Lyn R. Opalka
Lyn R. Opalka
A 48-year resident of Mohave Valley, Lyn R. Opalka is the current District 1 Director. She has served on the board since 1982 and has held various board offices. She was board president from 1989 to 1990 and then again from 1991 to the present.
Opalka has completed a National Rural Electric Cooperative Association program of courses to become a Certified Cooperative Director. She regularly updates skills in rural electric board leadership through workshops, seminars and courses and has attained the Board Leadership Certificate, a recognized measurement of competency on key current issues.
Now retired, Opalka held various management and administrative positions in the land development, agricultural and health care industries.
Opalka represents Mohave Electric on the Board of Directors of Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services and the Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. She has served in various positions such as officer, committee member and held a post in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp., American Cancer Society, Heart Association, Mohave Community College Foundation, Living Right Hospice and Mohave Valley School Board.
Remembering Our Fallen
Bullhead City Mayor Jack Hakim, along with City Manager Toby Cotter and Mohave Electric Cooperative Board President, Lyn Opalka respectfully view the “Remembering Our Fallen” exhibit on its recent appearance in Bullhead City. The travelling photo display honors the sacrifice made by over 120 Arizonans killed in the War on Terror while serving in Afghanistan or Iraq. One of the fallen is Navy Hospitalman Dustin Burnett, of Fort Mohave.
The exhibit was hosted by the City of Bullhead City and was sponsored locally by a donation from Mohave Electric Cooperative. The Co-op’s sponsorship made it possible for the public to view the display free of charge.
“Remembering Our Fallen” was created by Bill and Evonne Williams of Patriotic Productions in Omaha, Nebraska in association with Bellevue Universit
MEC Board Members Meet with Senator Gould
Mohave Electric Board President and Directors recently met with Arizona Senator Ron Gould to discuss issues of concern to electric cooperative members. Senator Gould indicated his support of legislative change to help Arizona rural electric cooperatives gain an allocation of low cost federal hydropower from Hoover Dam , and tougher legislation on crimes involving copper theft.
Pictured from the left are: Jim Ennes, MEC Board Director District 2; Senator Ron Gould; Lyn Opalka, MEC Board President and Director District 1; and Carlos Tejeda, MEC Board Director District 2.
New Substation
Mohave Electric Cooperative Board President Lyn Opalka and Vice President John Nelssen announced Board approval of a new substation, proposed by MEC management, which will serve MEC members in the Golden Shores area. “The new substation is a significant step toward improving service for approximately 1600 Cooperative members in the southern portion of MEC’s territory,” said Opalka.
Preparations for the substation construction have begun and substantial progress is expected within one year. The substation will also lay the foundation for electric system infrastructure to help serve future growth in Golden Shores and Topock.
“The new substation in Golden Shores is about providing better service for our members. That’s a commitment MEC’s Board of Directors and Management take seriously,” said Nelssen.
Lyn Opalka and John Nelssen are elected to MEC’s Board of Directors by District 1 members in Golden Shores, Topock, Mohave Valley, Fort Mohave, Wikieup, Hackberry, Truxton, and Peach Springs.
Lyn Opalka (second from right), Board President of MEC, Tom Longtin, Manager of Operations and Engineering for MEC, and Tyler Carlson, CEO, visit MEC’s Silver Creek Substation in Bullhead City and discuss plans for the Co-op’s planned future substation in Golden Shores. When complete, the new substation will distribute power using a transformer and circuit switching equipment similar to those components shown at MEC’s Silver Creek Substation.
Opalka Presents Accredited Journeyman Lineman Certificate
Mohave Electric Cooperative Board President, Lyn Opalka, presents lineman Joey Rosas, the accredited Journeyman Lineman Certificate issued by the Office of Apprenticeship, Arizona Commerce Authority, and signed by Governor, Jan Brewer. The four year program for the coveted certificate requires 8,000 hours of on the job training as well as three years of workbook training and successful passing of 24 tests. Rosas began working with MEC in July of 2005.
Board Directors John Nelssen and Carlos Tejada join MEC Board President Lyn Opalka, in presenting board member Michael Bartelt 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.
Lyn R. Opalka, Mohave Board President of Mohave Electric Cooperative accepts the coveted Injury and Illness Incidence Rate Award for 2010 from Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association Director of Loss Control, Jim Lewis, at the GCSECA summer meeting July 26th in Flagstaff, Arizona.
