Cooperative Leadership

With decades of utility industry experience, our team of managers works together with a core set of values to drive culture and purpose within our cooperative. The goal is simple, provide our talented employees with the tools and resources needed to serve our members with the first-class service they deserve all while providing safe, reliable, and affordable power.

Chris Parr

CEO

Chris Parr's journey in the utility industry began at Kansas State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Financial Management. He continued his education at Baker University, attaining a Master of Business Administration. His dedication to professional growth is evident in his certifications as a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) from the esteemed Institute of Internal Auditors. These certifications underscore his commitment to maintaining the highest accountability, risk mitigation, and internal control standards within the organizations he serves.

Chris is an accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience in the utility industry. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a commitment to excellence, innovation, and effective leadership.

His background includes investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative utilities, and Chris deeply understands the industry.

For the past decade, Chris has been a cooperative leader at FreeState. He started as an assistant general manager and was appointed the cooperative's CEO by the board in 2022. Under his leadership, strategic initiatives have been implemented that have significantly improved the cooperative's overall performance and member-centric attitude. These initiatives have solidified FreeState's position as a leader in providing reliable services to nine counties in Northeast Kansas.

Chris is dedicated to building great teams. He is committed to supporting and empowering members and staff in every way possible because they are the key to FreeState's success.

While not at the office, Chris is a father and husband. He coaches youth football and enjoys running, golfing, and spending time with friends and family on the lake.

Chris lives by the motto, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!"

By demonstrating FreeState's values, he works to provide a culture of safety and service. He ensures that all decisions are made in the interests of members and key stakeholders. Chris has a servant-leader attitude and is passionate about serving members and staff.

Brent Edgecomb

Chief Information Officer

Brent Edgecomb has over two decades of expertise, which he brings to his role as Chief Information Officer at FreeState. He has a BA in Management Information Systems from Ottawa University and completed NRECA's Management Internship Program (MIP Select) and the Supervisor and Manager Development Program (SDMP). His technical credentials include Cisco's CCNA and Microsoft's MCSE certifications, showcasing his commitment to staying ahead of ever-evolving tech.

At FreeState, Brent has leveraged public cloud infrastructure to ensure maximum system uptime and reliability. He thrives on tackling complex challenges and transforming them into innovative solutions. The ever-changing nature of technology excites him, and he finds satisfaction in driving projects that make a tangible impact on the community and the co-op.

When he's not orchestrating IT strategies, Brent and his wife are avid travelers, always looking for their next adventure. Whether exploring hidden gems in a bustling city or unwinding on a serene beach, Brent believes that experiencing diverse cultures fuels creativity and keeps him grounded. Fun fact: Brent believes every trip is an excuse to try as many desserts as possible!

The famous quote by Steve Jobs, "It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do," resonates with Brent as he works hard to empower his team to take the initiative and bring their best ideas to the table.

Brent exemplifies FreeState's core values in every aspect of his work. He believes transparency with open communication ensures that all stakeholders are well-informed. He upholds ethical standards, and he makes decisions that prioritize the well-being of members and the community.

Safety is always a top priority, and Brent diligently works to maintain a secure and supportive environment for his team. His dedication is evident in his collaborative approach, integrating team efforts to serve members effectively.

Always progressive, Brent seeks innovative technologies and methodologies to enhance operational efficiency and member satisfaction. He treats everyone respectfully, ensuring that interactions are marked by compassion and professionalism. Aligning with FreeState's culture statement, Brent promotes a healthy work-life balance while encouraging collaboration, innovation, and flexibility, all within a work environment focused on safety and exceptional service.

Jill Taggart

Chief Financial Officer

Jill Taggart is a financial professional with over 20 years of experience in the utility industry. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing and a Master of Business Administration, both from Washburn University. Her commitment to professional excellence is further demonstrated by her Cooperative Financial Professional Certificate and her completion of the Class Cost of Service Study.

As CFO, Jill excels in financial management and is dedicated to helping others grow and develop, making them more valuable to the cooperative. Her financial strategies have significantly contributed to the cooperative's growth and development. She is constantly learning, growing, and expanding her skill set to better serve the employees, members, and the board of directors.

Jill's primary focus is on identifying the cooperative membership's needs and executing plans that benefit all stakeholders.

Outside of her professional life, Jill enjoys golfing, spending time with her family, and traveling.

She lives by the motto, "Obstacles are things we overcome, not reasons why we can't," attributed to Henry Ford. This philosophy drives her to tackle challenges and find solutions that advance the cooperative's mission.

Zach Sterling

Chief Operations Officer

Zach Sterling, as the chief operations officer, has been leading the operations department for 28 years, ensuring it runs efficiently and smoothly. His role encompasses not only operations but also budget management and member satisfaction.

He earned his electrical power and distribution degree from Manhattan Area Technical College and has demonstrated expertise in these areas.

Outside of work, Zach enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening, smoking meat, maintaining vehicles, exercising, spending time with family, traveling, and water skiing.

Zach is guided by the principle: "You don't make decisions because they are easy, cheap, or popular. You make them because they are right."

Safety is important to Zach, who prioritizes it for employees and members.

Zach is known for his deep respect for members' questions and concerns. He works tirelessly to find solutions to system reliability issues, appreciating the hard work and dedication of FreeState employees in serving and supporting the needs of the cooperative members.

Ryan Coates

Inventory & Purchasing Manager

Ryan Coates is the go-to guy for purchasing materials, fleet, and facilities management. He has been with FreeState for three years and has 17 years of experience in the utility industry. Ryan has made significant contributions to the company when it comes to saving members money. One of his most important accomplishments at the cooperative was negotiating a contract to get materials at the lowest price possible and avoid as many supply chain hiccups as possible.

When it comes to FreeState's core values, Ryan excels in innovation. He is motivated by finding solutions to inventory issues and purchasing high-quality products at low costs.

Ryan is a husband and father. In his free time, he enjoys coaching his son's 6th-grade tackle football team. He is passionate about fitness and weightlifting.

Ryan's favorite leadership quote is, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Wayne Gretzky—Michael Scott.

How does Ryan live up to FreeState's culture statement? Lead by example and approach each situation with a member-first mindset.

Michelle Meyer

Accounting Manager

Michelle Meyer is an accounting professional with a 29-year tenure at the cooperative, including 15 years in her current role as Accounting Manager. She holds an associate's degree in applied science in accounting and has earned the NRECA Supervisory Certificate. She also serves as the secretary/treasurer of the Kansas REC Accountants Association.

Throughout her career, Michelle has been instrumental in driving process improvements, particularly in the work order process, and played a key role in the alliance and consolidation efforts. Her expertise in Rural Utility Service accounting, the work order process, and general accounting practices makes her a valuable mentor to her colleagues. She finds great satisfaction in this aspect of her job.

Michelle excels in financial management and takes pride in seeing that new processes and procedures make tasks more accessible and efficient for employees. She loves seeing "lightbulb moments" when employees grasp new concepts and enjoys completing large projects that benefit the cooperative.

Michelle is a mom of three who has spent the past 15 years supporting her children's sports activities outside of work. In her spare time, she enjoys reading (during the winter months) and is actively involved in leading a parent group for after-prom fundraising efforts.

Michelle lives by the motto, "You don't need a title to be a leader," and strives to make all employees feel valued and appreciated, regardless of their reporting lines. She supports change and development, takes the time to understand issues, and never expects anything from others that she wouldn't do herself. In everything she does, Michelle considers the best interests of the membership and employees.

Nolan Lewis

Safety Manager

Nolan Lewis oversees safety at FreeState as the cooperative’s safety manager. He provides opportunities for employees to train on safe practices and leads the internal safety committee. He earned his degree in electrical power and distribution from Manhattan Area Technical College and worked 15 years in the field before moving inside. He has been the safety manager for the past three years.

While in his current role, Nolan has worked to elevate the safety program at FreeState through various training opportunities and programs that consistently exemplify the cooperative’s core value of safety.

Nolan has a passion for team building and people. As a team player, Nolan prefers working in a collaborative environment and is motivated to help others and ensure that everyone goes home at the end of the day.

Outside of work, Nolan enjoys being outside. He is an avid golfer, hunter, and fisherman. He coaches his daughter’s teams and actively supports the Floyd Lewis Foundation in Burlington.

Nolan’s personal motto, “Life’s a garden, dig it,” fits well with his positive attitude, fun demeanor, and readiness to assist in any way he can. His dedication to the cooperative makes him a valued leader in safety.

Sarah Farlee

Communications Manager

Sarah Farlee, APR, CCC, is the Communications Manager at FreeState. She has earned an Accreditation in Public Relations and the Certified Cooperative Communicator distinction. Sarah says her most significant accomplishment at FreeState has been elevating the cooperative's communications and being recognized nationally for her work with social media, strategic communication, and engagement events.

Sarah finds FreeState's core values motivating because exemplifying the cooperative difference drives how she aims to communicate with members. She excels at seeing both sides of a coin and works to communicate with members in different ways because no two members are alike.

Sarah is a small-town native and a fourth-generation farm kid who enjoys baking, being with family and friends, and scrolling through TikTok. She is passionate about learning, mastering her craft, and trying new things.

She is a Class XII graduate of the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL) program, where she served on the board from 2017 to 2023. She has also served on the Douglas County Extension Council and currently represents metropolitan counties on the Kansas State Extension Advisory Council. She also serves on the Kansas Department of Agriculture's Ag Marketing Advisory Board.

Sarah's favorite quote is, "They may not remember your name, but they will remember how you made them feel."

Sarah values collaboration, dedication, teamwork, and doing whatever is necessary to get the job done right the first time.

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