Corporate Officers

John Erickson
President and Chief Executive Officer

As the leader of Otter Tail's experienced executive team, John Erickson provides direction for the corporation by setting organizational strategy, fostering an entrepreneurial culture, and defining the vision, mission and values.

John has been part of the Otter Tail organization for more than 25 years. He joined Otter Tail Power Company in 1980 as an analyst in the rate department. In 1989, he became director of market strategies and regulation. He was named vice president of finance, chief financial officer and treasurer for the corporation in 1998. In addition to his aforementioned duties, he was named executive vice president in 2000. John was appointed president in 2001, coinciding with the corporate name change to Otter Tail Corporation. He assumed CEO duties in 2002.

John is a certified public accountant and a graduate of North Dakota State University with a bachelor's of science degree in Agricultural Economics. He is an active community volunteer and serves on the boards of Lake Region Healthcare Corporation and the North Dakota State University Alumni Association. John also serves on the board of the Edison Electric Institute, the premier trade association for U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies.

Lauris Molbert
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Lauris Molbert joined Otter Tail in 1995 as president of the Varistar Corporation, continuing its successful diversification into nonelectric businesses. With his appointment in 2002 as executive vice president and chief operating officer for Otter Tail Corporation, he continues the focus on creating shareholder value through the long-term ownership of businesses in diverse industries.

As chief operating officer, Lauris is responsible for overseeing all of the utility and nonelectric operating companies of Otter Tail Corporation. In his role as executive vice president, he is second-in-command to the president in formulating strategy for the entire organization.

Prior to joining Otter Tail, Lauris was a partner in the Fargo-based law firm of Conmy, Feste, Bossart, Hubbard & Corwin, specializing in banking law, and mergers and acquisitions. He graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law, Juris Doctor with distinction, in 1983. He earned degrees in Finance, Accounting and Banking in 1980 and was awarded his CPA designation in 1981.

Lauris is a recognized community leader and currently serves on the boards of MeritCare Health System and the University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation.

Kevin Moug
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

In his role as Otter Tail's CFO and treasurer, Kevin Moug oversees the financial functions and performance for the corporation and its operating companies. He also directs the corporate services for treasury, corporate accounting and external reporting, investor relations, risk management, information technology, internal audit and acquisition evaluations.

Before joining the corporation in 1996, Kevin was the chief financial officer with Advance Dental Management, where he managed the banking, treasury, purchasing, human resources and corporate accounting functions of 22 dental offices, a dental laboratory, real estate properties and a dental insurance plan.

From 1981 to 1993, he worked at Deloitte & Touche, specializing in business planning, SEC reporting, mergers and acquisitions, and equity financing. His audit clients included manufacturing, distribution and software companies.

A certified public accountant, Kevin earned his BSBA degree in Accounting at the University of North Dakota and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is an active community volunteer and is on the board of directors for U.S. Bank in Fargo, North Dakota.

George Koeck
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

George Koeck brings an extensive legal background and practical business experience to the Otter Tail Corporation leadership team. In his role as general counsel and corporate secretary, George ensures that the corporation and operating companies are fully compliant with laws and regulations, legal risk is managed and difficult legal decisions are made responsibly.

George earned his Juris Doctorate with distinction from the University of North Dakota. He also received a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Texas and a master's degree in education from the University of St. Thomas. He is a member of both the North Dakota and Minnesota State Bar Associations and a member of the American Bar Association. He has also previously served five years as an adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law.

Prior to joining Otter Tail Corporation, George was a partner in Dorsey and Whitney, LLP, practicing in the area of labor and employment law. His previous experience also includes serving as a law clerk to the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and as associate counsel for General Mills.

Corporate Vice Presidents

Chuck MacFarlane
President of Otter Tail Power Company (VP, Electric)

As the leader of the Electric Platform, Chuck MacFarlane is accountable for the operations of Otter Tail Corporation's largest and core business. He brings extensive utility experience to manage Otter Tail Power Company at high levels of reliability and customer satisfaction. Based in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the company serves customers across 50,000 square miles of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Chuck joined Otter Tail Power Company in 2001 as director of financial analysis and planning. He was named vice president of finance and business planning in May 2002, interim president in August 2002 and president in May 2003.

Before joining Otter Tail Power Company, Chuck served as director of electric distribution planning and engineering for Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy's multi-state service territory. Previously, he was director of delivery construction and field operations for Northern States Power Company, which became part of Xcel Energy following a merger.

Chuck earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, and his master's degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. He is also a graduate of the Minnesota Executive Program at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. In his community, he serves on boards for Fergus Area Young Life and Productive Alternatives.

Chuck Hoge
Vice President, Manufacturing Platform

Chuck Hoge serves as platform leader for the manufacturing companies, and is responsible for due diligence processes during a manufacturing acquisition. His work focuses on helping Otter Tail Corporation's manufacturing companies facilitate growth and improvement, expand into new market areas and improve operationally.

Prior to joining Otter Tail Corporation, Chuck worked as president and chief executive officer of the world-renowned equipment manufacturer, Bobcat, where he managed seven facilities for the industry leader. In this position, he also served as vice president of Ingersoll-Rand, Bobcat's parent corporation. Chuck's previous employment included positions as vice president and controller, manager of financial planning, assistant controller, senior financial analyst and internal auditor for a nationwide equipment company.

Chuck earned his master's in business administration from Andrews University, Berrian Springs, Michigan. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration/mathematics with an economics minor from Olivet College in Olivet, Michigan, and has participated in the Notre Dame University Graduate Studies-Executive Program.

Chuck currently serves as a director on the board of the North Dakota State University Research and Technology Park.

Paul Wilson
CEO of DMS Health Group (VP, Health Services)

Paul Wilson steers the strategic direction and operations for DMS Health Group, a leading national provider of mobile diagnostic imaging services and medical equipment. The company is headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, with regional offices in Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As the leader for the Health Services Platform, Paul provides visionary leadership drawn from a broad healthcare background and a passion for high-performance culture.

Paul was appointed DMS CEO in 2006. He previously was the CEO at Innovis Health in Fargo, where he was responsible for overall operations and strategic planning at the 74-bed acute-care hospital. Prior to Innovis, he was vice president of operations at Banner Health System in Fargo, one of the nation's largest healthcare multisystems. At Banner, he oversaw operations at 11 acute-care hospitals and 12 clinics across six states, ranging from Alaska to Arizona. He also has held administrator roles at hospitals in New Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska.

Paul received his Master's in Hospital Administration from the University of Minnesota, St. Paul. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the appointed regent for ACHE in North Dakota.

Dick Nickel
CEO of Idaho Pacific Holdings (VP, Food Ingredient Processing)

Dick Nickel joined Otter Tail Corporation in August 2004 when it acquired Idaho Pacific Holdings, a food business he developed in 1998 with a private equity firm. With plants in Idaho, Colorado and Prince Edward Island, Idaho Pacific manufactures dehydrated potato products for food companies in the snack food, foodservice and bakery industries in the United States and Canada, and also exports products internationally. Dick is the platform leader for Food Ingredient Processing at Otter Tail Corporation and CEO of Idaho Pacific.

Prior to Idaho Pacific, Dick honed his management experience at major brands in the food industry. He held key roles as vice president of marketing at Totino's Frozen Pizza Company, vice president and general manager of Pillsbury's light meals and snacks division, president of Michael Food's Crystal Farms division and president of Creative Foods. He has also served as a board member of the National Frozen Food Institute, the trade association of the U.S. Frozen Food Industry.

Dick graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina with an economics degree. After serving two years as an officer in the Army, he attended The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in marketing and international business.

Dick is based in Minneapolis and has been active in the Twin Cities community by volunteering in fundraising campaigns with The Girl Scouts, the Minnesota Chapter of the American Diabetes Association, the Minneapolis United Way, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and Breck School. He has served as a director on the Edina Country Club Board and as a mentor to and investor in several new business start-ups.

Shane Waslaski
Vice President, Infrastructure Products and Services Platform

Shane Waslaski joined Otter Tail Corporation as vice president in January 2007 and leads the Infrastructure Products and Services Platform. As platform leader, he oversees strategic and operational performance for Otter Tail's plastics, construction and transportation companies located in North Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri and Arizona.

Previously, Shane was the founder and owner of Providian Consulting, LLC, a healthcare and corporate consulting firm. At Providian, he worked with regional and national corporate and healthcare clients to devise business strategies aimed at improving operational effectiveness, financial performance, human resource management and organizational structure.

Shane has worked as a consultant for Towers Perrin, an international management consulting firm and has also served in operational leadership roles at Children's Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Family Healthcare Center in Fargo, and Providian.

Shane received his bachelor's of science degree from North Dakota State University.

Lori Talafous
Vice President of Human Resources and Strategy

Lori Talafous leads the corporation's human resources strategies and programs, ensuring people practices are aligned and integrated with the organization's goals, vision, mission and values. She is also responsible for directing the strategic planning processes for Otter Tail's operating companies, working with company leaders to effectively identify, articulate and measure key strategic priorities and objectives.

Lori is an accomplished executive with a broad range of leadership and HR experience encompassing large and small business environments, both public and privately held. Prior to joining Otter Tail in 2005, she was the vice president of human resources for GEM Group, a global marketing communications, sports and entertainment agency based in Minneapolis. Previously, she held key human resources roles within Frito-Lay, Gage Marketing Services and Northwest Airlines.

Lori received her bachelor's degree in Management/Communications, cum laude, from Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota.