he has served on the Renville County Water Resource District since 1994. He is also the current president of the Kenmare Farmers Union Lumberyard. Mark and his wife, Kathy, recently took on a new venture when they purchased the Pizza Hub restaurant in Kenmare. While they are the owners/operators of the Pizza Hub, they still assist their son, a 4th generation farmer, on the farm. Mark and Kathy were married in 1975, and raised their family 22 miles northeast of Kenmare. They have four children and twelve grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Officer / Deputy Program Manager for RRVWSP Administration
Job Titles:
- Member of the ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
- Member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Chairman - Eddy County
- Eddy County - Chairman, E & O Committee
Michael Tweed was elected to represent Eddy County and began his service in 2013. He currently serves on the Engineering & Operations Committee. Mike is an old hat in the water industry as he has been a longtime member of the Eddy County Water Resource Board and the Devils Lake Basin Water Board. In 2012, he received the Oarsman Award for his service to the Upper Sheyenne River Joint Water Resource Board. Mike farms near Tolna, where he also lives with his wife, Kathy. They have four children and two grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Member of the AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
Job Titles:
- Member of the PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Nikki Boote was appointed by the Griggs County Commission, and later elected in 2016 to serve as the Griggs County director, where she is a member of the Public Relations Committee. Boote is a Dickinson State University graduate and currently works as the business manager for the Midkota School District. She is an engaged community member, and in addition to her position on Garrison Diversion's board, she is active in the Economic Development Corporation and American Legion Auxiliary, a member of Trinity Lutheran Church's board of directors, and a member of the North Dakota High School Rodeo Association and the ND Stockman's Association, as well as a past board member for the Cooperstown Medical Center Foundation. Boote lives in Binford with her husband, Alan, and three children, Jade, Jory, and Jace. Together they enjoy watching Bison and Vikings football and rodeoing in the summer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Job Titles:
- Member of the RECREATION COMMITTEE
- First Board Member from McKenzie County
- McKenzie County
As the first board member from McKenzie County, Richard Cayko joined the board of directors in 2003. Richard serves on Garrison Diversion's Recreation Committee. He has an extensive agricultural background and serves as the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project district director and Chairman of the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project B.O.C. and is a former school board member. From 1992 to 2000, he was named among the top ten sugar beet producers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the RECREATION COMMITTEE
Steve Forde was elected to serve Nelson County constituents and began his service to the Garrison Diversion board of directors in 2023. He sits on the Recreation Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the RECREATION COMMITTEE
Steve Metzger, Carrington, was first appointed and later elected to the Garrison Diversion board of directors in 1983. He is a member of the Recreation Committee. Steve grew up in Cavalier County and is a graduate of Langdon High School and North Dakota State University, where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. Over the past several years he has served on many boards including the Foster County Fair Board, the Carrington Park Board, the local chamber Agriculture committee, the Board of directors for the local medical facility, his local church board and other organizations. He is a long time member of the state and national Agricultural Educators Associations as well as the state and national Farm and Ranch Business Management Education Associations. Steve retired in 2015 after serving the Carrington area as a farm business management instructor for over 30 years. He continues to work part-time in Farm Business Management. Steve has been honored to receive the North Dakota State Friend of Extension Award, the Foster County Outstanding Agriculturist award, the Outstanding Service Award from ND Ag. Educators and most recently the North Dakota Water Wheel Award. He and his wife, Jane, have five children and eight grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Ward Koeser is a director from one of the newest counties to join the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District; he began his service in 2003. Ward serves on the Public Relations Committee. Ward is General Manager of Kotana Communications, Inc. and was the mayor of Williston from 1994 to 2014. His water interests are not limited to Garrison Diversion as Ward also serves on the board of the Western Area Water Supply. His involvement with multiple additional boards and committees includes a position as a Board Trustee for Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Most recently, Ward was appointed to the North Dakota Ethics Commission by Governor Doug Burgum.
Ward has been presented with many awards, including the Army Commendation Medal in 1977. He and his wife, Joetta, have three children.