Meet Our New CEO

Please join LREC staff and the Board of Directors in welcoming our Cooperative’s new CEO, Joel Janorschke!
Janorschke was named CEO on May 6th following the recruitment and interview process by the Board CEO search committee and Debra Englund of HRExpertiseBP that began in March.
Set to officially begin his new role on June 16th, Joel comes to LREC from Cooperative Light & Power (CLP) in Two Harbors, MN, where he served as that organization’s CEO since October 2022.
Originally from St. Joseph, MN, Janorschke’s experience in the electric power industry runs deep, beginning his career as an apprentice lineworker with both Anoka Electric Co-op and Stearns Electric Association before achieving his journeyman certification. Other previous positions in our field include Light Construction Crew Chief, Maintenance Crew Chief, Design Engineer, and Operations Manager before assuming his role as CEO. During his time with CLP, Janorschke initiated the implementation of an Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) program – resulting in a reduction of tree-related outages of 21% – and assisted the Board in both redistricting efforts and amendment of the organization’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, which received member approval this past spring.
Janorschke is also a graduate of St. Cloud State University’s Herberger Business School, receiving both an MBA (June 2022) and a Graduate Certificate in Management and Leadership (April 2025), respectively, after successfully completing the National Rural Electric Association’s Management Internship Program in 2017.
An avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hunting, and hiking, Janorschke’s family includes wife Tammy, an Executive Director for the Carefree Living assisted living facility in Silver Bay, MN; daughters Audrey (Certified Nursing Assistant) and Paige (Teacher); son Carter (Postal Worker); and granddaughter Caroline who is finishing her year in kindergarten.
As he begins his tenure with LREC, Janorschke looks forward to bringing his experience in working with other cooperatives to this next chapter in his career.
“My priority is understanding LREC’s culture, values, and operational processes. By building strong relationships with my colleagues and gaining insight into how the team functions, we can effectively collaborate and contribute to initiatives that enhance our members’ experience,” Janorschke said. “Understanding their needs and identifying ways to serve our members better will be at the forefront of my efforts.”
Congratulations, Joel! We are glad to have you on board!