District 1 Board Candidates

Michelle Caird
District 1 Candidate

Michelle Caird knows her way around electric cooperatives. Previously, she served 18 years as a board member of Inland Power and Light Company in eastern Washington. She was the first female President in the Cooperative’s 73-year history. During her nearly two decades of service on the Inland Board, she was involved in hiring two CEOs for the Cooperative. She also completed the Credentialed Cooperative Director certification from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Michelle served on the Columbia Generating Station’s Participants Review Board as a member and officer. She also served on the Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Board and the Northwest Public Power Association’s Board, including two years on the Finance Committee. For the past two years she has been a member of Valley Electric Associations’ Board of Directors and currently is serving as President. Before being elected President, she served as Chairperson of the Finance, Policy and Member Liaison Committees working with members to improve the cooperative. Michelle has worked in various fields throughout her career, including accounting, contract management, government, and criminal justice.  She is a certified Mediator and received her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management. She served on the Board for the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce, Chairs the Pahrump Valley Public Transportation Committee and is Treasurer of the Nye County Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

Bill Carns
District 1 Candidate

Bill Carns, having been a resident of Nevada since 1980 and a Pahrump resident since 2005, brings knowledge and experience of the rural Nevada lifestyle. Having a business and investigation background, along with a degree in Business Management, he sees a benefit to answering some of the lingering questions regarding VEA’s direction and some of the past confusion. As one of the thousands of member-owners of the VEA Co-op, he shares the vested interest in securing a strong organizational base for VEA by eliminating risks, securing the necessary assets, sourcing, and finalizing long-term, reliable, and affordable power streams, and streamlining the processes and internal structuring of VEA.

Pete Gazsy
District 1 Candidate

Pete Gazsy has previously served as a Valley Electric Association, Inc. (VEA) Director for over 10 years in District 1. He has been a member of VEA for going on 29 years and was one of the first VEA Ambassadors, serving as the first Ambassador Chairman. Pete has earned the Credited Co-op Director and Board Leadership Certificates. He has also earned the prestigious GOLD Board Leadership Certificate. Pete has attended and passed almost 40 NRECA schools. Pete and his wife Kris have two children and four grandchildren. He attended New York City Community College (Voorhees Technical Institute) in New York City, and holds an A.A.S. in Offset Lithography and Business Management. Pete has worked in offset printing as a General Manager of a full-service vending and catering corporation, and as an armored truck captain in New York City. In Pahrump, he has been a General Contractor, as well as a substitute teacher and a Para-Professional for Nye County School District for over 12 years. Pete is a member of eight local service organizations, including: The Knights of Columbus, as a 4th degree Knight; a Master Mason; York Right Mason; Scottish Right Mason; and a member of The Shriners, which is affiliated with the Shriners Hospitals for Children.