Riesland appointed to PRECorp Foundation Board

Hannah Gross 
NLJ Correspondent 
 
Newcastle native John Riesland was appointed to the eight-member board of directors for Powder River Energy Foundation in January to serve a three-year term as the Weston County representative, filling the vacancy left when Kathleen Tavegie passed away. 
PRECorp supplies the energy needs of northeastern Wyoming, and the foundation was created in 2007 “to demonstrate our commitment to people and non-
profit or charitable organizations in northeast Wyoming by lending a helping hand that will improve their quality of life or serve their community,” according to the website’s mission statement. 
According to the foundation’s 2019 annual report, $147,457 was donated to the communities, and since 2007, a total of $1,164,765 has been distributed by the foundation. 
The board gives back in a variety of ways, according to Riesland, including through various scholarships and meat donations. Last year, $41,000 was given in scholarships to high school and college
students, and recently, a memorial scholarship in honor of Kathleen Tavegie was created to aid students interested in a degree in elementary education. 
“It’s kind of neat to help young people,” Riesland said. “We donate a lot of meat to the B.R.E.A.D office and places like that. … It’s basically a way to give back to the community.” 
Riesland, who receives the foundation’s magazine, said he knew it was something he wanted to be involved with. So, when the opening for a Weston County representative came up, he applied. After writing a resume and attending a board meeting in December, Riesland was presented
before the PRECorp board, whose members selected him to serve on the foundation’s board of directors. 
“I want to be in that position to help people,” Riesland said. “I can be a voice and advocate for the people of Weston County.”
Riesland was born and raised in Newcastle and graduated from Newcastle High School in 1975. He attended the University of Wyoming and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree. After living in Colorado for six months, he and his wife moved back to Newcastle, where they’ve lived ever since. 
“They’re the kindest (people). They come together in time of need,” Riesland said. 
Riesland said that he would also like to listen and support the needs of the surrounding counties and that he still “has a lot to learn.” He’s looks forward to serving and giving back to the community, he said.