SMPA Board of Directors

As a member-owner of SMPA, you have a voice in the direction of the co-op. Each member is represented by a democratically elected representative who is sits on SMPA's Board of Directors. Your director is given the task of representing your needs and interests. Our seven directors, each representing a different district, serve four-year terms and elections are held annually for different districts. 

All San Miguel Power Association board meetings are open to the public. Typically the meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. However, alternate days are sometimes chosen. Meeting locations may vary. If you have questions regarding an upcoming meeting, please call 970-626-5549.

DoyleneGarvey

Contact:

P.O. Box 555
Nucla, CO 81424
970-864-2243
doylene @smpa.com

Territory:

Parts of Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray and Dolores Counties including
Basin, Bedrock, Naturita, Nucla, Paradox, Redvale, Slick Rock
and Uravan.

Date elected:

June 2012 / Re-Elected June 2016 / Re-Elected June 2020

Offices held: None At Present
Occupations:
  • Lasting Impressions, Sales Representative, 1993 - present
  • Garvey Brothers Land & Cattle LLC, Executive Secretary, 1998 - present
  • Garvey Brother Outfitters, Partner, 1985 - 2012
  • The Apothecary Shoppe, Accounts Receivable, 1993 - 2010
  • Citizens State Bank, Teller, 1983 - 1988, part-time 2011 - present
  • Self Employed, Contract Services Collection of Bad Debts, 1996 - present
     

Why did you choose to run to the SMPA Board of Directors?:
I am committed to making the West End of Montrose County a better place to live. Live by the motto; be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:
I have lived in the community for 46 years. I am married with three grown children and two grandchildren.  I am very community committed, have served on the Chamber Board, School Board, School Accountability Board, and am currently chairman of the West End Accountability. I am also currently a member of the Spruce and Columbine Garden club and a mentor with One to One.

Kevin Cooney

Contact:

P.O. Box 4132
Telluride, CO 81435
303-875-0107
kevin.cooney@smpa.com

Territory:

Parts of San Miguel and Ouray Counties including most of the town
of Telluride.

Date elected:

Elected 4 Year Term June 2019.  Reelected in June, 2023

Offices held:

None At Present

Education:
  • M.S.C.E., Building Systems Engineering, University of Colorado
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Colorado
  • Advanced Management College, Executive Education Program,
    Stanford University
Occupations:
  • Managing Director and Global EE/DSM Leader, Navigant
    Consulting, 2010-2018
  • CEO, Summit Blue Consulting, 2004-2010
  • Vice President of Research, E Source, 1998-2003
  • Vice President/Product Development, Outdoor Footwear,
    Fila, 1996-1998
  • 1993-1995 Manager, Hagler Bailly Consulting, 1993-1995
  • Sr. Research Scientist/Engineer, Johnson Controls, 1988-1993

Why did you choose to run for the SMPA Board of Directors?
When the previous board representative retired, I decided I could bring my experience in the energy industry to the board and assist SMPA in making strategic decisions regarding how to best transition our power system to a cleaner, more resilient one. I’m a licensed engineer, and have worked on clean energy issues for over 30 years, consulting to utilities, regulators, and investors on policies, programs, and technology investments. My vision is we will have a regional power system that is supplied primarily by local, renewable sources, with tools to help optimize electricity consumption patterns. If we plan wisely, costs will go down for all members, reliability will improve, and emissions will be minimized.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:
I lived and worked in Telluride in the late 1970s, managing the local food coop and working as a carpenter. I was fortunate to return to the area a few years ago. I currently serve on local boards for EcoAction Partners and the Telluride Mountain Club. I also continue to serve on various energy industry boards and committees, including: Energy Evaluation Asia Pacific (EEAP) and the International Energy Program/Policy Evaluation Conference (IEPPEC)

Dave Alexander

Contact:

P.O. Box 45
Norwood, CO 81423
970-596-8895
davea@smpa.com

Territory:

Parts of Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Dolores and San Juan Counties
including Dunton, Norwood, Placerville, Rico and Sawpit.

Date elected:

June 2010 / Re-Elected June 2014 / Re-Elected June 2018 / Re-Elected June 2022

Offices held:

None At Present

Education: 

Norwood High School, Automotive School in Denver

Occupations:
  • Self-employed Rancher

 

Why did you choose to run for the SMPA Board of Directors?:
A very large portion of SMPA members were not being represented. My family was a member in the very beginning of SMPA and will continue to be one well into the future. I feel I need to help make good, common-sense decisions now, so my family won't have to pay for rushed concepts in the future.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work: 

  • Norwood School Board, 13 years
  • Farmer's Water Development, 6 years
Tobin Brown

Contact:

106 Aldasoro Rd.
Telluride, CO 81435
970-729-0456

toby.brown@smpa.com

Territory:

Parts of Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel Counties including Colona and
portions of Log Hill Village and Telluride. 

Date elected:

June 2020

Offices held:

None at present

Leadership
Experience:

Telluride R-1 School Board, San Miguel County

Occupation:

Telluride Real Estate Corp., Vice President and Broker Associate

 

In your opinion, what is the best way for SMPA to fulfill its mission of providing safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible electric service?
This is an exciting and dynamic time in the power industry.  We're swiftly moving away from fossil fuel sources toward rapidly improving renewable energy and storage technologies.  If SMPA is strategically positioned, we can benefit from this necessary and inevitable transition.  In doing so, we must also manage disruption to vulnerable members of our community.  I believe SMPA's mission calls for the co-op to lead our community boldly through this transition, and I believe if we do so, we can secure cleaner, more affordable, and equally reliable power for our members.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:
A real estate agent by trade, I also have a history of community leadership with the Telluride R-1 School Board and San Miguel County, among others.  Through these endeavors, I have exercised leadership and strategic planning skills in community-wide initiatives.  I am committed to helping shape the sustainable future of this region and believe SMPA will play a critical role in that mission.

Rube Felicelli

Contact:

P.O. Box 3223
Telluride, CO 81435
970-708-1406
rube@smpa.com

Territory:

Part of San Miguel County including Mountain Village and Ophir

Date elected:

June 2009/ Re-Elected June 2013/ Re-Elected June 2017 / Re-Elected June 2021

Offices held:
  • Mountain Village Town Council 1999-2007, Mayor 2007
  • Chairman of Mountain Village Open Space and Recreation
    Advisory Board
Education:

BA Political Science, Wheeling Jesuit University; graduate work
at West Virginia University

Occupations:
  • Realtor and Retail Sales Associate
  • Telluride Real Estate Corp. and Telluride Sports

 

Why did you choose to run to the SMPA Board of Directors? 
To represent our members and move towards renewable energy programs.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:

  • Board President for Telluride Council for Arts & Humanities
  • Board member for San Miguel Bicycle Alliance
  • Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
  • Mountainfilm and Telluride Film Festival volunteer
  • Telluride Jazz Festival volunteer
  • Announcer for Mountain Village Sunset Concert Series
Debbie Cokes

Contact:

25 Juniper Lane
Ridgway, CO 81432
970-417-6661
debbie@smpa.com

Territory:

Part of Ouray County including Ridgway and much of Log Hill Mesa.

Date elected:

June 2014, June 2018, June 2022

Offices held:

Board of Directors, Colorado Rural Electric Association

Education:

B.S., Civil/Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder

Occupations:

Business owner & entrepreneur - founded, owned, and sold multiple  businesses in water & environmental utility sector
 -Independent consulting on small business valuation and sale
 -Founded hemp business in Ouray County in 2016

Why did you choose to run to the SMPA Board of Directors? 
I want to continue to work as a team member to provide the SMPA membership reliability and resiliency in their electric service.  Change in the electric power industry is moving at a rapid pace never before experienced.  We must strive to collaborate with others and drive alignment.  This includes SMPA members, private sector innovators, neighboring co-ops, to name a few.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:

  • ROCC Clean Energy Committee
  • Ouray Trail Group, fundraiser/map sales
  • Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership, original Steering Committee
  • Second Chance Humane Society
Terry Rhoades

Contact:

P.O. Box 24
Silverton, CO 81433
970-387-5308
terryr@smpa.com

Territory:

Parts of Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan and San Miguel Counties
including Ouray and Silverton.

Date elected:

June 2013/ Re-Elected June 2017 / Re-Elected June 2021

Offices held:

San Juan County Commissioner 20 years; Housing Solutions for Southwest
Board of Directors 20 years; Safety Officer for Silverton Volunteer Fire
Dept. 22 years

Education:

Graduated from Silverton Public High School in 1973

Occupations:

Foreman for Maisel Excavation, Heavy Equipment Operator

 

Why did you choose to run to the SMPA Board of Directors? 
To do my best. To make sure everyone in SMPA co-op has the best price on electricity. And to make sure all linemen and other employees are in the safest environment possible.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:

  • Silverton Volunteer Fire Dept., Hardrockers Holiday Committee since 1978
Board District Map

Download a map of our current director districts.

Download the director district descriptions.