A quorum for the Highway 23 Coalition general membership is at least 10% of the voting members at the annual meeting.
Per the Bylaws, Section 3.2. Each member of the Coalition receives one vote. To be a member in good standing of the Coalition, the entity or person shall have provided the appropriate membership funds to the Fiscal Agent of the Coalition.
Pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have representatives from three regions—the St. Cloud Region (defined as Benton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine Counties), the Willmar Region (defined as Chippewa, Kandiyohi and Renville Counties) and the Marshall Region (defined as Lincoln, Lyon, Pipestone, Rock and Yellow Medicine Counties). Each region shall have at least one government and two business representatives on the Board and may have one additional member on the Board.
Open Board Seat Candidate
This open board seat candidate has been appointed by the Board of Directors to be ratified by the membership. The following candidate was appointed to a term that will end in June of 2024:
| Candidate | Region Represented | Current Term Expires |
|---|---|---|
| Nathan Rud | Willmar (business) | June 2024 |
Candidate Biography
Nathan (Nate) Rud is a Project Specialist for Relco, a 40+ year designer and supplier of stainless-steel manufacturing equipment for the dairy, cheese and food industry.
From a family farm near Montevideo, to now residing in Willmar with his wife, daughter and son, Nate has spent his working career growing, supporting and networking his employers alongside his customers across the manufacturing, construction and agricultural sectors. Acting as a generational bridge between Gen X and the Millennials, he brings a big picture vision, focused on responsible sustainability with common sense roots.
Reelection Candidates
Following are current board members whose terms expire this year and who are willing to be re-elected to another three-year term:
| Candidate | Region Represented | Current Term Expires | New Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Rud | Willmar (business) | June 2024 | June 2024-June 2027 |
| Jeff Bertram | Willmar (business) | June 2024 | June 2024-June 2027 |
| Luke Johnson | Marshall (government) | June 2024 | June 2024-June 2027 |
Candidate Biographies
Nathan (Nate) Rud is a Project Specialist for Relco, a 40+ year designer and supplier of stainless-steel manufacturing equipment for the dairy, cheese and food industry.
From a family farm near Montevideo, to now residing in Willmar with his wife, daughter and son, Nate has spent his working career growing, supporting and networking his employers alongside his customers across the manufacturing, construction and agricultural sectors. Acting as a generational bridge between Gen X and the Millennials, he brings a big picture vision, focused on responsible sustainability with common sense roots.
Jeff Bertram has served on the Highway 23 Coalition for several years now and currently serves as Chair. He lives in Paynesville with his wife Marlene and their sons Jacob and Mitchell. The entire family has assisted with many Coalition activities. Jeff works for West Central Sanitation and is celebrating his 26th year as their Administrative Sales Manager. He was elected to the Stearns County Board of Commissioners in 2022 and currently serves as Vice-Chair. He has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Paynesville City Council, including three years on the Minnesota League of Cities Board of Directors. He is also involved in several Community organizations and owns a Century, 4th Generation Farm.
Luke Johnson is the current Secretary of the Highway 23 Coalition board and has served on the board for several years. He is the Chairman of the Project Projects Committee and a member of the Legislative Committee. Luke is a Pipestone County Commissioner and the Manager of Liberty Pawn, Coins and Antiques.