Bradley Bentle, District 2

Bradley Bentle has been a director of Southeastern Indiana REMC for the past 27 years. During his time on the board, he has held the offices of board president and vice president and currently serves as the board treasurer. He has also served on the labor negotiations and policy and bylaws subcommittees. 

Bentle is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and holds a Board Leadership Certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. 

Bentle recently retired after 46 years of service with Cincinnati Incorporated, a large manufacturer of metal working machinery, located in Harrison, Ohio. As senior sales administrator, he was responsible for the administrative aspects of the overall sales and shipping processes for new machinery, both domestic and international. 

The Bentle family attends the Greendale First Church of Christ, where Bradley serves on the stewardship committee as one of the project managers, keeping track of the church finance budget, repairs and special projects. He is also actively involved in the music ministry program.  

Bentle and his wife, Lenna, have been lifetime residents of the Bright area. They reside on State Line Road in Lawrenceburg. 

Jeffrey Bittner, District 2

Jeffrey Bittner has been a member of Southeastern Indiana REMC off and on since 1992. 

His work experience includes service in the United States Air Force, where he received in-depth training in electronic and telephone equipment systems. He also founded Indicom, a local telecommunications company, serving customers throughout southeastern Indiana, northern Kentucky and southwest Ohio. Indicom is currently contracted with the City of Lawrenceburg to oversee the buildout of its fiber optic network, run the data center, and provide internet services to its residential and commercial customers. 

Bittner has served on boards and committees for the American Heart Association and the Valley Rural Utility Company. He is a current member of the Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the Indiana and Ohio Payphone Associations, Airline Owners and Pilots Association and a former board member of Lawrenceburg Main Street.

Bittner and his wife, Jill, reside on Ravenda Drive in Lawrenceburg. 

Warren Kirk, District 2

Warren Kirk has been a member of Southeastern Indiana REMC for over two decades. 

His work experience includes 33 years as an international manager with Procter & Gamble, during which time he managed the European Chemicals office from London. His responsibilities also included the negotiation of international shipping and storage of bulk chemicals. 

He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and in business administration from Washington State University; a master of divinity from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio; and has completed MBA course work at the University of California. He has had Deming training and is ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church. 

Kirk currently serves on the INUMC Financial Board (UMFI); and has served on the Spencer County Charity Board and the Ministers Association Charity Board in Hope, Indiana. 

Kirk and his wife reside on Pineridge Drive in West Harrison. 

David Smith, District 3

David Smith has been a director of Southeastern Indiana REMC for 12 years. During this time, he has served on the member relations and policy and bylaws subcommittees. He has also served as the REMC’s representative on the Hoosier Energy board of directors for the past seven years, where he has served on several subcommittees during his tenure.

Smith is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and holds the Board Leadership and Director Gold certifications from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. 

Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in manufacturing engineering technology and a master of business administration degree (MBA). For the past 31 years, he has taught in the mechanical engineering technology program at the Cincinnati State Technical and Community College in Cincinnati, Ohio.  

Smith and his wife, Patti, reside on a small farm on State Route 262 in Dillsboro.  

Mike Thieman, District 6

Mike Thieman has been a director of Southeastern Indiana REMC for 12 years. He has held the offices of board treasurer and board secretary and currently serves as the vice president of the board. He has also served on the REMC’s member relations and the buildings and grounds subcommittees. 

Thieman is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and holds a Board Leadership Certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.  

Thieman is a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Dewberry, where he has held the office of elder and is currently the treasurer. He served on the Switzerland County School Board for four years and was president of the Southeastern Indiana Feeder Auction. 

Life-long residents of Switzerland County, Thieman and his wife of 41 years, Melisa, make their home on their fourth-generation family farm on Thieman Road in Cross Plains. They have three daughters and five grandchildren. 

How to vote: Vote electronically or by mail via the election packet mailed on March 1.

Deadline to vote: March 26

Election results will be announced during the virtual annual meeting on March 30.