Kurt Miller Named New Executive Director of Northwest RiverPartners (Northwest RiverPartners, Portland, OR)

(PORTLAND, OR) – The Board of Directors of Northwest RiverPartners have named Kurt Miller to serve as the group’s new Executive Director. Miller is currently the Organizational Change Manager for the Integrated Operations Center project at Portland General Electric.

Kevin Nordt, President of NWRP, said: “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Kurt Miller as Executive Director of NWRP. Kurt brings a wealth of experience and energy to the position, which will enable NWRP to build upon its strong history of championing the Northwest hydroelectric system. NWRP seeks to expand its partnerships and advocacy around recognizing the important contributions of hydropower to our region and the clean energy future we seek.”

Kurt Miller said: “I am truly honored for this opportunity to partner with Northwest stakeholders as we work together for a clean energy future. We have such a powerful story to share—one that is pro-salmon and pro-community. I’m excited to get that message out there, but also to listen as we meet with our members, elected officials, and other stakeholder groups. I want to hear their perspectives and collaborate on solutions.”

Miller has more than 25 years of Northwest utility experience in both the public and private sectors. Most notably, since 2014, he served as an Organizational Change Manager over a variety of projects and initiatives at PGE. This includes building internal and external corporate consensus and messaging around issues critical to the multi-faceted operations of the utility. In addition to his work in the private sector, Miller began his career at the Bonneville Power Administration (“BPA”) as an economist where he developed BPA’s surplus marketing strategy and worked closely with the agency’s trading floor.

Miller is a graduate of Willamette University where he received the distinction of Magna Cum Laude. Miller also successfully completed the University of Idaho’s Utility Executive Course and Willamette University’s Utility Management Certificate program. Miller serves on the Advisory Board of the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (“OAME”).

Miller will start with Northwest RiverPartners in mid-March 2019. Jim Litchfield will continue to serve as the interim-Executive Director until that time.

About Northwest RiverPartners

Northwest RiverPartners is a partnership of farmers, electric utilities and large and small businesses in the Pacific Northwest, joined together to ensure that the Columbia and Snake remain living, working rivers. Northwest RiverPartners promotes all of the benefits of the Rivers: fish and wildlife, renewable hydropower, agriculture, transportation and recreation.

Public Power Council Elects Officers & Board Members for 2019-2020 (Public Power Council, Portland, OR)

(PORTLAND, OR) –– At its monthly members’ meeting on January 10, 2019, the Executive Committee of the Public Power Council (PPC) elected officers for the 2019-2020 term.  Elected by unanimous decision were: 

• Debra Smith, Seattle City Light, to preside as Chair
• Annette Creekpaum, Mason PUD #3, as Vice Chair, Administration and Budget
• Travis “Bear” Prairie, Idaho Falls Power, as Vice Chair, Allocation/Rates/Contracts 
• Mark Johnson, Flathead Electric Cooperative, as Vice Chair, Long Range Planning 

Also, at its Annual Meeting of Members on December 13, 2018, the Public Power Council announced the newly-elected Board Members who will serve a two-year term beginning January 2019 (listed on the following page). 

Incoming PPC Chair, Debra Smith, is beginning her third term on the PPC Executive Committee.  She has vast industry experience in both Oregon and Washington, and has taken on numerous leadership positions at the local, state and regional level.

“I look forward to taking on the role of chairing PPC during this time of fast-paced change in the electricity industry,” said Smith.  “PPC members and staff will continue to create new ways to work collaboratively to forge the new energy solutions that are best for customers.” 

PPC Executive Director Scott Corwin said, “PPC is in great hands with Debra Smith and this impressive lineup of Officers and Board Members.  This team is well-positioned to give a strong voice to utilities of all shapes and sizes around the Northwest who purchase power or transmission from the Federal Columbia River Power System.” 

Elected to the Executive Committee (Board of Directors) of PPC for 2019-2020:

Susan Ackerman, Eugene Water & Electric Bd.

Max Beach, Idaho County Light & Power Cooperative

Dan Bedbury, Clark PUD

Libby Calnon, Hood River Electric Cooperative

Annette Creekpaum, Mason PUD No. 3

John Dietz, McMinnville Water & Light

Rick Dunn, Benton PUD

John Haarlow, Snohomish County PUD

Chad Jensen, Inland Power and Light

Mark Johnson, Flathead Electric Cooperative

Roger Kline, Northern Wasco County PUD

Matt Michel, Lane Electric

Kevin Nordt, Grant PUD

Bear Prairie, Idaho Falls Power

Will Purser, Clallam PUD

Chris Robinson, Tacoma Power

Debra Smith, Seattle City Light

Jim Smith, Klickitat County PUD

Dave Ward, Grays Harbor PUD

Clint Whitney, City of Richland

Colin Willenbrock, Pend Oreille PUD

Ruralite Services Names New Director of Marketing & Business Development (Ruralite Services)

(HILLSBORO, OR) -- January 17, 2019 – Ryan Hakes has been named the new Ruralite Services Director of Marketing and Business Development.

A native of Florida, Hakes heads to the Northwest after guiding his own marketing company in suburban Detroit. He starts his new role at Ruralite January 28. Prior to running his own firm, Hakes served as marketing director, producer and director/editor  for a variety of companies and institutions.

Kathi VanderZanden, the company’s current Director of Communications and Marketing, is retiring after 18 years in public power, the last five with Ruralite.

“Kathi had done a remarkable job with the marketing and communications efforts at Ruralite and our affiliated companies,” said Ruralite CEO Michael Shepard. “She has established a firm foundation for the department and we’re eager for Ryan and our talented marketers and content creators to build on that success.”

Though he is new to the utility industry, Hakes has worked in education, for a faith-based organization and in health care. He has significant experience, and a particular interest in, digital marketing and film production. Hakes holds a bachelor’s degree in leadership and communications from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.

“In Ryan, we think we’ve found the right person to lead our marketing and business development initiatives,” Shepard said. “We also expect him to play a key role in our product development efforts, which will be informed by our other team members and, of course, our industry partners.”

He and his wife, Julie, are the parents of two sets of twins, ages 8 and 2.

Grays Harbor County Commissioners Approve Funds for Satsop Business Park Power Study (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

(MONTESANO, WA) -- Grays Harbor County Commissioners approved $50,000 in .09 funds for the Satsop Business Park’s study of ways to increase its power capacity. This is a joint venture between the Port of Grays Harbor and the PUD, as was the recent fiber optic cable landing study.

Commission President Randy Ross said the park has already neared its capacity to provide power and another business the size of Overstock, one of the largest tenants, could come close to tapping it out, and business park manager of business development Alissa Shay said the current power supply does not meet potential power demands.

The current power capacity at the Satsop Business Park is 40 megawatts. The study will examine ways to double that capacity, possibly by connecting the existing PUD substation at the business park to a nearby Bonneville Power Association substation.

Along with the $50,000 approved by the county, the PUD and Port are chipping in the additional $25,000 needed to fund the study, the results of which should be available later this year.