Heartland REMC 2025 Annual Meeting

Heartland REMC’s Annual Meeting is changing to better serve our members. This year, instead of our traditional picnic-style meeting, we are offering a more straightforward, convenient format. Members can vote in the board of directors’ election at our offices and watch a recording of the business meeting and scholarship drawing on our website.   

How to Vote

Member participation is essential in electing our board of directors as a cooperative. To make voting easy, members can visit any Heartland REMC office during business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) from May 12 to June 26 to cast their ballots. When you register and vote, you will receive a $15 bill credit on your July statement as a thank you for participating.

Office Locations:

4563 E Markle Road in Markle

350 Wedcor Avenue in Wabash

Scholarship Drawing & Business Meeting Live Stream

For the first time this year, we will record our business meeting, and members will be able to view the recording on June 27th on the Heartland REMC website.  This meeting will include updates from our leadership team, board election results, and important information about the future of Heartland REMC.

Heartland REMC is proud to support local students through our college scholarship program each year. We will continue this tradition by awarding twenty $500 scholarships to eligible full-time college students. On June 27th, a recording of the scholarship drawing and a list of winners will be available on our website.   To apply for a scholarship, click HERE.

To read Colt Burnau’s CEO Report, click HERE.

To read Doug Wilcox’s Board President Report, click HERE.


District 1 Candidate:

Jason Dawes - Incumbent

Dawes is a longtime resident of Wabash Indiana who has been an REMC member individually for 9 years, and has received services from REMC his entire life through his multigenerational family farm.  He is currently an insurance agent, vice president, and co-owner of the Thorne Insurance Agency.  During his 18 years with Thorne he not only sets the vision and direction of the company but is also responsible for working with their team to accomplish the goals set and grow the 97 year old independent agency. 

Jason is a graduate of Northfield High School and attended Huntington University and Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne.  He is married to Brittny and they have 4 children from 8 to 15 years old. 

Outside of managing the insurance agency, serving as Secretary of the board for Heartland REMC, and being on the board of directors for Youth for Christ Northern Indiana, you will find Jason following his kids to their next event or helping coach youth sports teams. 

 I plan to continue being fiscally responsible as we expand with increased power & fiber demand while collectively working with the board to protect members’ assets and interests. Obtaining my cooperative board of directors credentials and working with other nonprofit entities has prepared me to work with and for the members of District 1.

 

District 4 Candidates:

 

Laura Cole - Incumbent

Laura Cole has lived in Wabash County since 2004. She has been on REMC lines for twenty-one years in the Urbana and Lagro areas. Laura and her husband, Robert, have raised three daughters and now have three grandchildren and one on the way.

 She graduated from Oak Hill High School and attended Ball State University. Cole is retired and enjoys devoting time to family, church, and friends. 

 Mrs. Cole attends Life Church in Huntington and actively volunteers in the infants and toddlers class.

 Cole has completed the necessary educational requirements to achieve the status of Certified Credentialed Director.  She has also completed the second level of the Director Education series, the Board Leadership Program, and only needs one class to achieve Gold, the highest level.

 I have been honored to serve as a Board of Director for Heartland REMC for the past six years, and if I am re-elected, I will remain committed to providing reliable and cost-effective electric service to our members.  I will also work to maintain financial stability as a corporation while assisting the fiber optic Broadband project to completion. 


Brent McKillip

Brent McKillip is a lifelong resident of Wabash County. He resides south of Lagro with his wife, Keishia and 3 children. He graduated from Northfield High School and has an Associate’s Degree in Ag Business/Management from the University of Northwestern Ohio. Brent & Keishia own and operate McKillip Machinery, Inc. in Wabash.  Brent & his family are also members of Lafontaine Christian Church. Brent is a Frances Slocum Trail Riders director and donates time to local 4H, The Ark Ministries, and New Beginnings. He enjoys hunting, riding horses, and spending time at home with his family in his spare time. Brent believes he can bring a strong business sense and experience to the board to complement the other members.

I hope to bring a new positive perspective to the board and be readily available to give input.

District 9 Candidate:

Alan Amick - Incumbent

Mr. Amick is a longtime resident of Roanoke and has three grown children and six grandkids that he enjoys spending time with when he’s not working.  He is a 1974 graduate of Huntington North High School.  He has over 50 years of experience as a welder and has recently retired from Amick Welding.  He is also a member of the Roanoke Lion’s Club, Roanoke Tractor Pullers, and the Seminary United Methodist Church.  His free time is spent with family and friends, enjoying time at the lake and riding four-wheelers. 

 Amick has served on the board of directors of Heartland REMC for 18 years and is a Certified Credentialed Director.

 As a member of the Heartland REMC Board of Directors, we have focused on keeping the power on at the lowest price. It is always my goal to do what is best for the cooperative members of Heartland REMC. 

District 10 Candidate:

Ted Martz - Incumbent

Mr. Martz currently resides in Ossian with his wife of 49 years, Cheryl.  They have three grown children and eleven grandchildren.  He is a 1971 Norwell High School graduate and a lifetime farmer who worked for the Fremont Company in Bluffton from 1982 until the plant closed.  He is a lifetime member of the Ossian Presbyterian church, a member of his church's praise team, a Gideon, and a proud member of the Grandpa Club (attending activities of all 11 grandchildren). 

Martz has served on the Heartland REMC board of directors for 27 years and is a past board President.

 I have been blessed and honored to serve as your Heartland REMC representative. As a board member, it is always my goal to serve the best interests of our cooperative members by continuing to provide quality service and up-to-date equipment at a reasonable cost.