Randy Cornelius, General Manager
Cornelius joined OPALCO in August 2002. For seven years previously, he was the Electric Utility Director of the City of Sitka Electric Department. Randy has more than 30 years experience in the electric utility business, starting as lineman. In 1993, he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from Oregon State University. While in Sitka, Cornelius was active in civic life and earned an Award for Excellence in 2001 as a member of the Sitka Chamber of Commerce. Cornelius is currently an executive board member for the Northwest Requirement Utilities (NRU), a board member of Northwest Public Power Administration (NWPPA) and is a member of Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association (WRECA), the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and Northwest River Partners.
A skilled negotiator for both labor and management, Cornelius also has a strong background in public relations. He has testified before the State Legislature and the U.S. Congress on electric utility issues. An associate from Petersburg, Alaska, had this to say: “Randy has the ability to bring people from all sides of the spectrum together and find common ground . . . he works well with people, is a listener, and is well respected in his field of work. “
Randy and his wife, Dottie, live on Orcas Island. The couple has two grown children.
Phone: (360) 376-3512
J. Foster Hildreth, Assistant General Manager, Manager of Finance and Member Services
Hildreth has an extensive background in real estate finance, construction and development. Before settling with his wife and two children on Orcas in 2006, Hildreth was the Project Manager for the City of Pasadena’s seismic retrofit and rehabilitation of the 1927 historic City Hall Building. He developed significant real estate projects for the Disney Development Company, Robert Mayer Corporation and started his own construction firm. Hildreth earned his Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Finance and Masters in Business Administration in Finance at the University of Southern California.
Phone: (360) 376-3513
Beth Anderson, Manager of Technical Services, Energy Services and Island Network
Anderson joined OPALCO in 1985 as a part-time Member Services Representative. During her 23-year tenure she has worked in the Member Services, Energy Management, and Technical Services departments. She has served as project manager for a variety of new programs within OPALCO, including the fiber optic project in which she oversaw the planning, installation, and termination of a fiber system between the islands and to the mainland. Anderson currently is the Manager of Island Network/Technical Services, where she administers the Island Network division, the marketing arm of fiber optic services, and the Technical Services department which supports OPALCO internal communications, hardware/software systems, and networking services. Anderson has made her home on San Juan Island for 30 years, and enjoys spending time with her husband, six children and five grandchildren.
Phone: (360) 376-3528
Mark Tilstra, Manager of Engineering
Tilstra came to OPALCO in 1990 after 13 years with another cooperative in Eastern Washington. After earning a degree in Forestry he entered the utility field as a draftsman, soon being promoted to a designer, field engineer, system engineer and now working as Engineering Manager. In his 32 years in the business he has worked on numerous transmission, distribution, substation and submarine cable projects. He and his wife, Kathy, finished raising their six children on Orcas, are very involved in theocratic activities and currently enjoy three grandchildren.
Phone: (360) 376-3531
Todd Shaner, Manager of Operations
After completing his BA in Biology at Whitman College, Shaner began his career at OPALCO in 1980 on the right-of-way crew. In 1983 he began the Apprentice Lineman program and in 1987 was promoted to Journeyman Lineman. He served as Foreman and was promoted to Manager of Operations. Shaner and his wife raised four children (now grown) on Orcas Island and enjoy spending time with their first granddaughter.
Phone: (360) 376-3533