Lee Lehrer, who has served on the Board of Directors for Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative since 2008, has retired from the board.
When Lehrer became a CWEC Director in 2008, he was appointed to the board to fill a vacant seat, but his interest of serving on the board predated that appointment. In 2007, Lehrer ran for the director at large position on the board, but was defeated. Looking back at that election, Lehrer said it was a blessing that he didn’t win.
“It was really kind of fortunate that I lost only because that year was hell for me, I had cancer, and I didn’t realize it at the time,” Lehrer said.
Lehrer said his original interest for seeking a seat on the board was his experience working for a municipal utility.
“The utility business was in my blood. I retired from a utility,” Lehrer said.
Once he was appointed to the board he said he realized he had a lot to learn, but each board member at the time took him “under their wings” and helped guide him through everything he had to learn. He added that during his time on the board, he not only became friends with the board members, but also with people throughout the entire state of Wisconsin.
Lehrer said he has reached the age where he feels now is the time for him to retire.
“I thought it was time for somebody younger to take over,” Lehrer said.
But he admitted that it was a difficult decision for him.
“I’m going to miss the board members,” he said. “I’m going to miss the utility business. Like I said, it’s in my blood.”
While on the board, Lehrer said one of the most challenging decisions the board had to make was the decision to build the current CWEC headquarters.
“I was on the board when this was first talked about, and all of sudden we started really getting serious about it,” Lehrer said. “It was a big decision to spend the money for this building. That was probably the biggest challenge.”
When asked what he will miss the most about serving on the board, he said the camaraderie with the other board members.
“It’s been a good run, it really has,” Lehrer said.