Dennis Kingren handles the warehouse at Eastern Illini, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his job responsibilities. Very seldom do you see Denny without a hat adorning his head and that’s how his work goes too. He wears many hats.

 

He can be found ordering and receiving materials, inventorying incoming shipments, verifying that resources and supplies are available when needed for jobs in the field, and providing equipment for Eastern Illini crews. At other times, Denny can be found finishing a concrete project, repairing a gate or helping out another employee.

For over 30 years, Denny has been a part of the electric cooperative family. He began his career with Eastern Illinois Power Cooperative in 1986. His home building expertise and knowing the right people, landed him his first job at the co-op.

He started out in Member Services, spent time as an apprentice journeyman lineman and found his niche when the warehouse position became available and he’s been doing that ever since. He enjoys the diversity of his position. There’s always something new or different to do on a daily basis.

His greatest challenges at work are the storms. Everyone at EIEC works together to get member/owner’s electricity back on as quickly as possible and that takes a team effort.

Everyone knows Denny and Denny knows everyone. He’s never met a stranger. He’s the type of person when he enters an elevator full of people, he’ll find out your name, the name of your children and all about you before you step off the elevator and he’ll remember you, so the next time he sees you around he’ll greet you as a friend.
His friends recount a snowmobiling trip Denny took to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. His fellow snowmobilers were always waiting on Denny to come out of the restaurants where they dined, because Denny struck up numerous conversations with the locals and made an abundance of new friends.

His people skills have served him well throughout his career. He has formed strong relationships with people both inside and outside Eastern Illini. He goes out of his way to serve the needs of member/owners and employees. Much of what he does happens behind the scenes and Denny is modest

 

to take credit for his many accomplishments.

“You won’t find a more dedicated, loyal employee than Denny,” said Mike Zalaker, Vice President of Procurement and Physical Resources at EIEC. “I’ve worked with Denny for over 30 years and greatly appreciate his valuable contributions to Eastern Illini over the years. He goes above and beyond to do his job and he does it well.”

Denny has the keen ability to interact with people at all levels of management, staff and member/owners. It might be his quirky sense of humor that endears people to him. He knows how to get a laugh, make light of serious issues and express humor through a witty pun, good joke or playful prank.

Another hat worn by Denny is that of Fire Chief of Paxton. He’s been with the fire department since 1973 and has served as chief since 2002.

As a career firefighter he’s seen it all and he never knows when the pager is going to tone out and what he’ll find. In a matter of minutes, he can go from being a civilian to dealing with a devastating house fire. It’s all in a day’s work.

Denny was born and raised in Paxton. He currently lives in Paxton, with his wife Jennie. He has two sons, one daughter-in-law and almost four grandchildren. His fourth grandchild will be arriving in June.

Denny enjoys snowmobiling in the winter months and in the summer, you’ll find him on his boat with his grandchildren on Clinton Lake.

Denny likes working at EIEC. He counts his co-workers as his friends. Denny takes helping the member/owners seriously and he truly believes in the cooperative mission to provide reliable service at a reasonable cost. Member/owners are #1 in his book and he always aims to deliver on that mission.

As Denny begins his 31st year at EIEC and his 16th year as Paxton Fire Chief, he is hopeful that 2018 will be a good year.