The Wire Staff

Andrew Roger

Andrew Roger is a contributor to The Wire and digital media coordinator at Omaha Public Power District. With 10 years of video production and photography experience, Andrew helps shape the image of OPPD and its employees through The Wire. Andrew and his wife keep busy with their toddler and a baby on the way. When he’s not playing on the floor with his family, Andrew works on remodeling his Midtown home, goes to local music and art shows, watches movies at Film Streams, home brews, works on video projects with his friends, and dreams about running the Dundee Theatre.

Angie Kaipust

Employee Communications Business Partner

Angie Kaipust joined OPPD as an employee communications business partner in November. She has more than 25 years of communication experience, including serving as a staff reporter at the Omaha World-Herald and as communications advisor for a national bank. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Angie enjoys spending time with her husband, two kids and miniature dachshund.

Danielle Beebe-Iske

Digital Media Coordinator

Danielle Beebe-Iske serves as OPPD's photographer and videographer. Previously, she worked in communication and marketing roles in the health care, lottery and railroad industries. She studied journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In her free time, Danielle enjoys all things outdoors, DIY home renovation and fostering kittens with the Nebraska Humane Society.

Eric BenSalah

Energy Advisor

Eric BenSalah is an Energy Advisor for OPPD. After spending time in the field doing HVAC work, he joined OPPD’s Contact Center in 2012, assisting customers with energy efficiency and heating and cooling-related inquiries. Over the last three years, Eric revamped the Energy Efficiency webpages at oppd.com and launched the new Energy Education Program. In his free time, Eric continues to play drums (for 30 years now) and is an avid reader of philosophy, astronomy, history and all things strange.

Erin Tedrick

Erin Tedrick began her career in journalism at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as a producer, then found herself in corporate financial communications where she honed her interviewing and writing skills. Erin joined OPPD in 2020 and has led technology communications and sits on the OPPD Women's Network Board as Communications Chair. She has a BA in Journalism & Mass Communications from the University of Iowa. She is married and has two kids and a goldendoodle named Ferris.

Grant Schulte

Grant Schulte joined OPPD as a content generalist in 2022. He is a former reporter for The Associated Press, where he covered the Nebraska Legislature, state politics and other news for a global audience. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa and a proud Hawkeye. In his free time he enjoys running, reading, spending time with his wife, and all things aviation.

Jason Kuiper

Content Generalist

Jason Kuiper joined OPPD as a communications specialist in 2015. He is a former staff writer and reporter at the Omaha World-Herald, where he covered a wide range of topics but spent the majority of his career covering crime. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and has also appeared in several true crime documentary shows. In his free time he enjoys cooking, spending time with his wife and three children, and reading crime novels.

Jeni Radik

Communication Assistant

Jeni Radik, a contributor to The Wire, is a jack-of-all-trades. She landed in the OPPD call center in 2008, graduating to Corporate Marketing & Communications. With 25 years’ worth of customer service skills, she morphed into a communications assistant, which is a good fit. When Jeni is not studying, she is spending time with her children, reveling with her grandchildren and bowling (she once rolled a perfect 300), among other activities.

Justin Gallegos

Justin Gallegos, an Omaha South High School graduate, is pursuing his education in the fine arts at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is part of the Legacy I3 program at OPPD. Justin works in Corporate Marketing and Communications at the utility. When Justin isn't working, he enjoys spending his free time outdoors, running, creating art, and most importantly, being with his family.

Jodi Baker

Media Specialist

Jodi Baker contributes stories to The Wire in addition to serving as a media liaison for OPPD. She was a reporter, working for news stations from her hometown of Omaha to San Diego, prior to joining the utility in 2013. Jodi has a bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, with a minor in Criminal Justice. She’s married with two older children and two younger dogs – Shi Tzu mixes. She loves watching her daughter’s track meets, going to concerts with her husband Dave, who used to co-host a local music video program, and traveling whenever possible.

Joe Comstock

Content Generalist

Joe Comstock, after 16 years of working as a designer, art director, illustrator and sculptor in Los Angeles, moved back to Omaha and is currently a content generalist at OPPD. Skilled in all things creative, he can make the mundane - magical, the trite - tantalizing and the difficult – digestible. Along with being a lover of alliteration, he has a keen interest in golf, paintball, hunting and not doing yard work. His California wife moved back with him and loves everything but the winters. His two children are both stand-up comedians.

Julie Wasson

Brand Journalism Strategist

Julie Wasson is the brand journalism strategist at Omaha Public Power District and the editor of The Wire. She has more than 25 years of print journalism and social media experience, including two stints at the Omaha World-Herald.

Jamie Wagner

Community Relations Project Manager

Jamie Wagner joined OPPD as a Community Relations Project Manager in November 2018. Her focus is engaging members of the community and increasing awareness and reach of OPPD’s outreach efforts. Jamie thoroughly enjoys live music with her husband and occasionally drags her kids along, too.

Laura King-Homan

Manager, Corporate Brand & Communication Operations

Laura King-Homan is the manager of Corporate Brand and Communication Operations, at Omaha Public Power District. She has nearly 20 years of print journalism and design experience, including the Omaha World-Herald.

Paula Lukowski

Paula Lukowski has more than 34 years of corporate communications experience. By far, her favorite aspect of that role has been profiling the great work done by OPPD employees and retirees. A master gardener, Paula and her husband Mark have two grown children and two grandsons.

Rita Rodriguez

Media Specialist

Terry Zank

Senior Digital Channel Specialist

Terry Zank is a contributor to The Wire and senior digital channel specialist at OPPD, where he has worked for 30 years. He and his wife have three sons. Terry enjoys bike riding, playing racquetball, hiking, watching college football, watching great movies from years’ past, and citing quotes from those movies, much to his family’s chagrin.

Tony Dreibus

Freelance Contributor

Tony Dreibus is a freelance reporter and editor based in Austin, Texas, who grew up in Omaha where he attended high school and college and worked for several local publications. In 2006 he was hired by Bloomberg News to cover commodities working in Chicago and London. After almost eight years at Bloomberg, Dreibus was hired as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal before moving to Austin to pursue a freelance career.

Tricia McKnight

Employee Communications Business Partner

Tricia McKnight is a communications business partner for OPPD. She supports all things employee communications and helps to ensure employees have avenues to communicate. Since joining OPPD in 2009, Tricia has gained electric utility knowledge by working with engineers, collectors and meter techs, along with product development and marketing. She is a graduate of Bellevue University and in her free time enjoys camping, boating, swimming, fishing and volleyball.

Wire Staff