Bigfork's Preston Lowe appointed to Flathead Electric board

Preston Lowe of Bigfork has been appointed to serve on Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees.

He will represent members residing in District 8 (Bigfork) until the 2026 annual meeting. At that time, a trustee will be elected by co-op members. A selection committee consisting of three Trustees and three members-at-large from District #8 selected Lowe from the members who applied.

Lowe is a long-time Flathead Valley resident with more than 37 years of experience in the electrical and power distribution industry. He is the second-generation owner of Lowe Electric, a Montana-based electrical contracting firm he has operated since 1988.

Over the course of his career, Lowe has managed electrical, instrumentation, and power distribution projects throughout the United States and internationally. His professional background includes extensive experience in high-voltage electrical systems, substations, power generation, and electrical safety, as well as work on U.S. Department of Defense and energy infrastructure projects.

A Montana-licensed master electrician, Lowe holds multiple professional certifications and has worked across a wide range of generation technologies, including hydro, renewable, co-generation, and industrial power systems. He is a graduate of Ronan High School, North Dakota State College of Technology’s Electrical Technology program, Montana’s five-year electrical apprenticeship program, and the University of Tennessee’s Industrial Automation and Control program.

Stacey Schnebel, president of the board, stated that the board of trustees was highly impressed by the quality of applicants seeking to represent District 8.

"Selecting from such a well-qualified pool of candidates was challenging due to the diverse range of experience each brought," Schnebel noted. "Preston’s background and his strong emphasis on safety, governance, and strategic planning will add valuable insight to the nine-member, democratically elected Board of Trustees responsible for overseeing the co-op."