Alliant Energy has announced that Terry Kouba, President of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company will retire effective May 1, 2024. The Board of Directors has appointed Mayuri (May) Farlinger to succeed Kouba as President of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company, and to also serve as Vice President of Operations effective May 1, 2024.

“Terry’s 42 years of dedicated service is a testament to his passion and commitment to serving customers and communities across the state of Iowa,” said John Larsen, Executive Chairman. “His empowering leadership style, experience and focus on operational excellence has served our customers well. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish him all the best as he enters his well-deserved retirement.”

Alliant Energy has announced that Terry Kouba, President of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company will retire effective May 1, 2024. The Board of Directors has appointed Mayuri (May) Farlinger to succeed Kouba as President of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company, and to also serve as Vice President of Operations effective May 1, 2024.

“Terry’s 42 years of dedicated service is a testament to his passion and commitment to serving customers and communities across the state of Iowa,” said John Larsen, Executive Chairman. “His empowering leadership style, experience and focus on operational excellence has served our customers well. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish him all the best as he enters his well-deserved retirement.”

Xcel Energy has announced that Chris Clark, current President of Xcel Energy – Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, will retire March 1, 2024. Ryan Long, Xcel Energy’s interim general counsel, will succeed Clark as the new president, effective January 1, 2024.

“I want to thank Chris for his tremendous contributions to the company. He helped lead the nation’s clean energy transition and was instrumental in driving our wind leadership to new heights in the Upper Midwest,’’ said Bob Frenzel, Xcel Energy’s chairman, president and CEO.

Xcel Energy has announced other changes to its executive leadership team. Brett Carter, Executive Vice President, Group President of Utilities and Chief Customer Officer, is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Current Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Compliance officer Amanda Rome has been named to this role, effective immediately. The company’s four operating company presidents and customer organization leaders will report to Rome.

Ryan Long, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, will step in as General Counsel and oversee the legal and corporate compliance group on an interim basis.

Alliant Energy has announced that its Board of Directors elected John Larsen, current Board Chair and CEO, to the position of Executive Chairman, effective January 1, 2024. In addition, Lisa Barton has been elected CEO of Alliant Energy and a member of the Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2024.

"Lisa is an outstanding leader, with a track record of driving strategic outcomes, making her uniquely qualified to take on the CEO role during this period in our industry," Larsen said. "The board and I are confident she will further Alliant Energy’s ability to deliver consistent results as we deliver on our purpose of serving customers and helping to build stronger communities. I look forward to working closely with Lisa in her new role."

Barton joined Alliant Energy in February of this year as President and COO.  

"I am excited and appreciative for the opportunity to take on the role of CEO during this exciting time for our company and industry," Barton said. "I am honored to follow John's leadership and look forward to our continued partnership. There has never been a more exciting time to be in the industry, and it is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with our dedicated and innovative team at Alliant Energy, where we are focused on successfully delivering on our purpose of serving customers and building stronger communities."

"The Board of Directors is confident that Lisa will provide excellent leadership at Alliant Energy, and working with our deep bench of leaders, continue to deliver superior value to our customers, communities and shareowners," said Carol Sanders, independent lead director of the board of directors. "On behalf of the Alliant Energy Board of Directors, I also want to thank John for his outstanding and continued leadership. His track record as CEO in delivering long-term value to customers, communities and shareowners is built upon his strong foundation of serving our company for the past 35 years. We are pleased that he is stepping into his new role as executive chairman and will continue to help shape the future direction of Alliant Energy." 

Sanders will remain in her role as lead independent director.

In Larsen's new role as Executive Chairman, he will remain an employee of Alliant Energy and Chair of the Board of Directors, and Barton will report to him. Working closely with Barton, Larsen will oversee key strategic matters important to the company, including the development of the company’s strategy, as well as legislative and investor engagement. He will remain actively engaged in key energy and economic policy matters, and with key stakeholders and in the community.

Xcel Energy has announced that Timothy Welsh has been elected to the company’s board of directors, effective immediately.

Welsh, who currently serves as Vice Chair for U.S. Bancorp’s Consumer and Business Banking, is an accomplished business and community leader with decades of experience in a variety of diverse fields, including financial services, customer experience, workforce development, and operations. Across several industries, Welsh’s work has centered on understanding consumer behavior and creating strategies to respond to consumer preferences. Welsh also brings a passion for helping enhance the vitality of the community and opportunities for its residents.

ALLIANT ENERGY NAMED A TOP UTILITY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Site Selector Magazine announced for the fifth consecutive year that Alliant Energy has earned their Top Utility in Economic Development honor. The annual list recognizes the company for its contributions to local community development and job creation.

Gov. Tony Evers has announced his appointment of Summer Strand to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC). The appointment fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Ellen Nowak, which was effective March 1. This appointment was effective March 2, 2023, for a six-year term expiring in 2029.

Xcel Energy's Wisconsin and Michigan’s new President, Karl Hoesly, recently announced the promotion of Mara Ascheman as Regional Vice President of Rates and Regulatory Affairs and Tyrel Zich as Regional Vice President of Regulatory Policy. Both will report directly to President Hoesly.

Ms. Ascheman is currently a principal regulatory attorney with more than 12 years’ experience representing Xcel Energy before the Wisconsin and Minnesota state regulatory commissions in a wide variety of electric and natural gas proceedings. In her new role she will direct the development of regulatory rate case filings and Public Service Commission permitting and oversee the revenue requirements for the Wisconsin and Michigan Company.

American Transmission Company has promoted four executives who reflect the company’s commitment to the strategic vision of providing safe, reliable transmission service in an increasingly complex electric grid. Jared Winters has been named Vice President, construction and asset maintenance. Debbie Masbruch has been named Vice President, Project Controls, Supply Chain and Analytics. Sarah Justus has been named Director, Major Project Development. Michelle Stokes has been named Director, Field Services.

Chairman of the Board, President and CEO Mike Rowe said, “Promoting these individuals sets ATC up for success as we meet the business challenges of the evolving energy landscape and our strategic priorities.”

Alliant Energy Corporation has announced the appointment of Lisa M. Barton to the newly created role of President and Chief Operating Officer, effective February 27, 2023. In this role, Ms. Barton will work closely with John O. Larsen, Alliant Energy’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer, to execute the company’s investment growth plan and continue advancing Alliant Energy’s work to enable a clean energy future for the customers and communities Alliant Energy serves. She will oversee the company’s two public utility subsidiaries, Interstate Power and Light and Wisconsin Power and Light, as well as Alliant Energy’s customer experience, sustainability and regulatory strategies.

Ms. Barton most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utility companies in the United States. She was responsible for all of AEP’s regulated operations across eleven states and for the health and safety of 16,700 employees. Ms. Barton is known as a passionate advocate for a responsible clean energy transition. She is credited with guiding AEP’s expansion into regulated renewables and shaping the company’s grid reliability and resiliency initiatives.

Xcel Energy is pleased to announce that Karl Hoesly will succeed Mark Stoering as the next President for Xcel Energy-Wisconsin and Michigan beginning December 1, 2022.

Hoesly has worked for Xcel Energy for 15 years and currently serves as the Regional Vice President for Rates and Regulatory Affairs, a position he has held since 2018. In this role, he provides overall direction and leadership of Xcel Energy’s regulatory affairs function in Wisconsin and Michigan. He is also part of the senior management team that develops the company’s strategy and policies in the regulatory, legislative and customer service areas. Hoesly was previously Manager of Regulatory Affairs. 

Mark Stoering, President, Xcel Energy-Wisconsin and Michigan, is retiring at the end of the year after more than 33 years of service to the company. He played key roles in laying the foundation for the company’s clean energy strategy, including leading the development of community solar in Wisconsin and the first company-owned wind farms.

 “Mark has had a tremendous impact on our company and, more importantly, the hundreds of communities we serve in Wisconsin and Michigan,” said Bob Frenzel, Chairman, President and CEO of Xcel Energy, Inc. “He has always been a great innovator and leader and has built a strong team that will carry on his legacy.”

Ave M. Bie, a business law, utilities and energy attorney, has been appointed to the board of directors of WEC Energy Group Her appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2023.

"We're delighted that Ave has agreed to join the WEC Energy Group board," said Gale Klappa, Executive Chairman. "Her extensive public and private experience in the utility sector will add another layer of depth to an engaged and effective board of directors."

  Xcel Energy has announced that has been elected to the company’s Board of Directors effective immediately. Burkhart is an accomplished executive with decades of experience in human resources compensation, culture, and diversity, equity and inclusion. She currently serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer at Comerica Incorporated, a major financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. She is responsible for leading the bank’s people strategy and organization for the $94 billion company. Prior to her current role, Burkhart served as Senior Vice president and Director of Compensation. She joined Comerica in 1997.

American Transmission Company has announced that Scott J. Lauber, President and Chief Executive Officer of WEC Energy Group, has joined ATC’s Board of Directors, replacing J. Kevin Fletcher who retired from WEC Energy Group on June 1, 2022. Eric Lundberg, ATC’s Vice President of Finance, was named the company’s Treasurer, a title previously held by Mike Hofbauer, ATC’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Lauber was named President and CEO of WEC Energy Group and appointed to the company’s Board of Directors in February 2022. He became President — We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Michigan Gas Utilities and Minnesota Energy Resources in January 2022, and President, Upper Michigan Energy Resources in February 2022. In the president roles, Lauber is responsible for business operations for WEC Energy Group’s utilities in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. Lauber joined Wisconsin Energy Corporation in 1990 and has held positions of increasing responsibility, including financial manager, distribution operations, and manager, corporate accounting and budgeting.

Brooke Trammell, who has served as regional vice president for Rates and Regulatory Affairs for Xcel Energy’s Colorado jurisdiction since 2018, has accepted the position of Regional Vice President for Regulatory and Pricing for the Texas and New Mexico system, succeeding Bill Grant who is retiring June 1. Trammell has been with Xcel Energy for almost a decade, starting in Amarillo as a regulatory case specialist in September 2012 before taking the role of rate case manager in 2014.

She left regulatory in 2016 when she was named director for Customer and Community Relations in Texas and New Mexico.

AMERICAN TRANSMISSION COMPANY ANNOUNCES PROMOTION
American Transmission Co. has named Greg Levesque Vice President of External Affairs and Communications.

In this newly created position, Levesque will oversee policy, government affairs, real estate, environmental, customer relations, interconnection services, local relations and corporate communications.