Board of Directors
UDWI is a member-owned cooperative governed by a board of directors who represent the membership in their individual districts.
Directors are elected to a three-year term by the members at the annual meeting. The directors are the member’s voices in setting the cooperative policies, bylaws, and regulations.
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District 1David Kirkling
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District 2Secretary Shawn Dugan
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District 3Treasurer Michael E. Williams
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District 4Terry McDaniel
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District 5
Todd Carpenter
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District 6
President W. Edward Cullison
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District 7Vice President Melinda Hendrix
See complete list of townships at the bottom of this page.
DISTRICT 1
Director David Kirkling currently resides in Clay City, where he graduated from high school. He attended Indiana State University before completing his Doctorate of Chiropractic degree at Logan College of Chiropractic. He and his wife, Monika, have been married for 47 years and enjoy their friendly, rural community with their children and grandchildren.
After retiring from his 40-year career as a Chiropractic Physician, David is the owner of Glory Days Restaurant and Pub in Clay City. His love of collecting antiques and memorabilia pertaining to area businesses and sports led him to opening the restaurant. He enjoys the opportunity to meet new people every day and talk about the ‘good ole days’.
In his community, David is a member of the Clay City High School Sports Boosters and previously sat on the Rein Center Coalition Committee. His work helped raise funds for local sports teams and more recently, assisted in the process of building a new community center in the Clay City park.
As Director, David looks forward to working with UDWI’s other board members and communicating with its members and the general public about the functions and operations of the cooperative. He believes one of UDWI’s greatest strengths is its quick and efficient response to power outages, and that his open mind toward construction improvements will be in the best interests of the cooperative’s membership.
To contact David, email him at dkirkling@udwiremc.com.
DISTRICT 2
Secretary Shawn Dugan has resided in the Springville area for the past 14 years where he enjoys the rural life. Shawn and his wife of 25 years, Paula, have three children.
Shawn graduated from Bedford North Lawrence High School while completing two years of vocational courses. He attended California Polytechnic State University where he studied in the recreational vehicle field. His schooling prepared him for a future with the Department of Natural Resources, where he has been employed for 3 years. Shawn also operates a home-based farrier and dog grooming business. He considers wild life management to be his greatest passion.
Dugan has served his local American Legion by participating in many recreational activities with veterans for the past few years. Shawn also attends Missionary Baptist Church with his family.
Shawn is drawn to the cooperative world because of his concern for local communities. His believes his strong interest in being a dedicated public servant is beneficial to the UDWI membership and the future of the co-op. As director, he pledges to bring with him a fresh perspective and trustworthy approach to each issue.
To contact Shawn, email him at sdugan@udwiremc.com.
DISTRICT 3
Treasurer Michael Williams resides in rural Lyons with his wife, Dee. He graduated from L&M High School and later from Indiana State University. Williams received his Bachelor of Science Degree in accounting in 1977 and became a certified public accountant in 1988.
Previously, Williams was employed by the Indiana State Board of Accounts for 33 years. The last 17 years he served as the field supervisor assigned to West Central Indiana. In 1989, he was appointed deputy state examiner by Governor Evan Bayh, and held that position for four years. From the years of 1977 to 1989, he served as a field examiner with the Indiana State Board of Accounts auditing local governmental units in southwestern Indiana. He is currently a managing partner of Michael E. Williams, CPA, LLC located in Bloomfield, Indiana. His firm provides professional services in the areas of governmental consulting, tax preparation and forensic accounting throughout Indiana.
Williams has served several community organizations, including Bloomfield Rotary, Linton Elks, Lyons Lions Club, and Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce. In years past, he held the position of President for the Greene County Community Event Board.
As director, he continues to seek ways to keep costs and rates low while also improving board transparency. In addition, he believes his accounting and management background help to make him a viable and resourceful asset to UDWI and its members.
To contact Michael, email him at mwilliams@udwiremc.com.
DISTRICT 4
Director Terry McDaniel and his wife Debby have been married for 45 years and enjoy their log cabin in Spencer. Terry is currently a Professor Emeritus of Educational Administration at Indiana State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree, education specialist degree, and doctorate in Educational Administration.
A lifelong educator, Terry served 28 years at Spencer-Owen Community Schools in several different positions from assistant principal to superintendent. He loves the opportunity to help individuals see how they can be better leaders and to watch students accomplish goals and tasks that make them better people.
Terry is extremely involved in his community, with extensive service on boards and organizations. He spent 14 years on the Owen County Council, with 10 of those as the president. He was a member of the Gosport Lions Club and the Spencer Exchange Club and is currently the Minister at Old Union Laymon Separate Baptist Church in Spencer.
Terry McDaniel hopes to provide a voice for District 7, especially an under-represented Owen County. He looks forward to being a productive director and will work cooperatively with the rest of the board and staff at UDWI. Growing up in Greene County, Terry was always served by the co-op and is concerned about the future of electricity, its availability, and its use of natural resources. He hopes to have an impact on the future use of alternative energy resources.
DISTRICT 5
A graduate of L&M High School, he achieved a concentration in accounting from the IU Kelley School of Business. Carpenter is licensed as a certified public accountant by the state of Indiana. He has thirty years of experience working in the areas of budgeting, taxation, company management, and planning. For twenty years, Carpenter has owned his own public accounting business and offered services to the Bloomington area. He is passionate about assisting clients in understanding the business model to help them make informed decisions.
When asked about the contributions he has made to his profession, Carpenter answers that he has been the kind of businessman that clients and others can trust. Carpenter brings over 30 years of public accounting experience to the REMC and its members. As director, he adds that his background working with not-for-profit boards enables him to contribute to the world of cooperatives.
To contact Todd, email him at tcarpenter@udwiremc.com.
DISTRICT 6
President W. Edward Cullison has resided in Greene County for much of his life. His home sits on the same grounds where his ancestors once lived nearly 150 years ago. He and his wife of 35 years, Orah, have two sons and five grandchildren.
Ed graduated from Eastern Greene High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University. He has been employed with Farmers and Mechanics Federal Savings and Loan Association for the past 33 years. Ed began his employment with F&M as a loan officer, later moving to the position of secretary, and then advancing to vice president. Since 2014, he has held the position of President where he is passionate about serving his local community.
Cullison served as a board member for both the Monroe County Saddle Club and Southern Indiana Development Corporation. He also served 12 years on the Greene County Council board and was a founding member of Greene County Ag Day.
Ed states his interest in community improvement is what drew him to the world of electric cooperatives. He believes UDWI has significant bearing in achieving a better way of life for all members. As director, he promises to represent the membership on a reliable, trustworthy, and dedicated level.
To contact Ed, email him at wcullison@udwiremc.com.
DISTRICT 7
Vice President Melinda Hendrix is a lifelong resident of Bloomfield and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University before going on to get her MBA at Ball State. She and her husband, Tim, have been married for 34 years and their family includes two children and five grandchildren.
Melinda recently retired as a Deputy Comptroller after spending nearly 40 years working for Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane. Her career began in engineering and project management, and she held multiple supervisory roles before transitioning to a Deputy Department Head, where she managed daily operations for several departments. She loved the opportunity to serve her county (specifically the warfighter) as a civilian leader in an organization of 3700+ employees.
A contributing member of her community, Melinda has been a member of several organizations and boards, including the Bloomfield Downtown Revitalization Board, Bloomfield First Presbyterian Church, and Bloomfield Psi Iota Xi Sorority. She is extremely proud of achieving a work-life balance as a working mother with a demanding career.
As Director, Melinda looks forward to the ability to serve her community in a new way and bring her government background to the team in order to continue to keep UDWI’s overall costs low. She believes her fresh perspective and dependable approach will be a great asset to the board.
To contact Melinda, email her at mhendrix@udwiremc.com.