Board of Directors

District 1 - Serving Elsie, Jewell, & Necanicum

Brian Baker brings many years of business experience to the West Oregon Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. He has served in the Navy, worked as a logger, worked for Crown Zellerbach as a process and systems technician at development saw mills, served for 20 years as a field representative and electrical engineer for the Lamb Grays Harbor Co, and is currently the Director of Sales & Service for Legacy Automation Inc.

Brian and his wife, Suzie, own and operate the Bakers General Store in Elsie, Oregon.

Brian wants to use his experience to help optimize the Co-op. He stated, “I believe we can balance a well funded and well maintained organization with attention paid to a sustainable budget. I feel this is an opportunity to help see WOEC into the future for my children, grandchildren, my neighbors and the members of the Co-op.”

Brian has lived in Jewell since 1968, put his children through Jewell schools, served on the Jewell School Board, and now has a third generation of his family living in Jewell.

District 2 - Serving Apiary, Mist, & Birkenfeld

A life-long Columbia County resident, Robert VanNatta has served on the West Oregon board since 1986. His leadership abilities and commitment to keeping current on industry issues has served him well as board president. Mr. VanNatta also serves as the co-op's representative on the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association (ORECA) board of directors where he is presently Chairman of the board. Mr. VanNatta is chairman of the board of Lightspeed Networks which is committed to providing highspeed telecommunications service throughout the State of Oregon. West Oregon is a part owner of that company.

A lawyer with a practice in St. Helens, Robert also operates an award-winning tree farm with other family members. He lives near Apiary with his wife Lois and has four daughters.

District 3 - Serving Vernonia & Keasey

Randy Aultman retired from a distinguished career in education in 2002, with his most recent assignment as principal of Vernonia's Washington Grade School. Randy continues to occasionally work as an educator through substitute teaching. Aultman earned his bachelor's degree in education from Southern Oregon College, and earned a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Oregon.

Randy became a West Oregon director in 2002, and serves on the budget committee. His role at West Oregon Electric is not his first at an electric cooperative. Aultman worked at Roseburg's Douglas Electric Cooperative part-time on their tree trimming crew from 1969-1973. A long-time Vernonia resident, Randy and his wife Nancy have 3 children.

District 4 - Serving Vernonia

Joe Riley was appointed to the West Oregon Electric in 1994 representing District 3. A change in residency outside that district caused him to resign his position. Joe returned to the board in 2003 representing District 4.

A long-time Vernonia resident and former small-business operator, Riley recently retired from Kinder-Morgan Energy Partners, where he worked as a lead maintenance technician for Oregon Operations. He currently works as an Inspection and Construction Manager for MBF Inspections.

Joe is an active and well-respected member of the community, having served as president of the Vernonia Jaycees and on the Columbia County Economic Commission.

District 5 - Serving Buxton & Timber

Bob Paleck's 34 years service in the Navy provided him with the knowledge and experience to be an asset to our board of directors. He has a BS (Physics) from the University of Washington with a broad range of technical and management skills particularly in the electronics and nuclear fields. Now retired and living a few miles south of Vernonia, he and his wife Erika thrive in the NW Oregon Coast Range. Bob's biggest concern is our sustainability. He feels we can't defer difficult responsibilities and necessary expenses to future generations, but also knows we can't afford to do everything that we want either. Quality of life for our future generations and desiring to insure his grandkids can afford to choose to live in this area is what motivated Bob to join the WOEC board of Directors.

Bob serves as the Secretary/Treasurer and is on the Budget committee.

District 6 - Serving Scappoose & Chapman

Dixie London is an example of the way in which a cooperative works - members that look for a way to serve other members. Several years ago Dixie was part of a group from the Chapman area that had many concerns about the co-op. In her own words: "I had complained so much that I figured I should stop complaining and try to do something helpful." She was appointed to the Board of Directors in 1993, and currently serves as a member of the budget committee.

Dixie and husband Don have lived in the Chapman area since 1989. She is now happily retired and pursuing the many "someday" projects she has waiting. Her previous work experience includes stints in various management capacities in municipal and circuit courts; and in the aviation, social services and hospitality industries.

District 7 - Serving Manning, Hagg Lake, & Yamhill Co.

David Hess' desire to help provide a critical service to neighbors and friends led him to apply for the director position as the result of a vacancy in 1994. David holds a BA degree in Chemistry from Idaho State University and a Ph.D. in Physiology from the Oregon Health Science University (OHSU). He is an Emeritus Professor at the Oregon National Primate Research Center at OHSU. He is a emeritus member of the Society for the Study of Reproduction and the American Society of Primatologists. Dr. Hess lives with his wife Joi in the Banks area and is the father of three with 10 grandchildren.

David is currently the Vice President of the board and serves on the labor subcommittee.

Follow us on

February 3rd - We have a planned outage to do line repair in the Hwy 26 area by Elderberry Inn. It includes Bear Rd, Elsie Deer Lane, and Loyd Lane. 9 -3
February 3rd - Remember to shop for Energy Efficiency appliances. We have rebates for EE Clothes washers and water heaters for qualifying models.
February 3rd - Remember to check your emergency supplies. Make sure you have extra food and supplies on hand in case of outages. Keep Safe!