Larry Koshire — Interim Utilities Manager
Larry Koshire recently joined SPU as the Interim Utilities Manager. Mr. Koshire was the General Manager of Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) – MN’s largest electric municipal utility – for 17 years before retiring in 2014. Prior to RPU, he was the GM for Muscatine Power and Water, Muscatine, IA. Mr. Koshire graduated from the University of MN Institute of Technology and is a registered Professional Engineer in Minnesota and Iowa. He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and is active in numerous state and national boards, committees and professional organizations.
Joseph Adams—Planning and Engineering Director
Joseph Adams has served the Commission since 1992. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1983 with a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering and received his Professional License in 1991. After graduating from college, Mr. Adams worked for the U.S. Navy’s Facilities Engineering Command in the mobile utility facilities generation and distribution program for nine years.
Sharon Walsh—Marketing / Customer Relations Director
Sharon Walsh a long-time Shakopee resident, joined SPU in April 2015 coming from CBRE where she was the Sr. Office Operations Manager for the Minneapolis market. Her career includes prior senior management and marketing director positions in service industries, including YA Corporation and BI Worldwide. She has extensive strategic account management and customer relations experience. Sharon obtained her B.S. Business Administration degree in 1985 from MN State University, Mankato, majoring in Marketing with a minor in Design.
Currently Vacant —Finance / Administrative Director
Greg Drent—Electric Superintendent
Greg Drent joined Shakopee Public Utilities as Electric Superintendent on July 1st 2016. Greg was previously employed with City of LeSueur for twenty years. He started as an apprentice lineman then moved to line foreman before becoming the Electric Director for seven-plus years. In 2015 LeSueur restructured the organization and he was promoted to Public Services Director where he was in charge of the Electric, Water, Wastewater and Street department. Greg also was on the board of directors for MMPA (Minnesota Municipal Power Agency) for the last nine years. Greg currently lives in LeSueur and has three children Lincoln, Dominic and Alivia.
Lon R. Schemel—Water Superintendent
Lon R. Schemel joined Shakopee Public Utilities as Water Superintendent on November 1st, 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Schemel worked for the City of Rockford, Illinois as a Water and SCADA System Supervisor for the City of Rockford, Illinois Water Department since 1986 and began his 40+ years in drinking water treatment in 1979. He is currently a member if two groundwater groups, the Southwest Metro Groundwater Work Group and the West Metro Groundwater Work Group. Mr. Schemel holds a Class A Certificate from the Minnesota Department of Health for water operations.
