Echternach hired as CEO of Beltrami Electric Cooperative

Bemidji, MN. (March 9, 2016) – Beltrami Electric Cooperative's board of directors has announced the hiring of Jared Echternach as its new general manager and CEO. Echternach's duties as CEO will begin on March 28 in preparation for the retirement of current general manager and CEO Lynette Nieuwsma.

Echternach is currently the CEO at North Itasca Electric Cooperative, located in Bigfork, MN. He holds a bachelor's degree from Miami University and a master's of business administration from University of Phoenix.

"I'm honored to have been selected as the next CEO of Beltrami Electric Cooperative. I'll be joining a first-class organization with excellent employees who are dedicated to providing the best possible service to our member-owners. Beltrami Electric is a progressive and growing cooperative and I'm thrilled to become part of such a wonderful organization," said Echternach.

Echternach has served as North Itasca's CEO since 2012. Prior to joining North Itasca, Echternach was the manager of member services for Itasca-Mantrap Cooperative Electric Association in Park Rapids, MN. He began his cooperative career as the marketing/communications specialist at Beltrami Electric Cooperative.

"We are very fortunate to hire Jared Echternach to be our new CEO at Beltrami Electric. He is a returning employee who comes back to us with great management skills and CEO experience," said BEC Board President Rick Coe. "He knows and understands our community very well as he was born and raised in the Bemidji area. This is a rare find and we are excited to have him join us here at Beltrami Electric Cooperative."