Press Release

Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative announces Williston native Alex Vournas as next General Manager

October 26, 2023

Williston, ND - The Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative (MWEC) Board of Directors has selected Alex Vournas to serve as Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative next General Manager, effective January, 2024.

Vournas graduated from Williston High School and then obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of North Dakota. He resides in Williston with his wife and two children. Vournas has been with the Cooperative for 10 years assuming increasing leadership roles and responsibilities, currently serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO) since 2020.

“Alex has already demonstrated his commitment and dedication to MWEC and its mission,” MWEC Board Chair, Bob Grant stated during the board’s announcement. “He will lead us through this period of fast paced changes in our industry following a path that will remain true to our cooperative principles, values, and the reason why we were formed,” Grant continued.

MWEC is a not-for-profit electric distribution utility providing service to rural residents in Williams and Mountrail Counties. The cooperative has seen incredible growth with a recent peak load (electricity used) of 775 Megawatts. Prior to the region’s rapid growth attributed to the oil industry, MWEC held a peak load around 100 Megawatts.

“This is a great cooperative with an impressive track record of success,” Vournas noted, “I am committed to continuing the cooperative’s record of success and keeping MWEC a top cooperative for its members and employees.”

Vournas will be responsible for the overall leadership, management and operation of the cooperative. He will play an instrumental role in fostering the democratic model giving members a way to participate in the direction of their cooperative.

“MWEC has a great succession plan as shown by the board’s choice today,” Dale Haugen, current MWEC general manager stated, “This decision shows the high caliber of candidates that are created internally and are able to continue moving MWEC forward.” Vournas succeeds Haugen who will be retiring after 43 years with the Cooperative, 33 of which were spent as general manager.

For Immediate Release, October 26, 2023