(Photo from left to right: WPPI Energy President and CEO Mike Peters, SPU Supervisory Engineer Andrew Hirvela, Cedarburg Light & Water General Manager Karsten Huse, Lake Mills Light & Water Director of Utilities Lucas Caine, New Holstein Utilities General Manager Marc Stephanie, Sturgeon Bay Utilities Electric Utility Manager Jason Bieri, Oconomowoc Utilities Manager Kevin Kaari, Hustisford Utilities Manager Cade Schreiber, Waupun Utilities Meter Technician/Lineworker Chris Jahn and WPPI Board Chair Jim Stawicki.)
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Supervisory Engineer Andrew Hirvela of locally owned Sun Prairie Utilities graduated Sept. 17 from a two-year program that develops leaders for public power utilities and the community-owned joint action agency through which they receive wholesale electric power.
WPPI Energy Board Chair Jim Stawicki recognized Hirvela during the 2026 WPPI Energy Annual Meeting at the Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan. He was one of eight Joint Action Leadership Certification program graduates honored during the ceremony.
“The people who complete this program are dedicated to making their municipally owned utilities even better,” said Mike Peters, president and CEO of WPPI Energy. “The commitment of both time and effort is a great example of one of the many ways these joint action leaders serve their community each day.”
As part of the program, Hirvela completed a course of study and attended multiple in-person learning sessions. Participants gained a broader view of the electric industry as well as how WPPI member utilities work together to share resources and keep costs down.
Locally owned, not-for-profit Sun Prairie Utilities is a member-owner of WPPI Energy, its wholesale power provider and joint action agency headquartered in Sun Prairie, Wis. WPPI is made up of 51 public power communities throughout Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and eastern Iowa.
