Mike Covelli
General Manager
Hello, my name is Mike Covelli and I am the General Manager for the Northern Lakes Cooperative. I am responsible for the development, growth, operations and financial success for all of the Cooperative businesses. I work directly with store managers on a daily basis to ensure that our customers get the best products and service that Hayward has to offer. I have spent my entire career managing and leading people in various leadership roles for two major corporations. I have had various roles mostly in Facilities Management, most recent as Senior Director of Operations. I enjoy building teams and supporting staff development in order to raise our businesses to the highest possible professional level.
I relocated from Batavia, Illinois. I enjoy fishing, Grouse hunting and cooking new and different foods.
My office is located in the General Office Building which is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Nina Nelson
General Office Manager
Hello, my name is Nina Nelson and I am a native to the Hayward area growing up in Moose Lake on a farm. I started working at the Co-op when I was younger doing dishes and over the years worked in many of the different departments. My current position is Credit Manager and Employee Benefits Coordinator as well as sharing payroll duties.
I enjoy bike riding, canoeing and do some cross country skiing in the winter months. I also enjoy vacationing in Laughlin, Nevada walking along the Colorado River and hiking in the area. I have been married to my husband Raymond “Scott” Nelson for over Thirty years.
Mollie Coddington
Marketing Coordinator
Hello, my name is Mollie Coddington. I am the Marketing Coordinator for all the Northern Lakes Cooperative. While learning more about the Cooperative Business I am focused on knowing more about our stores & our community. Advertising and Marketing have always been intriguing to me as it is not just one customer we focus on, we want to include our community and tourists to show them what our Cooperative has to offer.
Before moving to Hayward, I attended Dakota County Technical College for Graphic Design, which gave me a great stepping stone into art and computers. In my first semester I remember how amazing it was to see how advertising really makes an impact in everyone’s daily life. I grew up in River Falls, WI and we travel back often to see family and friends. My husband and I enjoy spending our time with our kids, teaching them and experiencing the beauty of the Northwoods.
Brenda Bublitz
Manager, Energy Center & C-Store
Hello, my name is Brenda Leonard and I am the manager of the Energy Center and Cenex Convenience Store of the Northern Lakes Cooperative. I am responsible for their growth, development and operational success. I work with all staff to ensure that products and services are delivered to our customers with professionalism and courtesy.
Providing great customer service is top priority and I enjoy helping develop our team to deliver that great service.
I am a graduate of the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College — Superior with an Administrative Assistant’s Associate Degree. My professional career has included administrative support roles in various businesses including health insurance, financial and real estate.
I have been blessed with being able to raise my son and daughter in this beautiful area. They are now married and have families of their own. Some of my favorite things to do are snowmobiling, fishing, listening to music, reading, cooking, having fun with my five grandkids and playing an occasional tune on the piano.
Chris Hofer
Do-It-Best® Hardware Store Manager
Hi, my name is Chris Hofer and I am the Store Manager here at the Northern Lakes Do It Best. Being a lifelong resident of Sawyer County and a patron of the Co-Op for years, I am very excited to be a part of the team! Many of you will know me from my over 25 years of work in the local customer service industry.
My wife Shannon and I have been married 16 years and live here in Hayward just a few blocks from the store. She teaches 5th grade at Hayward Intermediate School. We have four kids, 5 grandchildren (4 boys and 1 girl) and two Golden Retrievers (2 boys). Born and raised in Winter, but having called Hayward home for over 20 years, I appreciate all that our beautiful county has to offer. We are all so very fortunate to call it home! I enjoy playing golf on many of our spectacular area courses and seeing all the county has to offer on our beautiful ATV trail system.
As we move forward into the next phase of the Northern Lakes Co-Op, I thank you for your trust, friendship and loyalty to our organization. This is our home and you are our family and friends. I promise to do everything possible to have the Co-Op keep serving our community and move forward to new and exciting things! I look forward to seeing you at the store soon!
Eric Rantala
Do-It-Best® Hardware Assistant Store Manager
Hi, my name is Eric Rantala, I was raised in Hayward and Oulu WI. I Graduated K-12 from Hayward. I earned Associates Degree in Supervisory Management from WITC. I was hired at Northern Lakes Cooperative Hardware Department, started as a floor clerk. Currently, I am the Assistant Manager for the Do it Best Hardware Store as I have worked my way up throughout the years.
Jason Thummel
Auto Center Manager
Hello, my name is Jason Thummel, manager of the Northern Lakes Auto Center. I have been a member of the Northern Lakes Co-op team since 2012. After working for many years in Eau Claire, WI as a master certified auto repair technician, my wife and I decided to return to the Northwoods where we could start a family and raise our children away from the city life.
We currently live in Trego, WI with our two young boys who keep us active in various sports and outdoor activities. Many nights are spent attending youth sporting events. On those rare evenings not spent at the ball fields, we enjoy ATV riding on the local trails, canoeing down the Namekagon River, and motorcycling through the scenic back roads of Northern Wisconsin.
Before assuming the role of working manager here at the Northern Lakes Auto Center, I served as the lead auto repair technician. I’m not just pushing pencils these days. You’ll still find me in the shop turning wrenches alongside our other professional technicians. All of the staff here at NLC Auto Center are highly trained and qualified. Our combined years of experience and knowledge of the auto repair industry assure you a competent and honest repair experience every time you visit.
Dustin Halls
Maintenance
Hello, my name is Dustin, I started at the Feed Mill and then moved into the Maintenance Department. I look to serve the Cooperative businesses to the best of my abilities, as the Co-op looks to serve you to the best of our abilities.