About the Board of Trustees
The municipal utilities are owned by the citizens of Cedar Falls and operated on a not-for-profit basis for public benefit.
More than 60 years ago the City Council delegated governance of the municipal utilities to a five-member Board of Trustees. Utility Trustees are Cedar Falls citizens appointed by the Mayor to six-year terms.
The Trustees establish policies and set utility rates; review and approve expenditures and the annual operating and capital budgets for each utility; award contracts let through public bidding; engage in long-term resource and strategic planning; and hire the general manager who oversees daily utility operations.
Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. at the Utility office on Utility Parkway, Cedar Falls. The Board agenda is published on the Monday prior to each meeting and the public is welcome to attend. Agenda and minutes from past meetings are also available.
Board Members
To contact a CFU board member call 319-268-5351 during weekday business hours or email cfu@cfunet.net.
Richard L. McAlister, Chair
September 2016 - Present
Richard McAlister is a retired Cedar Falls City Administrator and has been a Cedar Falls resident since 1975. He served in a leadership role with the City of Cedar Falls from 1975 to 2016. He was a member of the Citizens Wired for the Future Committee that led the effort to organize the CFU Communications Utility
Jeff Engel, Vice Chair
March 2014 - Present
Jeff Engel is the owner and President of Foster’s Inc. and is a Cedar Falls native. Jeff has been a leader in trade associations and his local community service also includes terms on the St. Patrick Church Board of Education and the Board of the Archdiocese of Dubuque School Tuition Organization.
MaraBeth Soneson, Secretary
September 2012 - Present
MaraBeth Soneson is a retired VP of WebMD/Emdeon and retired owner of Acorn Advisors, LLC. MaraBeth is a long-time resident of Cedar Falls. She is the former Executive Director of Cedar Falls Community Main Street, and previously a VP at WebMD/Emdeon. She was a member of the CF Vision 2020 Strategic Planning Group and Co-Chair of the Healthier Cedar Falls Task Force/Blue Zones.
Deb Iehl
September 2019 - Present
Deb Iehl is co-owner of Agape Therapy. As a physical therapist, she shares her passion for the field with preschool through college-aged area students and has volunteered professionally in Asia, Europe and Central America. She has also served in leadership roles with industry trade organizations. Deb is a long-time resident of Cedar Falls. Her love for the community extends to local volunteer service including Boy Scouts, youth sports, Mothers of Preschoolers International and her church.
Nick Evens
August 2023 - Present
Nick Evens is President and CEO of Curql Collective, LLC. Prior to joining Curql, Nick served as President of The Veridian Group. Nick is currently serving on the Black Hawk County Gaming Association Board. Previously he served on the Governing Board of Directors at Cedar Valley Hospice, the Board of Trustees for the Cedar Falls Public Library, the Board of Trustees for Sartori Memorial Hospital and the Board of Directors for Red Cedar.
Brad Strouse, Board of Trustees Counsel
June 2023 - Present
Brad Strouse serves as the attorney for the CFU Board of Trustees. Brad is a Cedar Falls native and a partner at the law firm of Redfern, Mason, Larsen & Moore, P.L.C. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a law degree from Drake University. Brad has served on a number of local charitable boards and civic organizations.