News > Leadership Message – June 2025

Leadership Message – June 2025

Cooperative Attorney Retires After 25 years

Your Stearns Electric Association Board of Directors is responsible for a few key things: hiring the Co-op’s CEO, approving the annual budget, ensuring the Co-op remains financially stable and focused on its mission, enforcing Cooperative policies and hiring Stearns Electric Association’s legal counsel.

After serving for nearly 25 years as the Cooperative’s attorney and legal counsel, Mr. Scott Dymoke of Dymoke Law Office (which merged with Revermann Lund Ross last year) announced he will retire at the end of June.

Through his tenure, Mr. Dymoke has guided the Cooperative through numerous changes and large projects. I recently sat down with Scott to learn more about his experience.

Q: What initially drew you to this role?
A: I joined Meyer Law Office in 1998, where Mark Meyer (and his brother Bill Meyer before him) had already served as the Co-op’s attorney for many years. I previously worked with another Minnesota electric cooperative before coming to Melrose. At first, I worked with Mark on Stearns Electric projects before eventually becoming the primary attorney for the Co-op.

Q: What are some of the most memorable projects during your tenure?
A: There have been several. The growth of participation in economic development projects, building the new St. Joseph Branch office, and now the Melrose Operations Center and Headquarters office, too, the incorporation of computer technology in all its operations – it’s been a very dynamic time for the Co-op.

Q: What will you miss most about working with the Cooperative?
A: The Co-op has had outstanding Boards and staff during my tenure. I’ve learned more from working with the Board and staff than I could hope to contribute in return. When you get the chance to work with smart, capable people, it makes you better. I’ll miss the challenge they brought me to keep improving my skills.

Q: What are you most looking forward to in retirement?
A: The legal profession is very consuming. Missing events and not seeing friends and family as much as you’d like to comes with the job. For now, I hope to get back in touch with some of the people that have been neglected. Scott wrapped up our meeting with this to say:

“Thank you, all, for the opportunity to serve Stearns Electric all these years. It’s been a privilege.”

What is the role of the Cooperative’s Legal Counsel?

Stearns Electric relies on its legal counsel for many items, including the following:

• Overseeing our annual Director election and Annual Meeting, including the Director Candidate Briefing, ballot collection and serving as Annual Meeting parliamentarian
• Conducting Board of Director fiduciary training
• Attending monthly Board meetings
• Facilities risk management and compliance
• Addressing membership questions surrounding Capital Credits

After Scott’s retirement announcement, the Board began actively searching for his replacement. The Board has selected Claudia M. Revermann with Revermann Lund Ross as the Cooperative’s Attorney beginning in July.

On behalf of all the Board of Directors and Stearns Electric staff, we thank you, Scott, for your expertise, guidance and commitment to Stearns Electric over the years. We wish you a long, happy retirement.

Sincerely,

Eric Peterson
Board President