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.

  • District 1
    David Kirkling
  • District 2
    Todd Carpenter
  • District 3
    President W. Edward Cullison
  • District 4

    Melinda Hendrix

  • District 5
    Treasurer Michael E. Williams
  • District 6
    Shawn Dugan
  • District 7
    Vice President Dax Collins
  • District 8
    Secretary Sophie Haywood

District 1

David Kirkling

District 2

Todd Carpenter

District 3

President W. Edward Cullison

District 4

Melinda Hendrix

District 5

Treasurer Michael E. Williams

District 6

Shawn Dugan

District 7

Vice President Dax Collins

District 8

Secretary Sophie Haywood
  • District 1

    David Kirkling
  • District 2

    Todd Carpenter
  • District 3

    President W. Edward Cullison
  • District 4

    Melinda Hendrix
  • District 5

    Treasurer Michael E. Williams
  • District 6

    Shawn Dugan
  • District 7

    Vice President Dax Collins
  • District 8

    Secretary Sophie Haywood

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

Director Todd Carpenter has lived in the Bloomington area for the past 25 years.  He and his wife, Juli, have two children.

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 3

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 4

Director 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.


DISTRICT 5

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 6

Director 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 7

Vice President Dax Collins resides on the west side of Monroe County in Bloomington.  He and his wife, Karen, have one daughter.

Collins received his degree in history and political science from Indiana University in the late 1980’s.  He is a retired businessman who currently serves as treasurer for the South Central Regional Sewer District.  Collins also teaches history for Ivy Tech and provides consultation services for local businesses.  Dax states that his main goal is to give back to the friends and community that has supported him throughout his professional career.

Collins’ experience as a trustee for another utility led to his interest in his local cooperative.  He believes strongly in the seven cooperative principles and works to combine sound financial oversight with transparency and member engagement.  He cites that UDWI is one of those rare organizations willing to engage and connect with the community and its members.  As director, he promises to guide the cooperative into the future while preserving and protecting the rights of the membership.

To contact Dax, email him at 

DISTRICT 8

Secretary Sophie Haywood completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Purdue University in 1980 and her master’s degree from Indiana State University in 1984.  Haywood also received a School Administrative Certification from ISU in 1999.

Haywood worked as a teacher in both the Bloomfield and North Daviess school systems.  She has dedicated her life to education working as a teacher, school administrator, grant writer, researcher and workshop facilitator.  Sophie is currently the Associate Director for the Center of P‐16 Research and Collaboration in the School of Education at Indiana University.  She develops, manages, and implements plans and activities that align with the center’s mission, while managing day‐to‐day operations.

Haywood has also served on several community and church committees.  Over the past eight years, she has worked with the Fill the Pool committee in Bloomfield to renovate and update the community pool.  She continues to serve on the pool committee, supporting fundraising, hiring, and pool policies.

Haywood believes that the greatest strength of UDWI is its membership.  She is honored to represent her district and encourages members to share their thoughts with her.  Sophie states she is proud to call this region home and dedicates her time and energy to helping local communities.

To contact Sophie, email her at 
1666 West State Road 54
Bloomfield, Indiana 47424

Hours:  Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Office: (812) 384-4446
Toll-Free: (800) 489-7362
©2021 Utilities District of Western Indiana REMC. Member-Owned. Member-Focused.