SCOTT CITY – Luke West, director of corporate services and water at Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc., has successfully completed a national-level management credential sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. 

West recently received his certificate for successful competition of NRECA’s Robert I. Kabat Management Internship Program (MIP), a comprehensive, six-week program providing in-depth analysis of the functions and processes of electric cooperative management. 

The intensive management program includes on-site classes in the Fluno Center for Executive Education at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Courses began on site in December 2019 but were concluded online in late 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Completing the MIP program was one of my goals as a higher-level cooperative manager,” he said. “This program helped me better understand our guiding principles and why we do what we do as a cooperative.” 

West, a Kansas State University graduate who has been employed at Wheatland for 16 years, began his career as a groundman in 2005. He then stepped into his role as an apprentice lineman in 2006 and graduated to journeyman lineman in 2010. 

In 2013, West was promoted to Manager of Safety and Compliance. In his current role a corporate services director since late 2017, West directs all activities for Wheatland Water, including water contracts and farm leases, in addition to overseeing and reviewing all corporate policies/documents and facilities for Wheatland Electric. 

West previously obtained his certification as a Certified Loss Control Professional through NRECA and the National Utility Training and Safety Education Association.