Getting to know Basin Electric's sixth general manager and CEO

Todd Telesz joined Basin Electric on Sept, 1, 2021, making him the cooperative’s sixth-ever CEO & general manager. We asked him a few questions so we can get to know Basin Electric’s newest leader.

WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO GROW UP TO BE?

I spent a lot of time with my grandfather growing up. He had a small farm, about 40 acres, where we always had a couple of beef cattle we were raising. I actually didn’t have store-bought meat until I went to college. We always had horses or ponies as well, and that influenced me because I wanted to be a horse trainer or horse breeder growing up.

YOU GREW UP THE SON OF A UNION DAD. HOW HAS THAT SHAPED YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF CO-OPS AND ELECTRICAL WORKERS?

If I think about the union aspect and the electrical side of things, it was probably the fact that when people come together, they can have an increased amount of power, leverage, and influence overall on their lives and outsized impact on their colleagues, company, and community. That’s no different from what we do as a cooperative community.

My dad recognized the value of hard work and showing up every day. He had a blue collar job and I think a lot of days were déjà vu for him, but he did it and never complained. Growing up, his normal shift was 6 a.m.-2 p.m., but some days he’d go in at 4 a.m. so he could get off at noon and attend one of my ball games. Over the course of nine years, he never missed a game. That streak continued as a grandfather as he and my mom were at the vast majority of my kids’ sporting and school events. My mother was similar in her role as a registered nurse in the operating room. That work ethic and devotion to family was hugely influential in how I try to live my life.

I think it is disappointing and unfortunate when people forget where they are from. My parents helped me learn not to get too big for my britches. Job position shouldn’t matter a whole lot; it’s how you treat people and how hard you work. That’s just who I am, and I’m honestly proud of where I came from. It’s foundational to who I am.

Read more in the story, Talking with Todd Telesz, in the fall issue of Basin Today.