CPCNH Welcomes Two New Board Members

Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire members elected Kenneth Traum of Hopkinton and John McCollister of Walpole as new Directors to CPCNH’s Board of Directors during the Coalition’s 2026 Annual Meeting on April 30. Members also re-elected Clifton Below, Kathleen Kelley, Doria Brown, and David Hemenway to additional three-year terms.

Following the Annual Meeting, the Board convened to elect officers for the coming year. Kim Quirk was re-elected Chair, Doria Brown was re-elected Vice Chair, Kathleen Kelley was re-elected Treasurer, and Clifton Below was elected Secretary. Peter Kulbacki was also appointed as the fifth member of the Executive Committee.

Kenneth Traum

Primary Representative from Hopkinton

Ken Traum brings decades of experience in public service, energy policy, consumer advocacy, and local government leadership to CPCNH’s Board of Directors. After earning his MBA from the University of New Hampshire, Traum spent most of his professional career with the State of New Hampshire, including roles at the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission and later the New Hampshire Office of the Consumer Advocate (OCA), where he served as Finance Director and Assistant Consumer Advocate. Following his retirement from state service and a period of private consulting, Traum was elected to the Hopkinton Select Board, where he served for 12 years, including 10 years as Vice Chair.

During his time in Hopkinton, Traum helped revive the town’s Energy Committee and played a leading role in advancing Community Power locally, helping guide both the Select Board and Town Meeting through the process of joining CPCNH. He continues to serve on the Hopkinton Energy Committee and as the town’s primary representative to CPCNH. In addition to his public service work, Traum is President of the Hopkinton Rotary Club and serves as Treasurer and former President of Granite State Independent Living.

“I have for many years, going back to my OCA days, been an advocate for customer choice and was involved in electric utility restructuring,” said Traum. “Community Power gives local communities the opportunity to play a direct role in New Hampshire’s evolving energy landscape.”

John McCollister

Alternate Representative from Walpole

John McCollister brings extensive experience in public policy, utility governance, business leadership, and state government to the CPCNH Board of Directors. McCollister served two terms in the Nebraska Legislature representing Omaha’s District 20 from 2015 to 2023, where he served on committees including Banking, Commerce and Insurance; Government, Military and Veterans Affairs; Natural Resources; and Revenue. Prior to his legislative service, McCollister spent nearly three decades on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Utilities District, a public utility serving the Omaha region, and also served as Executive Director of the Platte Institute for Economic Research.

During his time in Nebraska public service, McCollister was active in discussions surrounding utility policy, energy affordability, infrastructure modernization, and renewable energy development. He publicly supported the expansion of wind energy and other renewable resources in Nebraska, efforts that helped contribute to some of the lowest electricity rates in the country.

McCollister additionally spent more than 30 years leading McCollister & Co., a manufacturer of industrial and automotive lubricants, before later working in development and government outreach roles with Together Omaha. He earned a degree in business administration and finance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

“After attending a CPCNH meeting, I realized I have a great deal to learn about the energy landscape in New England,” said McCollister. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from CPCNH members and look forward to working with communities across the Coalition in the years ahead.”

Additional information about CPCNH’s Board of Directors, officers, and governance structure is available on the Coalition’s Board of Directors webpage.