Never A Dull Moment

Story and photos by Craig Reed

Debi Wilson describes her career at Lane Electric Cooperative as “never a dull moment.”

But then she adds she would have liked one.

Debi announced her retirement in November after a 26-year career at the cooperative. She has been the general manager for the past 5 years.

“No disasters in my final months is my wish,” she says, hoping for some dull moments.

Debi says highlights in her time as general manager have been snowstorms, ice storms, and wildfires. There was also COVID-19 shortly after she accepted the general manager position in 2019.

“Through most of my career, there has been a major winter storm about every other year,” Debi says. “When those events happen, something almost magical happens. The staff comes together in a unique way to serve the members and get the power restored.

“These last 5 years have been filled with all kinds of challenges, but the co-op staff’s response has been outstanding.”

Lane Electric Cooperative has 45 employees who monitor and maintain about 13,000 electric meters across about 2,600 square miles.

“Debi took the reins of Lane Electric just prior to Snowmageddon (in 2019) and was able to lead the cooperative through our first FEMA event,” says Susan Knudsen Obermeyer who was the co-op’s board president during Debi’s GM time until last July. “It was followed by several more events including COVID and wildfires. Her passion for Lane Electric and its members has always been her driving force. Debi has given her all for 26 years. It was a pleasure to work with her.”

Kris Martes, the board’s current president, says she has seen firsthand Debi’s dedication and devotion to the cooperative.

“I think it is important to recognize the amazing challenges Debi overcame to keep Lane Electric moving forward these past years,” Kris says. “As the general manager, she has been at the forefront of dealing with some of the most trying times. She led Lane Electric through the devastations of the 2020 fires and then in 2024, the worst ice storm to hit Lane County. Debi made sure the cooperative responded and restored the system as quickly and as safely as possible.”

Board member Chris Seubert agrees Debi has been the co-op’s go-to person during the storms and fires that resulted in power outages.

“She’s been the person who has been there and done the callouts and the follow-ups,” Chris says. “She’s been there 100%. She’s had a commitment to the co-op.”

Debi’s commitment to Lane Electric began in 1998 after working 10 years for a CPA firm in Eugene. She graduated from Bend Senior High School and attended the University of Oregon, earning a degree in accounting. When Debi saw the co-op was advertising for an accounting position, she thought it looked “extremely interesting.” She recalls that she was ready for a change and wanted to use her skills to benefit 1 business.

Debi worked through several positions at the co-op—controller, finance and administration manager—before accepting the general manager job. When Debi was hired, Ron Schwada was the finance and administration manager. He included Debi in managerial decisions and potential business opportunities and introduced her to other aspects of the co-op.

Then-General Manager Rick Crinklaw also gave Debi opportunities to learn more about the co-op beyond her own job duties. She was included in board meetings and in the planning for future projects.

“A co-op needs engineering, linemen, energy services, office staff—all are needed to serve the members,” Debi says. “I worked with a lot of people who basically told me what they did. Rick set a great example to follow.”

In recent years, Debi has been on the board of directors of the Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative and Lane Electric’s representative on the Public Power Council and the Northwest Public Power Association. Lane Electric is a member of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, an organization that has given Debi additional contacts for discussions on co-op issues.

“It’s nice to have those people to reach out to, particularly when it comes to advocacy,” she says.

During her co-op career, Debi is credited with obtaining several disaster recovery grants and funding following the major outage events to help with expenses, rebuild infrastructure, put lines underground rather than overhead, install overhead insulated wire, and develop wildfire mitigation plans. Placing fire retardant wraps around wooden power poles is scheduled for the near future.

Kris says Debi had the foresight to submit applications and secure millions of dollars in FEMA and grant funding for fire mitigation and infrastructure improvements.

“Debi recognized the importance of securing and developing a long-range plan for technological advancements needed to replace an aging metering system,” Kris says.

“My recommendation to the staff is to keep applying for those grants,” Debi says. “Do what you can to get that funding.”

Debi also credits her team and board for continually working to improve the cooperative.

“I do get to work with great people every day,” she says. “Working together to advance the co-op is fun. We have a lot of younger people here now, and that’s the future of Lane Electric.”

Kris says Debi made safety a priority for the co-op’s employees.

“I cannot thank Debi enough for her dedication and devotion to Lane Electric Cooperative,” she says.

The co-op board has hired a national firm to conduct a search for a replacement for the general manager position.

Once Debi retires, she plans to travel and visit her sister, who lives in Mozambique, Africa. The sisters plan to visit Norway, the homeland of their grandfather, before he immigrates to the United States.

“I’ll be able to enjoy winter and summer without being concerned about whether the power is staying on,” Debi says. “But my heart will always be here.”