RAPID CITY, S.D., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Black Hills Corp. today announced several leadership and organization structure changes that are effective immediately. Tom Ohlmacher, president and chief operating officer of the non-regulated energy business, has announced his intent to retire from the company in March 2011. With this in mind, Linn Evans, president and chief operating officer for the utility businesses, now has an expanded role that includes power generation and coal mining operations and will continue reporting to David Emery, chairman, president and chief executive officer.
"With Tom's pending retirement after 36 years of dedicated service to our company, and with the majority of our significant integration projects completed, now is the time to adjust our organization structure so that we further optimize the way we do business," Emery said. "Our focus must now shift from 'unification' to 'continuous improvement,' leveraging the newly integrated capabilities of our organization and the skills and expertise of our employees so that we continually deliver the results our shareholders and customers expect."
Evans has established a new leadership structure for the business units now reporting to him. The new structure will allow the company to realize additional synergies between its gas and electric utilities as well as between the utility and non-regulated energy businesses. The restructured leadership team includes:
-- Stuart Wevik, previously vice president of electric utilities, is now vice president, utility operations and is responsible for all gas and electric utility operations. -- Ivan Vancas, previously vice president, operations for Black Hills Energy - Kansas and Colorado Gas, is now vice president, utility services and is responsible for serving all of BHC's utilities through generation dispatch and power marketing, gas supply services, transmission services, engineering services, meter shop operations and customer service. -- Steve Pella, previously vice president, natural gas utilities, is now vice president strategic initiatives and is responsible for safety, environmental services, natural gas marketing services and supply chain. -- Mark Lux remains vice president and general manager of Power Delivery and is responsible for power generation and construction and coal mining operations. -- Brian Iverson, vice president of electric regulatory services, assumes interim responsibility for resource planning and renewable energy integration. -- Kyle White remains vice president of regulatory and government affairs.
Also as a part of the organization changes, Tori Campbell, vice president and general manager of Enserco, the company's energy marketing business, will begin reporting to Emery. John Vering, in his interim assignment as president and general manager of Black Hills Exploration & Production, will continue to report to Emery as he completes the strategic review of that business.
"I appreciate Tom's contributions and the lasting legacy he has built at our company. In addition, I congratulate Linn Evans, Stuart Wevik, Ivan Vancas and Steve Pella on their new roles within Black Hills Corp. and look forward to their continued contributions to our success," Emery said.
Black Hills Corporation
Black Hills Corp. -- a diversified energy company with a tradition of exemplary service and a vision to be the energy partner of choice -- is based in Rapid City, S.D., with corporate offices in Denver and Omaha, Neb. The company serves 763,300 natural gas and electric utility customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. The company's non-regulated businesses generate wholesale electricity, produce natural gas, oil and coal, and market energy. Black Hills' 2,200 employees partner to produce results that improve life with energy. More information is available at http://www.blackhillscorp.com/.
Black Hills Corp.
CONTACT: Jason Ketchum, +1-605-721-2765, or Media Relations line,
1-866-243-9002, both of Black Hills Corp.
Web Site: http://www.blackhillscorp.com/
