Connexus Members Gather for 2025 Annual Meeting Focused on Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2025

Ramsey, MN – Connexus Energy held its 88th annual meeting on April 17 at its headquarters in Ramsey. More than 200 people attended the meeting to hear business updates, ask questions and learn the results of the 2025 board election.

CFO Yan Paul Martinez highlighted Connexus’ strong financial performance. “As an independent electric utility, we now have the flexibility to buy energy from the market and enter into energy futures contracts and power purchase agreements,” said Martinez. “We continue to diversify our portfolio and have benefited from favorable market dynamics over the past two years.”

“The theme for this year’s meeting is Service Driven,” said CEO Brian Burandt. “I love this theme because it perfectly reflects who we are. Being service driven means we focus on you, our members, in everything we do – from keeping your lights on to managing costs.”

Board Chair Fran Bator reinforced that message. “First and foremost, we’re here to power your lives – safely, reliably and affordably,” said Bator. “Whether it’s our line crews in the field or our employees behind the scenes, we never cut corners when it comes to safety – because keeping our employees and your family safe matters more than anything.”

Guest speaker Darrick Moe, CEO of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, shared insights on energy policy and the evolving energy landscape in Minnesota.

Election results

Two seats on the Connexus board of directors were on the 2025 ballot, each with a three-year term. In District 2, Rick Braastad was re-elected, and in District 4, Joe Gruenes was re-elected. In addition, the proposed amendments to the cooperative’s articles of incorporation and bylaws were approved by the membership.

Ballots were tabulated by Survey & Ballot Systems, an independent third-party cooperative election administrator. A total of 8,695 members – 6.5% of eligible voters – participated in this year’s election.

Following the annual meeting, the board held its organizational meeting and elected officers for 2025:

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

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