MOHAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE - Key Persons
Ardie Lauxman, Mohave CFO, explained, "River Fund partners with the Cooperative through an agreement where they facilitate the utility assistance program without an administration fee making 100% of the donations and grant available for member assistance."
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Director Gold
Deborah Johnson became a member of Mohave Electric Cooperative in 1995. She has served as Board Director for District 2 since 2012 and is currently the Board Vice President. At the September 2022 District 2 meeting, members in attendance recommended Johnson to continue representing them for a three-year term.
Johnson attained the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, a recognized measurement of competency on key current issues, through course work offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. She has taken advanced course studies to receive the Board Leadership Certificate. Johnson was awarded the NRECA Gold Director Certificate in 2018. She regularly updates skills through course training and workshops in the electrical utility field.
Johnson worked in various management and accounting positions and has an Associate of Arts degree in general education. She is currently a member and treasurer of St. John's Lutheran Church. Johnson also enjoys serving as a social member with Chaparral Country Club.
Named Volunteer of the Year in 2000, Johnson was recognized for her service as a canine therapist.
Job Titles:
- President
- President of the Board
- CEO Tyler Carlson
- MEC Board President
- Member of the Knights of Columbus
Joe Anderson became a member of Mohave Electric Cooperative in 1978. He has served as Board Director for District 3 since 2005 and is currently the Board President. At the September 2023 District 3 meeting, members in attendance recommended Anderson to continue representing them for a three-year term. He previously served as Board Secretary.
Anderson attained the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, a recognized measurement of competency on key current issues, through course work offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. He has taken advanced course studies to receive the Board Leadership Certificate. Anderson was awarded the NRECA Gold Director Certificate in 2017. Anderson keeps current by regularly updating skills through course training and workshops in the electrical utility field.
Anderson also serves as Board Director for Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association.
Anderson received the Touchstone Energy Power and Hope Recognition Award in April 2011, a program that recognizes cooperative directors and employees who have gone above and beyond to help co-op members in need.
Having served 33 years with the Bullhead City Fire Department, Anderson retired in 2012. He began his career at the department as a firefighter in 1979 and retired after serving twelve years as the Assistant Fire Chief. He holds an associate degree in fire science.
Appointed by the Governor of Arizona to the Public Safety Communications Commission, Anderson was instrumental in the upgrade to the radio communication system for the fire departments in the river valley area.
Anderson is an active member of the Knights of Columbus in Bullhead City, assisting in a wide variety of community and church functions.
MEC board president, Joe Anderson, helps load operation cool shade trees for our members.
MEC Board President Joe Anderson presents board member Joe Solar with his accredited Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate. The certificate is a recognized measurement of competency on key current issues attained through course work offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
Jose "Joe" Solar became a member of Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) in 2014. He has served as District 2 Board Director since January 2019. At the September 2023 District 2 meeting, members in attendance recommended Solar to continue representing them for a three-year term. Solar attained the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate in 2019, a recognized measurement of competency on key current issues, through course work offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of Arizona Pharmacy Association
Kevin Nestrick became a member of Mohave Electric Cooperative in 1977. He has served as Board Director for District 2 since December 2020. At the September 2021 District 2 meeting, members in attendance recommended Nestrick to continue representing them for a three-year term.
Nestrick is also a member of Arizona Pharmacy Association since 1982 and served on its board of directors from 1988 to 1996. Nestrick was president of AZPhA in 1994-1995. He was honored as Arizona Pharmacist of the Year in 1993 and received the Leadership Excellence award from the National Community Pharmacy Association (NCPA) in 1995. He has been a member of NCPA since 1984 and served as chairman of the national committee on Home Care Services from 1992 to 2012. As home care chairman, he served as a legislative consultant in Washington DC to the Senate and House of Representative members.
Mark Carlson, a physical science teacher at MALC said, "Thank you Mohave Electric Cooperative. Your classroom grant allowed MALC's AIMS Prep class to learn the principles of work and energy with a hands-on building project: their own working steamboats." Carlson said the students made the working boats from recycled materials and simple technology that was used for the typical of turn-of-the-century toy boats. A birthday candle was used for an external combustion heat source that turned water into steam inside an aluminum can engine which was forced through a drinking straw. "The students learned the theories and the practical workings of steam engines, especially when things did not work quite right," said Carlson. After building the boats, students raced in their custom made boat race track.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Veterans' Resource Centers of America
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of Moose Lodge 1860
Michael Bartelt became a member of Mohave Electric Cooperative in 1990. He has served as Board Director for District 3 since 2007. At the September 2021 District 3 meeting, members in attendance recommended Bartelt to continue representing them for a three-year term.
Bartelt attained the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, a recognized measurement of competency on key current issues, through course work offered by National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. He regularly updates skills through course training and workshops in the electrical utility field.
Bartelt received the Touchstone Energy Power and Hope Recognition Award in April 2011, a program that recognizes cooperative directors and employees who have gone above and beyond to help co-op members in need.
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education and a Master's degree in school administration from Cal State University, Long Beach, Bartelt is a retired school administrator. He taught elementary school for 10 years and was a middle and elementary school principal for 27 years in Torrance, California.
Bartelt is a member of Moose Lodge 1860 in Bullhead City and an active volunteer and member at Chaparral Golf and Country Club. He served previously as board member for a school district credit union in California.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Rural Veterans Caucus
, a member of the Rural Veterans Caucus, visited the building on Monday. Gosar has a long-standing interest in veterans affairs, such as getting them the benefits and care they deserve and earned.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- President of Bullhead Regional Habitat for Humanity
Robert Yee, a 2010 and 2011 grant recipient, used his grants for his Math Club students to explore solar cooking. The first year, they built four solar ovens, cooked 100 hot dogs, 6 pounds of chili and 6 pounds of nacho cheese feeding over 100 students and staff a delicious lunch. Yee said, "It was a great success and we could not have done it without Mohave Electric's help." He said students and teachers were surprised to see such a variety of food and were impressed with the quality of food that was produced. This year they are expanding their project to include macaroni and cheese and cookies.
Job Titles:
- Representative Regina Cobb
CoBank Vice President Tamra Reynolds said, "CoBank is pleased to offer this program to our cooperative customers once again and provide support to the rural economies which they serve. It's just one more way CoBank demonstrates cooperation among cooperatives and fulfills our mission to serve rural America."
Toni Barbaro became a Mohave Electric Cooperative member in 1980. She has served as Board Director for District 3 since 2012 and is currently the Board Secretary. At the September 2022 District 3 meeting, members in attendance recommended Barbaro to continue representing them for a three-year term.
Barbaro attained the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, a recognized measurement of competency on key current issues, through course work offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. She has taken advanced course studies to receive the Board Leadership Certificate. Barbaro was awarded the NRECA Gold Director Certificate in 2016. She regularly updates skills through course training and workshops in the electrical utility field.
She has an Associate of Arts degree and Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing and has completed numerous continuing education classes. A registered nurse for over 30 years, Barbaro is retired.
Barbaro is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and life member of the Veterans Of Foreign Auxiliary Post 10005. She is currently holding the office of JR Vice President.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Construction Administrator and Office Manager
Tracy Weisz was a member of Mohave Electric Cooperative from 1994 to 2005 and now from 2019 to the present. Members elected her to serve as Board Director for District 1 at the September 2023 District meeting for a three-year term.
Weisz is a Construction Administrator and Office Manager for a prominent, local developer and general contractor. Weisz also holds a Real Estate Associate License and remains active in the industry.
Weisz is involved with multiple community organizations including MCC Bighorn Booster Club and Mohave County Republican Committee Central. Previously, she volunteered at the Mohave Valley Fort Mohave Community Park and AYSO 397.