Meet your southern district Holy Cross Energy board candidates

Elections for two seats on the Holy Cross Energy Board of Directors are now underway, with one contested seat situated in the energy co-op’s southern district, representing the Roaring Fork Valley from Aspen to El Jebel.

Directors serve a four-year term and represent membership while guiding the Holy Cross’ strategic objectives, according to a press release. Candidates campaigning for this year’s southern district seat include incumbent Dave Munk and challengers Karen Page and Ryan Slack.

“One of the best things about HCE being a cooperative is that we are owned by our members. Therefore, we all literally work for our members; staff reports to the CEO, who reports to the Board of Directors, which is chosen by the members.” Jenna Weatherred, VP and community relations for Holy Cross Energy, said. “Voting in our elections each year is one of the simplest and yet most impactful things our members can do.” 

Dave Munk

Dave Munk of Carbondale, the incumbent running for re-election in Holy Cross Energy’s southern district, said that the multiple terms he has served have granted him valuable experience to guide his decision-making process. 

“My experience as a 40+ year valley resident, working in the utility industry for nearly 30 years and more than a decade on the Holy Cross board helps me view the complexity of today’s utility world from an informed vantage point,” Munk said. “With all the pressures, uncertainties and opportunities in our rapidly changing business, it’s helpful to have a good grounding in our past as well as an understanding of the wide range of options before us as the board considers decisions with multi-year impacts.” 

While serving on the board, he has led efforts to create energy efficiency goals, pushed for expanded communications and member engagement and been a leading voice establishing energy assistance programs as a strategic goal, according to his election page. 

“I’ve been continuously amazed and proud of the passion of this board and its dedication to serving the diverse interests of our member owners,” he said, “while maintaining our commitment to ensuring the financial health of the association for the years to come.”

On goals he would like to see achieved in the near future, he highlighted a focus to build on programs and support for the consumer groups that make up the membership.

“I would like to see additional focus to increase member understanding of the essential operations that all utilities like Holy Cross provide to ensure the safe, reliable and increasingly sustainable electricity that our members and communities depend on is delivered affordably and responsibly,” he said.

Karen Page

Karen Page, Snowmass resident and board candidate, said her executive background and experience serving on multiple corporate boards were key strengths she would draw on while serving as a director on the board. 

“The most important discipline I bring is knowing the difference between governance and management. A board’s job is to set direction, ask hard questions and hold leadership accountable, not to run the organization. I have learned to ask ‘Are we asking the right questions?’ as much as ‘Do we have the right answers?'” Page said. 

Page is a general partner at B Capital and an experienced entrepreneur, investor and board member, according to her election website page, currently serving on the boards of Centivo, Certn and Overstory, a vegetation management company committed to preventing forest fires and protecting critical infrastructure.

“I want to serve on the Holy Cross Energy Board because I care deeply about the same things the cooperative is working to protect: safe, reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy for the communities where we live and work. As a Snowmass Village resident who understands both the benefits and vulnerabilities of mountain communities, I’m particularly focused on wildfire risk, grid resilience and the long‑term affordability of essential services for rural and working families.” she said. 

She emphasized that wildfire mitigation would be her primary focus on the board.

“The layered approach Holy Cross has put in place, combining proactive vegetation management, drone and thermal inspections, GIS mapping, system hardening and Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings, reflects a serious, sophisticated approach,” she said. “I would want the board to regularly pressure-test whether inspection cycles are keeping pace with actual risk … Holy Cross has the right foundation. My goal would be to make sure the board keeps asking the hard questions that protect it as the dangers increase.”

Ryan Slack

Ryan Slack, Basalt resident and former Basalt Town Council member of eight years, pointed to his time in local government alongside owning a local property management company as motivating factors for running for the Holy Cross Energy board seat. 

“What sets me apart is my governing experience on the Basalt Town Council, my deep roots in this community and my firsthand knowledge as a business owner of what energy efficient upgrades actually cost and what it takes to maintain them,” he said. “I’m not coming to this role from the outside. I live this every day, just like our members do … I’ve worked alongside Holy Cross Energy as a key community partner. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for the role Holy Cross plays in the lives of our neighbors and local businesses.” 

Slack’s priorities as board member center around keeping costs affordable, first and foremost.

“As our region grows and infrastructure needs to evolve, maintaining rates that work for everyday families and small businesses must remain a top priority,” he said. 

He added that staff retention is also key, noting, “Holy Cross succeeds because of the people who show up every day to keep the lights on and serve our members. Attracting and retaining talented, dedicated employees is essential to the cooperative’s long-term health.” 

A third priority for him would be addressing the impacts of climate change, including wildfires, extreme weather and shifting energy demands that put pressure on the grid and Holy Cross’ planning. 

“We need to keep investing in resilience and innovation while staying true to our commitment to sustainability,” Slack said. “These aren’t easy challenges, but they’re exactly the kind that require steady, community-focused leadership, and they’re why I want to serve.” 

He pointed to the Basalt Forward 2030 initiative, where the Basalt Town Council partnered with the school district and community to install solar across school sites and town facilities, as his prior success addressing these types of issues, with Basalt seeing reduced energy costs and a lower carbon footprint overall.

“It showed me what’s possible when a community comes together around a shared goal,” he said. “I’ll bring that same spirit of partnership and accountability to the Holy Cross board as we work toward 2030.” 

All Holy Cross Energy members, regardless of district, can vote for one candidate in each district.

Members are able to vote by mail, online or in person at HCE’s Annual Meeting at 4 Eagle Ranch from 5 to 6 p.m., Thursday, June 11. Results will be shared beginning at 6 p.m.

Ballots were mailed the week of May 13 and online voting is now available at holycross.com/community/engagement/election.