Congratulations to Dairyland’s Spent Nuclear Fuel Cost Recovery Team for earning the September People Powers award! Noting the group’s teamwork and collaboration as Change Champions, Vice President & Deputy General Counsel Kathleen Galioto praised their work getting Dairyland into a settlement with the federal government for reimbursement of Dairyland’s costs and expenses operating and maintaining the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI).

“This team has built and implemented a repeatable, efficient annual process for claim preparation (that is) saving Dairyland from having to engage in costly and unpredictable litigation, which expends money, time and resources of our Team,” Kathleen said. “Not only did we receive payment for Claim #1 this past August, the Team has already prepared and submitted Claim #2, and it is under review by the federal government.”

Team members are:

• Ryan Verhulp, team lead (Legal)
• Elyssa Cook (Legal)
• Lyndsey Finley (Accounting)
• Amber Manke (Finance Div. Mgmt.)
• Marty Moe (LACBWR/ISFSI)
• Jess Peters (Accounting)
• Mike Russell (Mkt. Bus. Analysis Rate Design)
• Will Schomberg (Purchasing)
• Beth Thomes (Records and Information Mgmt.)

The ISFSI is the storage facility for the spent nuclear fuel from Dairyland’s La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor (LACBWR) plant that ceased operations in 1987. Because there is no national repository for spent nuclear fuel, Dairyland and its members incur the costs of fuel storage and securing the site. In the past, Dairyland has pursued lawsuits to reclaim costs. The settlement agreement reduces administrative and legal costs while still recovering expenses.

Thank you to the entire Spent Nuclear Fuel Cost Recovery Team for exemplifying the Change Champion People Power to improve processes and ensure timely recovery of expenses!

Congratulations, People Powers nominees!

The following Dairylanders were also nominated for People Powers awards in the month of September, in the category noted. Thank you for your excellent contributions as part of the Dairyland team!

• Mike Lydon nominated by Todd Brister (Teamwork)
• Matt Goeldner nominated by Carl Dahl (Safety First)
• Jessica Sandry nominated by Danielle Wiste (Lead by Example)
• Joel Hesch nominated by Ariana Hesch (Own It)
• Brian Waite nominated by Courtney Cuta (Grow and Learn)
• Michele Coady nominated by Grover Hettel (Lead by Example)
• Ginny Virock nominated by Tom Paulson (Teamwork)
• Madeline Geszvain nominated by Danielle Wiste (Teamwork)
• Dylan Felten nominated by Todd Brister (Teamwork)
• Mitchell Torud nominated by Laura Coppola (Teamwork)
• Karen Stellpflug nominated by Jess Peters (Own It)
• Danielle Wiste nominated by Dylan Alitz (Teamwork)