NIPCO Bids Farewell to Jeff Persinger After 17 Years of Service

After nearly two decades of dedicated service, NIPCO bids farewell to Jeff Persinger who retired on April 4, 2025—just one day after celebrating his 62nd birthday. Since joining the NIPCO family on June 23, 2008, Jeff has been instrumental in NIPCO’s growth and technological advancement.

A Career Built on Problem-Solving

Jeff came to NIPCO with specialized knowledge in substation automation from his previous role at Cannon Technologies in Sioux City, where he worked as a substation systems technician. His RTU (remote terminal unit), protective relay and telecommunications experience made him a perfect fit for NIPCO’s evolving needs.

The introduction to NIPCO came through a former colleague, Ralph Haage, who had heard NIPCO might be looking for someone with Jeff’s skillset. After just one meeting with NIPCO representatives, Jeff was encouraged to apply—and as he puts it, “the rest is history.”

Initially hired as a Control & Relay Technician in the Apparatus Department under Jim Anderson, Jeff’s career path took an unexpected turn when Ralph Haage joined NIPCO as Anderson’s replacement. When Haage’s health declined, Jeff absorbed many additional responsibilities, eventually stepping into a leadership role despite his earlier reservations.

“I swore I would never be a supervisor again,” Jeff laughs. “But I took the position and tried to make good decisions over the years. I guess it’s worked out ok.”

Leading Through Innovation

Jeff credits his leadership approach to valuable early guidance from his supervisors, who encouraged staff to bring both problems AND solutions to the table. This philosophy became the foundation for how his department approached challenges.

Jeff immediately points to technological advancements when reflecting on the biggest changes during his 17-year tenure. He notes how remote equipment now collects data that helps diagnose issues before substation electricians arrive on site, significantly enhancing efficiency during outages or equipment failures.

“It’s difficult to find people with the ideal qualifications to work in the Apparatus Department. People with good electrical, mechanical, troubleshooting and computer skills, but are still willing to pick up and use a shovel when needed,” Jeff remarks, expressing tremendous gratitude for a team capable of handling the many aspects of the job.

Jeff takes particular pride in NIPCO’s commitment to phasing out and replacing all oil reclosers and electro-mechanical protective relays in the system, replacing these units with updated technology that continues to safeguard system reliability. He is confident that the equipment incorporated into NIPCO’s electric infrastructure as part of the Renewal & Replacement Plan positions NIPCO well for the future.

Before his departure, Persinger focused his efforts on updating the communications package on NIPCO’s 5MVA (Mega-Volt Ampere) mobile substation—a project that, in his words, “snowballed into a few other things we needed to upgrade or repair on the unit.” He’s pleased to see this project reaching completion before his final day.

Passing the Torch

Jeff recently stepped back from his primary leadership duties to allow his successor, Jason Stock, to grow into the role. “Jason is well-suited to lead the department,” Jeff says. “He has been with NIPCO a long time and has a great deal of experience in many of the roles his department addresses.”

Jason Stock has a long tenure with NIPCO and is familiar with several areas of operations at the cooperative. Hired in 2003 as a Control Operator, Stock transitioned to the Apparatus Department in 2008 and worked as a Substation Electrician. After serving in this role for ten years, Stock returned to the Control Center as a Relief Control Operator, where he served until he was named Apparatus Services Manager in July of 2024. Stock worked side-by-side with Persigner to learn the ropes and gradually shift the department leadership to Stock. “I have always had a great appreciation for the variety of work done in the Apparatus Department and am grateful for the opportunity to lead its operations,” said Stock.

Looking Ahead

As Jeff reflects on his time with NIPCO, his appreciation for the organization shines through. “I can’t think of a better place to have worked or a better group of people to have worked with,” he says. “I hope people realize what we’ve got right here. I never thought I would be working for a utility with my skillset as an ‘electronics guy.’ I can’t believe it’s been seventeen years... I’ve learned so much.”

Jeff and his wife Lorri now look forward to working on home projects, and they plan to sell their house and eventually relocate to north Texas. They’ll enjoy warmer weather there and reconnect with other Iowans who have made the same move.

The entire NIPCO family extends heartfelt thanks to Jeff for his years of dedicated service and wishes him a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement!