RAPID CITY, S.D. - April 25, 2016 - Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) today announced that Steven Helmers, senior vice president and general counsel, will retire at the end of June. Brian Iverson, the company's senior vice president, regulatory and governmental affairs and assistant general counsel, will succeed Helmers and has been appointed senior vice president and general counsel effective April 25, 2016, reporting to David R. Emery, chairman and chief executive officer. Helmers will provide transition support until his retirement to ensure a smooth succession.
Helmers joined Black Hills in January 2001 to establish the company's first in-house legal department, and has provided expert leadership and counsel to the company, its senior management and board of directors for more than 15 years. His contributions over his tenure have been significant, including key contributions to the company's many acquisitions and divestitures. Most notably, he played a critical role in the acquisition of Aquila in 2008 and SourceGas in 2016, each of which were highly transformative acquisitions that helped fuel the company's industry-leading growth and bolster its commitment to customers.
'Steve's leadership has been instrumental to Black Hills's success as we have dramatically expanded our utility holdings and re-focused our portfolio of businesses,' Emery said. 'He has effectively represented the company's interests on a variety of legal, regulatory and corporate governance issues, and was a key member of the negotiating team for the company's many acquisitions and divestitures over the past 15 years.
'Steve's leadership extends throughout the company,' Emery said, 'as he helped guide us through multiple periods of tremendous change and the significantly increasing regulatory compliance requirements placed on public companies today. Most important, Steve has been a great partner and colleague whose day-to-day presence and perspective will be missed.'
In Iverson's new role as senior vice president and general counsel, he will be responsible for the legal, compliance, and corporate governance functions of the company. In addition, he will retain responsibility for the company's regulatory, governmental affairs and communications areas, which he assumed in November 2014 when he was named senior vice president of regulatory and governmental affairs and assistant general counsel.
Iverson is a 12-year veteran of the company and has served in roles of increasing responsibility in the legal, regulatory and finance and accounting areas. He previously served as vice president, electric regulatory services and corporate counsel, and as vice president and treasurer. Iverson's 32 years of professional experience include positions in internal audit and as an attorney in private practice, where he specialized in taxation, finance and banking. Iverson holds a bachelor's degree in accounting, an MBA and Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota. He is a certified public accountant and a member of the South Dakota Bar Association.
'Brian is a highly respected member of the company's leadership team, and I am excited about the impact he will have as our new general counsel,' Emery said. 'Brian's unique background and impressive track record in the finance, regulatory and legal functions of the company make him an excellent successor to the general counsel position and a continuing key member of the company's senior management team. Brian is well equipped to lead our legal affairs, regulatory initiatives and governmental relationships at the local, state and national levels. He is a proven leader within the utility industry and will provide the strategic direction necessary to achieve our long-term objectives.'
In an additional organizational development, Black Hills announced the appointment of Jennifer Landis to vice president, human resources, reporting to Bob Myers, the company's senior vice president and chief human resources officer. In this new role, Landis will provide leadership to all of the company's human resources business partners in both corporate and field operations, and insure the effective administration of the company's human resources policies, programs and employee relations activities. In addition, she will continue to lead the talent management functions, including talent acquisition and organizational development.
Landis is a nearly 17-year veteran of the company and a widely recognized leader within the organization. She first served the company in information technology from 1995 to 2005. She re-joined Black Hills in 2008 following the Aquila acquisition, after serving in a human resources leadership role with another major employer in the Rapid City area. She holds a bachelor's degree in applied management from National American University and a master's degree in global human resources development from the University of Illinois.
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Black Hills Corporation
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a growth-oriented, vertically integrated energy company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves 1.2 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. The company also generates wholesale electricity and produces natural gas, oil and coal. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com.
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Source: Black Hills Corporation via Globenewswire
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