Beltrami Electric’s Sam Mason Graduates from Management Internship Program

Beltrami Electric Cooperative Manager of Marketing & Communications Sam Mason has completed an intensive program in electric utility management with the University of Wisconsin-­‐Madison.

The Robert I. Kabat Management Internship Program (MIP) is a series of workshops offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin. The program guides participants through all facets of the electric utility industry, including the many changes occurring around the nation.

Mason is one of only a few electric utility management staff that will graduate from the Management Internship Program this year.

MIP participants go through sessions designed to challenge and educate participants in new, innovative management techniques. Participants leave with a better understanding of what consumers want and how to ensure they get it.

By also covering the unique principles that govern the operations of electric cooperatives, the program helps the co-­‐op analyze other business ventures it may want to enter as well as enhancing the core organization.

Only rural electric cooperative CEOs and top-­‐level management participate in the program. This allows greater emphasis of study, on management challenges and the aspects of consumer-­‐ownership that cooperatives enjoy. Participants learn to focus on member value as part of day-­‐to-­‐day decision-­‐making.

He has completed one of the most exclusive educational programs in the nation for electric cooperative management.

Beltrami Electric Cooperative is a member-­‐owned electric distribution cooperative located in Bemidji, Minn. Established in 1940, Beltrami Electric provides power to almost 17,000 member-­‐owners within a 3,000 square mile service area located in the lakes region of north-­‐central Minnesota.