The 2025 director candidate application portal closed on Jan. 17. The nominating committee interviewed director candidates on Feb. 3 and nominated the following director candidates to the ballot:

Director candidates

Richard Braastad – Incumbent District 2 View Bio	John Donner District 2 View Bio	Mark Ebensteiner District 4 View Bio	Joseph Gruenes – Incumbent District 4 View Bio

To learn more about the roles and responsibilities of a director, read our board of directors’ information packet.

Articles of incorporation

As a customary business practice, the board of directors conducted a comprehensive review of the cooperative’s Articles of Incorporation to ensure compliance with state statute and alignment with current practices. The Connexus Energy Board of Directors approved the amendments to be placed on the ballot and recommends approval.

Bylaws

The bylaws were revised so they are consistent with Minnesota law, specifically Minn. Stat. Ch. 308A, as well as best practices, and incorporate specific recommendations from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The full text of each is provided so all members have access to each change. They include, but are not limited to: 

Meeting notice for special meetings, annual meetings, or elections; not receiving notice does not invalidate action taken at the meeting; conducting and communication of member meetings, including the program and attendance; the Board’s role in strategic direction and requirement to meet regularly; the President-CEO’s duties; the number of directors and appointment of the same; consequences for failing to be present for good reason; removal of directors for cause; improperly casted votes not being counted; the secrecy of ballots; once a ballot has been cast it cannot be withdrawn; voting being at-large; voting by mail or electronic means for directors; open meeting requirements; board committee authority; indemnification of directors are stated by Minnesota law; publication of regular meetings; committees of the Board; removing descriptions of officers of the Board; removal of officers as determined by the Board; postings regarding patronage capital being on the website and changing references to members; the authority of the Cooperative to secure indebtedness.

See the supplement, "Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws - Proposed Amendments"

Ballots are mailed and election website opens March 26. Choose one voting option.

Online

• Log into your Connexus account
• Scan the QR code on your ballot envelope

Mail

• Mail your completed ballot in the provided envelopes

In person

• During Annual Meeting registration from 3:30-4 p.m.

Voting deadlines

• Online voting closes on April 17 at 10:15 a.m.
• Mailed ballots must arrive by April 17 to be counted

Members who have voted are automatically entered to win one of the following:

• Weekly drawing for one of five $25 bill credits
• "Watt" a Catch! basket with Smart Fish Finder
• Sweet Surprise basket with SolarWise Honey
• Get Grilling basket with 22" Electric Blackstone Grill

Winners of weekly drawings will be announced via social media and contacted via email.

Prize baskets will be drawn and announced at the annual meeting. Members will be contacted and are responsible for picking up at Connexus.

The Connexus Energy Foundation^SM is sponsoring five $1,000 scholarships. The winning names will be drawn at the end of our annual meeting. Member and eligible child/dependent must be present in person to enter and win.

Eligibility for annual meeting attendance scholarship drawing:

• Must be a Connexus member or child/dependent of a Connexus member
• Must be registering for the 2025-2026 academic year at an accredited college/university/technical institute
• Must achieve a GPA of 2.5 or greater

Additional rules for annual meeting attendance scholarship drawing:

• Member and eligible child/dependent must be present (in person) to enter and win
• Enter all eligible children/dependents, but only one scholarship can be awarded per member account
• No more than two scholarships can be awarded to eligible children/dependents of Connexus employees
• Scholarship dollars are distributed to the institution upon submittal of a transcript or proof of achieving a GPA of 2.5 or higher to [email protected] before Jan. 9, 2026

The nominating committee plays an integral role in board of director elections by interviewing director applicants to determine those qualified for placement on the annual election ballot. Connexus members serving on the nominating committee receive a stipend and mileage reimbursement and must commit to attending two nominating committee meetings. Nominating committee volunteers cannot run for the board during the election year they are serving.

Each fall, Connexus solicits member volunteers interested in serving on the nominating committee. Members are randomly selected to ensure two primary assignments and one alternate per district.

Our annual meeting was held on April 18, 2024, at our headquarters in Ramsey. Most members participated in person while others watched the live stream on Connexus’ Facebook page.

View or download the 2023 Annual Review and 2023 Financial Statements. Videos of reports from the annual meeting are posted below.

Four students who attended the annual meeting with a Connexus member won a $1,000 scholarship in our new attendance drawing. The names drawn were: Zach Davis, Brandon Forsyth, Katherine James and Justin Kroeze.

Members who voted were automatically entered into a prize drawing, and the winners were announced at the annual meeting. The following members won a prize basket: Jeffrey Severson (Spring Planting Basket), Adam Klinkhammer (Get Grilling Basket) and Barry Patrick (Sweet Surprise Basket). Voting members were also entered into a weekly drawing for a $50 bill credit. The winners were: William Connell, Alan Buttler, Carolyn Scott and Matt Spencer.

Mark Ethen - Incumbent District 1 View Bio	Sam Villella District 1 View Bio	Fran Bator - Incumbent District 3 View Bio	Angie Ronayne District 4 View Bio

Survey & Ballot Systems is an independent tabulation firm that mailed, received and tabulated the 2024 ballots. At our annual meeting on April 18, the results of the board of directors’ election were as follows:

District 1
Abel Ebane: 4,167 votes / 44.2%
*Mark Ethen: 7,192 votes / 76.3%
Sam Villella: 4,320 votes / 45.8%

District 3
*Fran Bator: 8,513 votes / 100%

District 4
Angie Ronayne: 8,625 votes / 100%

*Incumbent

Total ballots cast were 9,546 or 7.2% of eligible membership.

District 4 director appointment and officer election at organizational meeting
Due to the retirement of Ken Fiereck, the Connexus Energy Board of Directors affirmed the director appointment of Joe Gruenes at an organizational meeting that followed the annual meeting. Joe is serving the remaining one-year of Ken’s term immediately. He resides in Clear Lake and has been a Connexus member for 25 years. Joe has a strong background in business management, budgeting and statistical analysis.

The 2024 directors also elected their officers at the organizational meeting. Those results were:

• Chair – Fran Bator
• Vice Chair – Mark Ethen
• Secretary/Treasurer – Shelly Peterson
• Assistant Secretary/Treasurer – Mike Thews