Powder River Energy has ten Directors, two from each of the five Wyoming counties we serve – Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan and Weston.
Powder River Energy Corporation is a co-op – which means it is owned by all the members. The board is elected by the members and the board makes big decisions. Members need to communicate their opinions, concerns, and questions to them as we all work together to build our communities for the future.
JIM PURDY
President | Johnson County
Buffalo area rancher James “Jim” Purdy was born and raised in Johnson County and has been involved with the family ranch southwest of Buffalo and other businesses for 50 years. He currently serves as a member of several corporations and partnerships associated with the ranching operation along with several commercial and industrial real estate operations.
His term expires in 2025.
He is a member of the Johnson County Airport Board, serving as Vice Chairman, and a member of the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association, National Cattlemen's Beef Association and serves as Director Emeritus of the American Quarter Horse Association.
He also supports local youth organizations and volunteers his aircraft and pilot services to military service men and women.
PHILIP HABECK
Vice-President | Crook County
Philip Habeck was born in Deadwood, South Dakota, but has lived most of his life in Crook County.
He is a graduate of Moorcroft High School and the University of Wyoming.
Philip and his wife, Jeanne, own and operate a ranch north of Moorcroft where they use electricity in homes, barns, a shop and numerous stock wells.
His current term expires in 2026.
GERRY GEIS
Secretary/Treasurer | Campbell County
Gerry Geis is a rancher raising cattle and sheep in a family partnership. Geis is also a business owner near Gillette. He and his wife Gwen have three grown children and eight grandchildren.
He has been a member of PRECorp since 1998, and his family has been PRECorp members since the 1950s.
He was elected to the PRECorp Board of Directors in 2013 and his current term expires in 2025. Geis' goals on the board are to "...be a member of a proactive board that strives to stay ahead of a constantly changing electrical system...," and to "...represent all of the members of PRECorp, not just the people in my area and county."
CLAY BRANSCOM
Weston County
Clay Branscom of Osage is serving his first term on the PRECorp Board of Directors. The Weston County native and Osage-area rancher has been a member since 1984 with two residences and multiple ranch stock wells in services.
The Newcastle High School graduate is also a certified welder. He has two grown daughters and three grandchildren.
Branscom, who currently serves on the Weston County Weed and Pest Board. His term expires in 2026.
PAUL BAKER II
Crook County
Paul Baker II was born in Gillette and has lived in Moorcroft all of his life. He has a BS Degree in Finance from the University of Wyoming.
He ranches south of Moorcroft and his family has been members of the electric cooperative since its incorporation. Paul and his wife Kelli have three children: Jace, Jami and Ryan.
Powder River Energy serves their residence, ranch house, and nine stock wells.
Paul represents Powder River Energy on the Members 1st Power Cooperative and Basin Electric Board of Directors. His current term expires in 2027.
MIKE LOHSE
Johnson County
Mike Lohse, Kaycee, is a lifelong Johnson County rancher and has been a PRECorp member since 1991. He is a Kaycee High School graduate who later studied at junior colleges in Powell and Casper.
The cooperative provides power to his home, barns and two livestock water wells. One of the wells also produces water for a pipeline.
He and wife Connie run a cow/calf yearling operation. They have two grown sons. His current term expires in 2027.
TYLER PIRTZ
Campbell County
Campbell County rancher and Bitcoin miner Tyler Pirtz was appointed to the vacant Campbell County seat on the Powder River Energy Board of Directors in September 2024. Pirtz will fill out the remainder of a three-year term which expires in August 2026.
He has an Associate Degree in Process Plant Management. He is the site operations manager on a bitcoin mining data center in Campbell County. He and his fiancée Toni Swartz run a small cattle herd on the Swartz Ranch in northern Campbell County with their three children.
JIM BAUMGARTNER
Sheridan County
Jim Baumgartner, Ucross, has been a member of Powder River Energy since 1985 and is a graduate of Arvada-Clearmont High School.
PRECorp serves Jim’s residence and shop where Jim is a self-employed excavation contractor.
Jim spends personal time with family, church, friends, and a variety of outdoor activities in all seasons.
He was elected to the PRECorp Board in August 2015. His current term expires in 2027.
MIKE HELVEY
Sheridan County
Lifelong area resident Mike Helvey, Sheridan, has lived in northern Wyoming and southern Montana and has ranching interests in both states.
He has college degrees in Business from Sheridan College and Montana State University – Billings. He is the president of the Interstate Ditch Company and is a rancher and an airplane pilot.
His term expires in 2026. Mike's goal while on the Board is to "...strive to provide dependable, safe, economical power to our members and to protect members' private information."
TY MILLER
Weston County
Tyrel Miller of Newcastle, has a ranch and residential service with PRECorp for the past 10 years. He was elected to a three-year term on the PRECorp Board of Directors in 2022, representing Weston County.
Miller has a Bachelor's Degree from Chadron State College (Neb.) in Industrial Technology and Information Management. He is a full-time rancher and a sales and management consultant for Angus Genetics.
Miller is also a member of the Weston County School District #7 Board of Trustees, and a Kalif Shriner. Miller's focus on the PRECorp Board is to "promote and maintain affordable energy for the communities PRECorp serves."
His term expires in 2025.