[accordion title="Read%20more"]
Throughout her 19-year tenure at the cooperative, she has built a reputation of leadership. As vice president of customer and corporate relations, Tresa has produced award-winning communication materials, directs public relations events, lead the transition of the Cooperative’s Operation Round Up program from an opt-in to an opt-out program with its own separate 501(c) 3, tax-exempt foundation, develops customer and energy services, oversees key account management, encourages economic development, oversees the billing and customer service department and is active in legislative grassroots. Because of the Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative’s strong commitment to economic development, under Tresa’s leadership, the Cooperative recently completed its second business park in Spirit Lake in partnership with its wholesale power provider, Corn Belt Power Cooperative, and the regional economic development group. More than 60 percent of the cooperative’s revenues are from commercial and industrial accounts.
Tresa has championed the Touchstone Energy brand from the time she was promoted from her previous position as the manager of customer services in 2005. Among the first Touchstone Energy programs Tresa implemented was the annual ASCI survey that is still conducted at Iowa Lakes each year. Iowa Lakes promotes the brand each year at the Touchstone Energy booth it sponsors at the world’s largest county fair – the Clay County Fair. More than 300,000 visitors attend the fair each year and learn more about the Touchstone Energy brand. Rivaling the Iowa State Fair in size and attractions, this fair has been host to such entertainers as Garth Brooks, Clay Aiken, Leann Rimes and Carrie Underwood.
In addition to using Touchstone Energy materials in the Cooperative’s newspaper, radio and television advertising, Iowa Lakes has partnered with two local radio stations to be the exclusive sponsor of a Doppler radar system. Iowa Lakes, branded with Touchstone Energy, receives the primary recognition and naming rights of all daily weather reports.
Other Touchstone Energy programs that Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative has participated in include the bestowing Power and Hope Award, sponsoringthe Touchstone Energy Balloon during large, local festivals, and offering members the Co-op Connection Card. When the Co-op Connection Card program was first launched, Iowa Lakes hired summer interns to call on local businesses within the co-op’s eight-county territory. This process was so successful the co-op continued to hire summer interns each year to add more businesses’ discounts to the card and to renew existing contracts. Today, the co-op offers local discounts from 155 businesses ranging from fitness centers, hair salons, golf courses, marinas and many more.
Tresa was elected to her first three-year term on Touchstone Energy’s board of directors in 2016. She has enjoyed serving on the board and is seeking re-election for her second three-year term.
Tresa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Buena Vista University and is a 1994 graduate of the NRECA Robert I. Kabat Management Internship Program. Tresa has also attended the Strategy Execution System seminar. Prior to joining Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative, Tresa was Marketing Manager for Kozy Heat.
[/accordion]