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A board of directors made up of publicly-appointed and customer-elected representatives oversees District Energy activities. All District Energy board members are also members of our affiliate, District Cooling St. Paul. We feel fortunate to have so much talent on the boards of both our heating and cooling companies.
George Fremder, Chairperson
 George Fremder joined the board as a publicly appointed member in February 1999. Fremder is the retired second vice president, corporate services, at Securian Financial Group, the company he worked for his entire career. While at Securian, he provided top management leadership to 11 corporate support departments and was responsible for Securian's corporate property management. He brings to the board extensive human resource management knowledge and expertise in the areas of building design and construction. Active in numerous community organizations, Fremder's leisure time activities include youth soccer, fishing, golf, reading and travel.
Mark Rancone, Vice Chairperson, District Energy
 Mark Rancone is vice president of Roseville Properties Management Co., where he oversees the management of more than 3 million square feet of mixed-use commercial, industrial and residential real estate. Rancone represented the interests of our district cooling customers on the District Cooling board from 1993 to 2004 before moving to the District Energy board. Rancone sat on the board of Greater St. Paul BOMA for six years, was an original member of the Rice Park Committee and served on the Chamber's Light Rail, Business Development and Shepard Road Advisory committees. A former junior high school teacher, he likes to golf, fish and play hockey.
Patricia Wolf, Vice Chairperson, District Cooling
 District cooling customers elected Patricia Wolf to the District Cooling board in September 2005. Wolf has been actively involved in the commercial real estate industry in downtown St. Paul for 27 years, leasing and managing more than a dozen buildings during this time. She formed Commercial Real Estate Services Inc. in 1990 to help primarily local owners lease and manage their properties. Wolf is a past chair of Greater St. Paul BOMA and currently serves as the chair of BOMA Minnesota. She was on the St. Paul BOMA committee that reviewed and negotiated the service agreement for district cooling customers that is used today. Wolf is an active member of many real estate organizations and the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce.
Donovan Schwichtenberg, Secretary/Treasurer
 Donovan Schwichtenberg joined the board in March 2007 and represents the interests of District Energy's medium-size customers. He is the president of Saint Paul College — A Community & Technical College, which has set enrollment records for each of the last three years. Dr. Schwichtenberg is a graduate of Minnesota State University at Mankato, the University of Minnesota, Walden College and the University of St. Thomas. His skills in education and administration were developed while working in business, as a teacher and administrator with Minneapolis Public Schools and as head of the Minneapolis Technical College. He is an active member of St. Paul Rotary and his leisure time activities include youth basketball, raising horses, gardening, chess and beekeeping.
William Buth
 Representing the interests of District Energy's small-size customers since June 2007 is William Buth, retired president of the Saint Paul Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). Buth has had a close working relationship with District Energy for many years, having served as the first board secretary when the company was founded in 1979. During his 34 years as president of BOMA, Buth served on numerous boards and was a member of many City, County and State-appointed committees. He currently serves on a committee to select a new Saint Paul fire chief and on two Ramsey County committees associated with light-rail transit. Leisure time activities include boating on the St. Croix River and playing golf.
Tom Geskermann
 District Energy's largest customers elected Tom Geskermann to the board in September 2008. As vice president of operations for Regions Hospital/HealthPartners, Geskermann oversees several key areas, including behavioral health, human resources and facilities. He has more than 25 years of experience in the health care field. His community involvement includes the East Metro Adult Crisis Stabilization Program, a public/private partnership that provides community-based crisis assessment, intervention, stabilization, rapid access psychiatry and health care navigator services. In his leisure time, Geskermann enjoys boating, travel, hunting and fishing.
Harry Melander
 District Energy’s newest publicly-appointed board member is Harry Melander, executive secretary for the St. Paul Building and Construction Trades Council, an umbrella organization that represents carpenters, pipe fitters, electricians, bricklayers, sheet metal workers and others in the construction trades. Appointed to the board in 2008, Melander’s term will expire in September 2011. Melander has been a member of the local trade unions for 30 years and an advocate for energy independence since the ‘70s. To encourage more women and new immigrants to enter the building trades, he has been involved in several on-the-job training programs, including ServeMinnesota. His community involvement also includes membership in the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation, Twin City Housing Neighborhood Development, Washington County Board of Adjustment and Appeals and Saint Paul College. Melander’s leisure time interests include boating, building and volunteering.
James Pederson
 James Pederson is a seasoned board member. He was first elected to the board in 1989 when he was the Deputy Commissioner of Administration for the State of Minnesota. He left the board in 1993 but rejoined it in March 2008 to fill the unexpired term of another member. Pederson has a long and notable work history in government and public service spanning more than 30 years. For the past 15 years, he has worked part time as a consultant to the Minnesota Historical Society, specializing in legislative and government relations. In his leisure time he likes to read, search for antiques (especially antique cars), research genealogy and visit the Wisconsin family farm settled by Norwegian immigrants in the 1870s.
Directors Emeriti
Bernard St. Peter
 Bernard St. Peter was declared Director Emeritus of District Energy St. Paul in September 2005. The declaration recognized St. Peter's 19 years of leadership, guidance and dedication to the advancement of district energy services in and outside of St. Paul. It also recognized his lasting contributions as a board member, representing District Energy's medium-size customers since 1986, and his service as board chair.
Susan Sands
 Susan Sands was declared Director Emerita of District Energy St. Paul and its affiliate Ever-Green Energy in January 2007. The declaration recognized Sands' 13 years of dedicated service, leadership and outstanding contributions on the boards of both companies, including five years as District Energy's chairperson.
Barbara Lukermann
 Barbara Lukermann was declared Director Emerita of District Energy St. Paul and its affiliate Ever-Green Energy in March 2009. The declaration recognized Lukermann’s 27 years of outstanding dedication and service on the boards of both organizations, including six years as board chairperson of District Energy. Her leadership, commitment and strong belief in our mission helped us achieve many successes that benefited our customers, Saint Paul and the environment, and encouraged us to strive for even higher standards. Barbara passed away March 2009.
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