Team

Lyle retired from Northeast Iowa Community College's Computer Information Systems Director position in 2010 and from organic farming in 2017. He and his wife Susan live in Decorah. In addition to serving on the Winneshiek Energy District Board since 2014, his Board experience includes 12 years on the South Winneshiek Community School Board, 6 years on the Calmar Lutheran Church Council, 6 years on the Oneota Community Food Co-op Board, 6 years on the Board of the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust, and as Assistant Winneshiek County Soil & Water Conservation Commissioner or 40 years. Lyle and Susan do volunteer tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, sponsored locally by NE Iowa RSVP and Iowa State Extension.

In recent years, while living on Lyle's family farm, the Luzums installed geothermal and solar to reduce their energy use and carbon footprint. They donated their farm in 2017 to the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust. They installed solar on their Decorah home, which largely powers their home and electric vehicle.

Susan grew up in Oakland, California as the youngest in a family with 3 older brothers. She earned a B.S. in Surveying and Photogrammetry at Fresno State University and began working for Alameda County as a surveyor in the road and flood control department. Susan’s family relocated to Iowa where my husband went to seminary and then became the executive director of Camp Ewalu. After a few years, Susan returned to work in the Operations Department of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative. She completed her time at the Co-op as Supervising Engineer where she learned a lot about local energy distribution. “My interest in Winneshiek Energy District comes from a belief that we have a moral obligation to care for and respect our Natural Resources. While my initial interest in protecting the earth came from my faith background, a carbon footprint calculator through the Iowa Faith and Climate Care network revealed that despite our best intentions, we had a lot of work ahead of us! This began a journey to put our beliefs to practice. When we moved to Decorah, Winneshiek Energy District helped provide the expertise to for us turn our sustainability goals into action. We learned firsthand the value of this organization. I look forward to being on the board of Winneshiek Energy District and to work alongside such a knowledgeable and energetic group of people.”

Mike is Vice President at Decorah Bank & Trust. He has been financing solar and renewable energy projects both locally and across the Midwest since 2015, including Power Purchase Agreement, Community Solar Garden, and C&I projects. Mike lives in Decorah with his wife Carol and children Nora, Emily, and Sam.

Wendy was a member of the Luther College Biology department for 42 years. Since her retirement in 2013, she has enjoyed more involvement with community organizations. Wendy is currently the chair fo the Winneshiek County Zoning Commission, enjoys helping folks complete their income tax returns as a Tax Aide for RSVP, volunteers weekly at the Oneota Food Co-op and is actively involved with Oneota Weavers Guild. As a member of the county's zoning commission, she was fortunate to be able to contribute to the Winneshiek County Comprehensive Smart PLan and to the current Winneshiek County Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations.

Kyra Bellrichard, a resident of Decorah, is Program Manager Lead for the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions team. She joined the Winneshiek Energy District (WED) board in March of 2015. However, Kyra’s relationship with WED began four years earlier when she started her career at NICC coordinating energy efficiency and renewable energy training programs with the Department of Labor ‘Green’ Grant, as well as the State of Iowa Energy Sector Partnership Grant. Both grants supported WED efforts with equipment and training, and trained many other area professionals. Kyra also manages Career Pathway Certificate programs and Trades & Industry Continuing Education classes at NICC. Outside of the college you will often find Kyra throwing pottery in her home studio or helping others experience the art of clay as a volunteer Studio Assistant at The Clay Studio.

Freeda Brook is a resident of Winneshiek County and originally hails from southeast Iowa. She works remotely as the Director of Data for the News Literacy Project, where she uses data to increase the organization’s impact and reach. Prior to that, she had a 10-year career in academic librarianship, including working for six years at Luther College, where she taught students information literacy, oversaw library collections, managed acquisition budgets and conducted scholarship in feminist leadership and anti-racist practices in library work. Freeda holds a master’s degree in library and information science from the Information School at the University of Washington and a master’s in public administration from the Evans School of Public Affairs, also at the University of Washington. She graduated with honors from Grinnell College with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Laura has taught in the environmental studies program at Luther College since 2008. Her courses address topics in earth history, climate science, and energy resources. She is interested in the community benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency, and has assisted Luther College in its efforts to achieve institutional carbon neutrality through her position on the college's Energy and Water Task Group. She lives in an all-electric home in Decorah with her husband, three children, and seven backyard chickens.

Steve is a recently retired public school teacher. Most recently, Steve worked as a 5th-grade science teacher at Decorah Middle School. Prior to that, he taught all subjects and grades from kindergarten through 5th grade.

He has a MAE in Literacy education (UNI) and, before he began teaching in public schools (which he began at age 41) he completed graduate coursework beyond the MA stage in US history. During that time, he taught community college writing, history, and government courses at various community colleges in the Upper Great Lakes region as well as numerous writing and history classes at the University of Minnesota. He cooked in restaurants, organized labor unions, and did other odd jobs to supplement these adjunct gigs.

He has a long-term interest in the clean energy transition and has board experience with the Oneota Community Food Coop in Decorah.