Tomah Chamber & Visitors Center Newsletter January Newsletter 2020 | Page 4

News About Town, cont’d
Tackmann named new Oakdale Electric GM
[Oakdale, Wis.] – Oakdale Electric
Cooperative (OEC) appointed Chris
Tackmann the cooperative’s new general
manager effective January 13, 2020.
Board Chairman Rick Barrett made the
announcement during an all-employee
meeting on Monday, December 9. Chris
comes to Oakdale Electric Cooperative
from Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services in
Ellsworth, Wisconsin.
After Bruce Ardelt announced his intention to
retire in January 2020, the board of directors started their search by selecting
NRECA Executive Search to recruit, vet and interview qualified candidates.
“The fact that we had so many qualified applicants speaks to the employees
who have made Oakdale Electric Cooperative the outstanding organization it
is today,” said Barrett. “We are confident Chris can lead this organization into
the future.”
changing, and Oakdale Electric is positioned very well to meet these changes.
I am excited to work with our board of directors and staff to ensure that we
continue to meet the needs of the membership well into the future. My family
and I are eager to become part of the community. “
Tackmann holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and
Management Information Systems from University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of
Wisconsin-River Falls. 
Tackmann will become only the fifth general manager in Oakdale Electric
Cooperative’s 85-year history. He will succeed Bruce Ardelt, who was
appointed general manager in 2000, after working 10 years as OEC’s
manager of finance and administration, and 10 years at Adams-Columbia
Electric Cooperative in Friendship, Wisconsin.
Tackmann reflected on his future with Oakdale Electric saying, “I am grateful
to the board of directors for giving me this opportunity. The electric industry is
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