Back in 2018, Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) board director (and current chair) Glenn Mitzel reached out to Kalvin Hoff about an opening on the board following a retirement.
A husband and father, electrical engineer, business owner, and avid curler, Hoff scratched his head at how he could make time.
“I was always familiar with CCEC and have been on the system since I bought my first home out of school,” Hoff said. “Yet initially, I thought, how can I logistically fit this in?”
Six years later, Hoff is amidst his second term on CCEC’s board of directors and couldn’t be happier.
“It’s a transformative time in our industry, and I’m honored to have a seat at the table,” said Hoff, who serves as the board’s treasurer.
Rural roots
Hoff, a native of Richardton, N.D., grew up on the farm and became acclimated to the cooperative world through interactions with lineworkers during outages.
“We were at the end of the bus route and end of the power line,” Hoff recalled. “Any storm, we’d be out (of power) for a day or two. My dad would hook the generator up and run the tractor to power the farm.”
Graduating in a class of 39 students, Hoff competed in sports year-round. Yet his true talents shined in the classroom.
“I was more of a mathlete than an athlete,” he joked.
Hoff’s smarts led him to NDSU, where he earned a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. After stretches as an engineer at nationally recognized tech companies, Hoff founded Amber Waves Integration, where he serves as a senior controls engineer. In his role, he designs control panels and consults with clients to best suit their automation needs.
Family first and the future
When he’s not working or engaging in board activities, Hoff can be found on the ice ... not playing hockey, but curling.
“I married into a curling family and have been pretty active with it ever since I’ve known my wife,” Hoff said.
The best part for him? Coaching his 12-year-old son.
“It’s been awesome. One of the cool things about youth curling is that when a kid is out there, it’s just him and his teammates,” Hoff said. “I’m not allowed to coach from behind the glass, so it allows them to develop problem-solving skills.”
In addition to serving on the board, Hoff also represents CCEC on Minnkota Power Cooperative’s board and the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association board. As he considers the opportunities and challenges ahead, he’s confident that CCEC’s board and team are equipped to meet them head on.
“The diversity of perspectives on our board and the experience of CCEC’s leaders and team members gives me confidence as we continue to grow,” Hoff said. “They’re confident in what they do, and they should be.”