Board of Directors

ColumbiaGrid operates with an independent, three-person Board of Directors.  The Board was originally seated August 16, 2006, with initial terms staggered to accommodate the election cycle. Following the initial seating, ColumbiaGrid Directors are elected for a three-year term.
 
The current board includes Board Chair, Jim Miller, and Director Ed Sienkiewicz and one open Director position pending an on-going selection process.  Both have extensive backgrounds in the electric utility industry. 
 
Ed Sienkiewicz

Ed Sienkiewicz

Chair

Ed Sienkiewicz is a retired federal executive and economist, spending 29 years at the Bonneville Power Administration, where he developed regional transmission policies.

Email Ed Sienkiewicz

Kris Mikkelsen

Kris Mikkelsen

Director

Kris Mikkelsen retired from Inland Power after serving as CEO for 12 years. She has been active in many utility-related associations during her career and has also served on a number of community and state boards. She lives in Spokane, Washington.

Email Kris Mikkelsen

Jim Miller

Jim Miller

Director

Jim Miller is a retired Idaho Power Company executive. An electrical engineer with nearly 33 years of experience with Idaho Power, Jim held a wide variety of senior management positions during his career. At the time of his retirement, he was the Senior Vice President of Power Supply with responsibility over the planning, construction and operation of the company’s hydro, natural gas and coal-fired resources. Mr. Miller has served on a number of regional and national industry boards, and is also involved in many community non-profit boards. He was elected as Director in 2011 to a three-year term.

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WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY

Member: Chelan County PUD      Project: ColumbiaGrid     
Chelan County PUD

"Chelan PUD is a strong supporter of ColumbiaGrid and the work that’s accomplished through the transmission Planning and Expansion Functional Agreement (PEFA). As a result of that process, the mid-C utilities (Chelan, Grant and Douglas PUDs) and Bonneville Power Administration were able to reach an agreement that defined the need for a new transmission line, as well as determine who will construct, own and pay for the facility. Those difficult decisions were made successful through the expert and independent expertise of the ColumbiaGrid staff."
~~ Chad Bowman, Director - Transmission and Compliance