Executive team
Charles S. MacFarlane
President and CEO
Chuck MacFarlane 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, President in 2003, and CEO in 2007.
Before joining Otter Tail Power Company, MacFarlane served as director of electric distribution planning and engineering for Xcel Energy's entire service territory. Previously, he was director of delivery construction and field operations for Northern States Power Company.
MacFarlane was born at Garrison, North Dakota. He earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1987 from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, and his master's degree in business administration in 1994 from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. He also is a graduate of the Minnesota Executive Program at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.
Ward L. Uggerud
Senior Vice President, Supply
Ward Uggerud began his career with Otter Tail Power Company in 1971 as an Engineer in the Electrical Department. He joined the System Operations Department in 1978 as Assistant Manager, advancing to Manager in 1979 and to Director 1984. He was named Vice President, Operations, in 1989 and Chief Operating Officer, Energy Supply, in 1999. He assumed his present position of Senior Vice President, Supply, in 2002.
Throughout his career Uggerud has held various leadership positions with the Mid-Continent Area Power Pool and the North American Electric Reliability Council. He has provided testimony before Congress and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on transmission operations, open access, and wholesale competition. He has presented numerous papers to industry groups on topics related to interconnected system operations, power pooling, and coordination activities among electric utilities in the United States and Canada.
Uggerud is a native of Drayton, North Dakota. He earned his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from North Dakota State University, Fargo, in 1971. He is listed in Who's Who in the Midwest, Who's Who of Emerging Leaders, and Who's Who Worldwide.
Rodney C. H. Scheel
Vice President, Asset Management
Rod Scheel joined Otter Tail Power Company in 1973 as an Engineer in the System Protection Department. He was promoted to Supervisor, System Engineering, in 1978, to Director, Information Services, in 1984, and to Vice President, Electrical, in 1995. He was named to his present position of Vice President, Asset Management, in 2002.
Scheel is a native of West Fargo, North Dakota. He earned his bachelor of science degree in electrical and electronic engineering from North Dakota State University, Fargo, in 1971. He earned his master of science degree in power engineering in 1973 from South Dakota State University.
Mark H. Helland
Vice President, Customer Service
Mark Helland joined Otter Tail Power Company in 1998 as Director of Marketing and Development. Subsequent positions included Director and later Vice President of Marketing and South Dakota and Minnesota Customer Service. He was named to his present position of Vice President, Customer Service, in 2002.
Before joining Otter Tail Power Company, Helland worked as an economic development consultant for Thom Consultants, Inc., for the City of Fergus Falls, as a building contractor, and farmed.
Helland is a native of North Dakota. He attended Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Fergus Falls, and the University of Minnesota.
Thomas R. Brause
Vice President, Administration
Tom Brause began his career with Otter Tail Power Company in 1978 as a Computer Programmer in the Information Services Department where he's held several other positions including Programmer/Analyst, Supervising Analyst, Supervisor, Manager, and Director. He advanced to Director, Human Resources and Information Technology, in 1999 and to Director, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Safety, in 2002. He was named Vice President, Administration, in March 2004.
Brause is a native of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He graduated magna cum laude from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, with a bachelor of arts degree in computer science in 1978. Brause earned his Certificate in Data Processing (CDP) in 1982.
Todd R. Wahlund
Vice President, Renewable Energy Development and Risk Management
Todd Wahlund has been with Otter Tail Power Company since 1992 in various financial roles including Accountant; Property Tax Analyst; Resource Planner; Manager, Financial Analysis; and Manager, Business Planning. He was named Director, Risk Management and Business Planning, in 2004 and Vice President, Renewable Energy Development and Risk Management in 2008.
Wahlund graduated magna cum laude in 1992 from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, with a degree in accounting and a minor in business administration. He's a Certified Public Accountant (inactive certificate holder) and Certified Management Accountant and is Certified in Financial Management.
George D. Bell
Vice President, Finance
George Bell joined Otter Tail Power Company in 2008 as Director, Finance. He was named Vice President, Finance in May 2008.
Before joining Otter Tail Power Company, Bell was with Utilities International, Inc., where he served as principal consultant to several large utilities regarding regulatory compliance and strategy. He also advised utilities on implementing budget systems and financial models. Prior to Utilities International he worked for Xcel Energy as project management director, accountable for Sarbanes-Oxley auditing and compliance. Before the 2000 merger between New Century Energies and Northern States Power Co. that created Xcel Energy, Bell worked as controller for NSP, Wisconsin.
Born in Fort Hood, Texas, Bell earned his bachelor’s degree in 1980 from Boise State University and his master’s in business administration in 1999 from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Business. Bell served three years in the United States Navy on a nuclear attack submarine. Professionally, he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Cris M. Kling
Director, Public Relations
Cris Kling began her career with Otter Tail Power Company in 1994 as Senior Communications Specialist in the Corporate Communications Department. She served as Supervisor and later as Manager of Corporate Communications before being named Director, Public Relations, in 2002.
Before joining Otter Tail Power Company Kling taught English at the Fergus Falls Middle School for 14 years, and she was named Minnesota Middle Level Educator of the Year in 1993.
Kling is a native of Devils Lake, North Dakota. She earned her bachelor of science degree in English and education from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, graduating summa cum laude. She earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1995.
Peter E. Wasberg
Director, Human Resources and Safety
Pete Wasberg joined Otter Tail Power Company in 1991. Since then he has held various positions in the company’s Customer Service Centers at Milbank, South Dakota; and Bemidji, Hallock, and Crookston, Minnesota, advancing to Division Manager in 1997 and to Area Manager in 2002. He was named Manager, Human Resources, in 2004 and Director, Human Resources and Safety, in 2008. Professionally, Wasberg is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management.
Wasberg was born in Park Ridge, Illinois, but grew up in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1990 from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, where he majored in both business administration and psychology.
