DISTRICT 2
Brad Bentle
Brad Bentle has served as a director of Southeastern Indiana REMC for the past 30 years, currently holding the position of Vice President of the Board. Over the course of his tenure, he has held various leadership roles, including Board President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Additionally, Bentle has contributed to the Labor Negotiations and Policy and Bylaws subcommittees.
Bentle is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and possesses a Board Leadership certificate awarded by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. In 2020, he retired after an impressive 46-year career with Cincinnati Incorporated, a manufacturer of metalworking machinery based in Harrison, Ohio. In his role as Senior Sales Administrator, Brad oversaw the administrative aspects of the sales and shipping processes for new machinery, managing both domestic and international transactions.
Bentle and his family attend the Greendale First Church of Christ. Within the church, he serves on the Stewardship Committee as one of the Project Managers, overseeing the church finance budget, repairs, and special projects. Bentle is also an active participant in the music ministry program.
Married for nearly 50 years, Bentle and his wife, Lenna, are lifelong residents of the Bright area and are actively involved in the community.
Kevin Grosse
Kevin Grosse has been a member of Southeastern Indiana REMC since 1992. He offers a blend of strong analytical abilities, creativity, and interpersonal skills.
With a background in manufacturing spanning 25 years, Grosse has excelled in engineering new product development, project management, and Six Sigma problem solving at orginizations such as John Deere, Honeywell, and Hill-Rom. Additionally, he has 18 years of experience as a local small business owner.
Leveraging his energy and enthusiasm, Grosse adeptly assimilates information, simplifies complex situations, and resolves challenging problems across various contexts. His decision-making approach is consistently grounded in intelligence and facts, always with a focus on the greater good.
Grosse’s commitment to appealing to the highest motives for the good of all has been instrumental in uncomplicating situations and the development of strong teams. These principles have facilitated business growth and community cooperation in diverse scenarios.
Actively engaged in numerous committees and club activities in Hidden Valley Lake, Grosse serves as the President of the Valley Rural Utilities Company (VRUC). In this capactiy, he has orchestrated multi-million-dollar sewer and water restoration projects, showcasing his understanding of utilities.
DISTRICT 3
David Smith
David Smith has dedicated 15 years to his role as a director of Southeastern Indiana REMC. Throughout his tenure, he has actively contributed to various committees, including the Member Relations and Policy and Bylaws subcommittees. Notably, Smith has served as the REMC’s representative on the Hoosier Energy Board of Directors for the past decade, presently holding the position of Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. His commitment extends to participation in several subcommittees during his tenure.
As a distinguished professional, Smith is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and possesses both the Board Leadership and Director Gold certifications from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Academically, Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in manufacturing engineering technology and a Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA). His passion for education led him to teach in the mechanical engineering technology program at Cincinnati State Technical & Community College in Cincinnati, Ohio, for 34 years. Currently enjoying retirement, Smith reflects on his significant contributions to the field.
Smith and his wife, Patti, reside on a small farm on State Route 262 in Dillsboro.
DISTRICT 6
Mike Thieman
Mike Thieman, a self-employed farmer for over 45 years, has cultivated a diverse agricultural enterprise encompassing cattle, hogs, sheep, corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay. Concurrently, he has devoted 15 years to his role as director of Southeastern Indiana REMC. In his tenure, Thieman has assumed various leadership positions on the Board, including president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Additionally, he has actively contributed to the REMC’s Member Relations and the Buildings and Grounds subcommittees.
As a distinguished member of the cooperative community, Thieman holds the designation of Credentialed Cooperative Director and has earned a Board Leadership certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Within his local community, Thieman is an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Dewberry, where he has served as Treasurer and currently holds the position of Elder. Beyond his church involvement, he dedicated four years to the Switzerland County School Board and assumed the role of President of the Southeastern Indiana Feeder Auction.
A life-long resident of Switzerland County, Thieman and his wife, Melisa, reside on their fourth-generation family farm located on Thieman Road in Cross Plains. They take pride in their family, which includes three daughters and six grandchildren.
