Dick Peffley’s experience at the Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) is extensive, having served in many capacities in the electric and water utilities as one of BWL’s longest serving employees. He joined the BWL in 1976 as a janitor at Erickson Power Station. A family affair, Dick’s father, Roy E. Peffley oversaw the construction of the Erickson plant and later retired from the BWL after a long career of overseeing power plant construction around the world. The Roy E. Chilled Water Plant was later renamed in his honor.

 

Peffley was later promoted to the manager of Erickson after finishing his associate degree in science. He was promoted again to the Manager of Operations, which he did for 10 years.

 

In 2006, he was asked by the BWL Board of Commissioners to serve as interim general manager. After the permanent position was filled, Dick returned to his position of Manager of Operations, later promoted to Director of Water Operations and eventually Executive Director of Operations, overseeing all utility service operations. He was again named General Manger by the BWL Board of Commissioners on September 22, 2015, which is the role he has continued to serve since.

 

Peffley’s leadership over the BWL, Michigan’s largest publicly owned utility with approximately 100,000 electric customers and 58,000 water customers, is paving the way to a coal-free, cleaner energy future with commitments to an expanded renewable energy portfolio and carbon neutrality.

 

In January 2022, he oversaw contract negotiations for a battery cell manufacturing plant, a transformational $2.6 billion investment that supports electric vehicle production in Lansing. He oversaw the development and construction of the $500 million natural gas-fired Delta Energy Park, and in 2021, successfully renegotiated a coal contract which resulted in $52 million of savings over two years.

 

Peffley oversaw the completion to remove all lead water service lines in 2016, the second utility in the country to do so, and led the Water Department’s efforts that distributed a record-breaking 1 billion gallons of water in a single month to customers during the heat wave in July 2013. Peffley was also the project manager for the $20 million chilled water plant name after his father, which came in on time and on budget.

 

Peffley was the project manager for the $182 million natural gas-fired REO Congeneration Plant and Headquarters, which came in on time and on budget in 2013.

 

Peffley's commitment to a cleaner energy future goes beyond his role as general manager. He installed a residential, 20,000 watt solar array in his backyard that he constructed himself. Peffley also serves as a board member for the Michigan Munical Electric Association (MMEA).

Final reminder:  The due date is almost on us for this year’s International Grants.  Here’s a link to a report from MSU Students who did received a grant with last year’s cycle.  They are being true to the “Spartans Will” credo of the University and doing good works with micro lending.  Take a minute to see their two minute report back to us on how the funds were deployed.

 

 

  The grant period for the International Grants will be open from October 15th to November 15th, 2025.  The link for the application is below:

 

 

Each year our Foundation looks to its members to identify International Projects worthy of our assistance. Members of the Rotary Club of Lansing can sponsor grants to organizations which advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The International Committee meets to review and score applications for funding. Funding is typically in the $1,000 to $5,000 range per project. Annually our Foundation has typically awarded a totally of $30,000 to $40,000 for international grants. If you’re interested in submitting a grant application or serving on the international committee, please contact: Kevin Schumacher, schumacher@glassenrhead.com .

The Rotary Club of Lansing invites you to the Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon on January 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. to be held at the Lansing Center. Our Club will reserve one or more tables at the celebration depending on participation. This year we will be taking deposits to confirm your seats. To sign up, or for any questions please contact:

Bilky Joda-Miller at bilky@allbodykneads.com 

The Rotary Club of Lansing meeting was called to order at 12:30. President Chris Swope led us in the four way test. Just realizing we forgot to congratulate him on his resounding victory last week on Election Day!

 

Kelli Ellsworth-Etchison led us in a reflection. She is still in our club? She said only John Cauley can get her here.

 

She read a reflection about Power. Let us tap in to our power to leave our legacy. So please get started on that, ideally by tomorrow.

 

Our patriotic song for the day was America the Beautiful.

 

Our guests for the day included Kylee Mohammed, who is a financial advisor and certified divorce analyst at Ameriprise Financial in Okemos. She can help you build wealth and then fairly divide it forever. Sara Majeske was my guest from Custom Built – here to build custom relationships. Assistant Director of African Studies Isaac Kalumbu from Zimbabwe joined us as well.

 

John Lundy is Dunder Mifflin’s Assistant to the Regional Manager. I mean Assistant District Governor for our club – I’m told this is an important title. Chris Sell joined us as Director of Alumni and Entrepreneur Engagement at the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship along with Ed Phillips who leads the travel program at MSU. A professional vacation curator.

 

Cameo King was in attendance – she is Executive Director of Grit Glam and Guts as well as the Director of Corporate Relations and Annual Giving for the Capital Area United Way. Sounds like lots of big jobs. Health of the club – Sarah Garcia is sporting a fashionable orthopedic boot. Congrats to Bobby Hoffman on his retirement from Wharton Center. Now free to chase his dreams full time!

 

Courtney Millbrook introduced Shruthi Kattumenu who played the violin for us today. She is also the Marketing and Communications Manager at Lansing Symphony Orchestra. Some people collect stamps. Shruthi collects jobs. The International Grant Application process is open from October 15th through November 15th. The link for the application is located in the Rotogram and our website.

 

The 41st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch is on January 18th, 2026 at the Lansing Center at 11:00 am. To sign up, contact Bilky Joda-Miller to take your deposit to confirm your seat.

 

There will be a committee meeting after todays meeting for Loftus Club. If you’re just reading this, you’re too late!

 

 

Chris Holman came up for the October birthdays. There are only two people who haven’t donated yet and Chris is confident they will participate. The question for the month was “What was your favorite Halloween costume?” Jerry Granger was Big Bird – whose nose is larger than his! Nathan Tripplet dressed as a Minute Man before dressing up like Lin-Manuel Miranda was cool.

 

John Cauley, our Chair of the Day, introduced Renee Branch Canady, our speaker.

 

Renee’s presentation was titled “Timing is Everything: A Call for Leaders to Lead.” Renee has been a public health professional for almost forty years and currently is the CEO at Michigan Public Health Institute. Her work began in the 1980’s – and that is when she continued to see that differences were driving inequity in the public health space. Plot twist – this is still a thing.

 

Renee thinks that now is a Time for Change. We are getting some things wrong. She reminded us of a quote from Patrick Henry – United we Stand, Divided we Fall. Ironic that Patrick Henry was not known for needing health insurance, but sure.

 

The challenge of making peace with difference. She spoke about the “excuse me, but” phenomenon – because it’s time to speak up. “In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friend” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

We then did an exercise in which we read the sentence “I didn’t say she stole the book” at our tables. And each time we emphasized a different word in the sentence. This shows how we all use the same words that can mean entirely different things. Turns out, depending on which word you emphasize, the sentence can mean anything from a denial to a polite accusation to full-blown gossip. So yes, YOU are the reason your emails cause problems. Inaction is as problematic as wrong action. She introduced Productive Outrage. “That’s all I can stand, and I can’t stands no more!” – this is a quote from Popeye. He was the original DEI consultant. Productive Outrage is not screaming in your car, but rather indignation that fuels change. Why aren’t YOU pissed off, too!?

 

Change Agent Tables Stakes

 

It’s not about you. But it’s all about you.

Relationships are primary. All else is derivative.

Keep people whole and Keep them at the table.

We do this work not because we have to, but because we get to.

 

“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the worlds grief. Do justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it” – Talmud.

 

Next week, we will be back here in the Michigan Room and our speaker will be Dick Peffley, General Manager with Lansing Board of Water and Light. Prepare to be productively outraged about data centers and the fact that your bill has never been the same twice!!!

 

Email for Ben Rathbun:  Ben@rathbunagency.com