Chris Birky | District 1

Chris Birky; his wife, Melissa; and their five children reside in Pleasant Township. They have been Kankakee Valley REMC members for 28 years. 

Birky owns and operates Birky Family Farms Country Gourmet catering and concessions, is the founder of South County Love Your Neighbor not-for-profit, and also owns a small manufacturing company that provides products to pork and poultry producers. 

In addition, he and his brother farm and operate a small farrow-to-finish hog operation in Morgan and Pleasant townships. His family also raise Boer goats and sheep. 

Birky enjoys coaching different sports and assisting his children with their 4-H projects. Birky was elected to the KV REMC board of directors in 2004. Through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Birky has earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate, Board Leadership certificate and Director Gold credentials.  

Dean Moretton | District 2

Dean Moretton and his wife, Laura, have been Morgan Township residents and Kankakee Valley REMC members since 2001. 

Moretton started as an electrical engineer with a degree from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and has acquired his MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.  As an energy leader with 35 years of electric utility experience, Moretton specializes in minimizing energy costs for utility customers and environmental impact. He leverages this proficiency as the chief commercial officer of an international hydrogen energy company. 

He previously held board positions with the prestigious national Cooperative Leadership Network and Queen City Angels. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Rose-Hulman Sawmill. 

As a director on the Kankakee Valley REMC board of directors, Moretton has earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate, Board Leadership certificate, and Director Gold credentials. Beyond his employment, Dean is a published author and conference speaker about utility best practices, cooperative economic topics and innovation in the energy field.