General Manager Ken Schlimgen will retire on July 1, following an incredible 41 years of service to Central Electric Cooperative and its members. It marks the end of a long and meaningful career built on relationships, steady leadership and a deep belief in the cooperative way of doing business.
Ken’s story with the cooperative started back in 1985, when he was hired as a Member Services Advisor at Intercounty Electric. At the time, the co-op had just installed a new load management system, and Ken’s job was to help maintain it, troubleshoot power quality issues and work with members to better understand their electric use.
Early on, he admits it was unusual to be part of an organization that actively encouraged people to use less of its product. But it didn’t take long for that to click. The cooperative model isn’t about selling more electricity; it’s about doing what’s right for the members. That co-op mentality stuck with Ken and shaped how he approached his work for the next four decades.
In 1990, he stepped into the role of Manager of Member Services. That meant taking on a wider range of responsibilities, from communications and marketing to community outreach. If you’ve been around Central Electric very long, chances are you’ve seen Ken at a district meeting, a safety demonstration or an event like Dakotafest. He made a point of showing up, listening and building relationships. Those connections became one of the most rewarding parts of his career.
He also helped create opportunities for members to learn more about where their power comes from. Over the years, Ken led more than 40 bus tours to Basin Electric Power Cooperative, giving members a firsthand look at power generation. He also facilitated trips to Washington, D.C., enabling students and employees to learn about leadership and public service while advocating for cooperative members.
One of the biggest moments during his early career came in 2000, when Intercounty Electric and Tri-County Electric merged to form Central Electric Cooperative. Ken played a key role in helping navigate that transition, keeping the focus on serving members and building a strong future.
In 2015, Ken was named General Manager. As he took on that leadership role, his goal was to leave the cooperative better than he found it. Over the past 11 years, that’s exactly what he’s worked to achieve.
One of his biggest priorities was getting everyone involved in shaping the co-op’s future. Ken worked closely with the board of directors and employees to make strategic planning an ongoing, team-driven process. That meant setting clear goals, updating policies and always looking for ways to improve.
That approach paid off. Central Electric has seen stronger power reliability and an impressive safety record, including nearly four years without a lost-time accident. Ken is quick to point out that those achievements belong to the entire team, from the crews in the field to the office staff behind the scenes.
Ken worked with leadership to develop a plan for replacing aging infrastructure across the eight-county service area, an investment that will help ensure reliable service for years to come.
Technology was another area of focus. During his time as general manager, the cooperative moved forward with updating the metering system, improving load management programs and adopting new tools like the NOVA Portal to better support distributed energy. These aren’t always the most visible changes, but they play a big role in keeping the co-op protected and prepared for the future.
Ken pushed for improvements to safeguard the co-op’s future, including the construction of new service centers in Wessington Springs and Howard.
Even with the responsibilities of being general manager, Ken never hesitated to jump in where he was needed. He spent plenty of time outside the office attending meetings, helping with events and even pitching in during storm restoration efforts. It wasn’t unusual to see him alongside line crews in his early days, doing whatever needed to be done to help get power restored for the membership.
Beyond the co-op, Ken has been a strong voice for rural electric cooperatives at the state and national level. He regularly participated in legislative events, including Co-op Day at the Capitol and the NRECA Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., ensuring the needs of cooperative members were represented.
He also encouraged others to get involved, working with the board to support employees attending legislative conferences. When issues came up that could impact cooperative service territory, Ken was right there, building relationships, having conversations and advocating for the members.
His leadership hasn’t just been felt within Central Electric. Over the years, Ken has taken on numerous roles in professional organizations, including serving as president of the East River Managers’ Advisory Council and the Rural Electric Economic Development Fund.
Closer to home, he’s been involved with the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee, United Way and Mitchell Technical College, to name a few. No matter the role, his focus has always been on strengthening the community.
That community-first mindset led to the creation of Central Electric’s Operation Round-Up program. Launched in 2015, the program allows members to round up their electric bills to support local projects. Since then, it has provided more than $250,000 in financial support to projects across the service area, creating a lasting impact that will continue well into the future.
Ken has also supported hands-on volunteer efforts, like helping organize a bed build for Sleep in Heavenly Peace to benefit children from the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, along with many other charitable initiatives.
Ask Ken what he’s most proud of, and he won’t point to a single project or accomplishment. He’ll talk about the people. The employees who show up day in and day out to serve our members, the board members who guide the co-op and the members who trust Central Electric to serve them.
Behind Ken’s 41-year career was a strong support system at home. He credits his wife, JoAnn, for her steady encouragement and the many sacrifices she made along the way. Together, Ken and JoAnn built a close-knit family, including a son Neil and his wife Shantel who have one child, and a daughter Kelli and her husband Kyle who have three children. As Ken enters retirement, he’s especially looking forward to spending more time with all of them and enjoying the moments that matter most.
It won’t be easy to step away after 41 years, but Ken leaves knowing the cooperative is in a stronger position, with a clear direction and a team committed to carrying that work forward.
Ken’s impact will be felt for years to come, not just in the systems and programs he helped build, but in the culture of service and teamwork he leaves behind.
Board President Duane Wolbrink said, “Ken is known far and wide in the electric co-op world, and his leadership will be missed. He is leaving the co-op in a very strong position for the next generation of leaders to take Central Electric into the future.”