Heartland REMC’s Board of Directors announced today that Colt Burnau has been appointed the new chief executive officer (CEO). An experienced cooperative employee, Burnau currently serves as the VP of engineering and operations at Heartland REMC and has held several positions with Heartland REMC over the last 18 years. Burnau will assume his new role on March 17, 2023. He succeeds current CEO, Robert Pearson, who retires after 34 combined years of cooperative service. 

The Heartland REMC Board of Directors utilized Ken Holmes with Holmes Executive Search LLC to conduct the months-long nationwide search for the next CEO. “The electrical industry is always changing and with new technology and member concerns, finding the best fit for our cooperative was the top priority,” said Heartland REMC Board of Directors’ President Doug Wilcox. “Burnau provides years of cooperative experience from several different levels and has the added benefit of doing that all right here at Heartland REMC. His extensive experience and commitment to his hometown community make him the most appropriate choice to continue the Heartland REMC mission of cooperative values.”

Burnau came to Heartland REMC in 2004 as a groundman and served four years as an apprentice lineman and six years as a journeyman lineman in the operations department. In 2014, he moved into Heartland REMC’s engineering department and in 2020 was named VP of engineering and office services. He then became the VP of engineering and operations in 2022. Burnau still holds his journeyman lineman accreditation as well as a Bachelor of Science in business management and is scheduled to complete his Master of Business Administration in April 2023.