Back to Blog

Mark Madsen Appointed to OPALCO Board to Fill Vacancy

The Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) Board of Directors has appointed Mark Madsen of Friday Harbor to fill the District 1 board position vacated by Glenna Hall. Hall stepped down due to health issues in September. Madsen will have the option to run for election as an incumbent in 2017.

“Mark’s expertise in the technology industry and his track record of community service are great assets to the Board,” said Jim Lett, OPALCO Board President. “We had two strong candidates to fill this vacancy – it was a tough decision – and we are very pleased to have Mark join us.”

Madsen brings strong experience in business operations and network engineering for the high-tech industry. He currently serves the community through the San Juan Library District, San Juan County Economic Development Council and the Town of Friday Harbor’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Madsen earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Washington and a Masters in Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Cooperative is governed by its member-owners who elect a seven-member Board of Directors. There are four districts represented, and Directors must be members in the districts they serve. Elections are held by district on a rotating basis each year at the annual meeting. Directors serve a three-year term and there are no term limits. Vacancies, after a call for candidates is published in local papers and online, are filled by board appointment. Read more online about the Election Process for Directors.

Board meetings are held monthly and are open to co-op members. Notices of each meeting are posted in the local papers and in the OPALCO online calendar.

You may also like...

chat ev jamboree

OPALCO Hosts Leadership Chats

In July the OPALCO leadership team hosted an open house with co-op members. About 20 islanders gathered with some of the OPALCO board and leadership team to discuss a wide … Read more
solar shed

Quick Fact: Rooftop Solar and Our Local Energy Future

Rooftop Solar and Our Local Energy Future Washington State is pushing hard to remove carbon emissions from our daily lives — retiring coal plants and electrifying heating and transportation, including … Read more
youth 2026

OPALCO Students Earn Scholarships and Leadership Recognition Through the Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship Program

In early July, Six San Juan County students proudly represented Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO) at the 2026 Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association (ICUA) Youth Rally as part of the … Read more