Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association announces strategic reorganization

• New structure to align Tri-State with current industry best practices, allowing power supply cooperative to continue to ensure reliable and affordable power supply for members.
• Barry Ingold named Chief Operating Officer; Elda de la Peña named Chief Administrative Officer; Bob Frankmore assumes Chief of Staff role.

(June 3, 2022– Westminster, Colo.) – Today, not-for-profit cooperative wholesale power supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association announced a strategic reorganization as part of a long-term strategic plan to better position Tri-State to meet its bold plans for the future.

“To continue to deliver on our Responsible Energy Plan and meet our goals for a clean energy future, Tri-State needs an organization and leadership team that is aligned with our members’ goals and focused on the priorities set by our Board of Directors, the membership and leadership,” said CEO Duane Highley. “Our new structure creates a more nimble organization that can better serve our 45 members and position Tri-State for decades to come.”

The reorganization includes a 30 percent reduction in the size of the executive team to better align Tri-State’s organizational structure with current industry best practices and allow the organization to run more efficiently.

“Our goal was to create an executive team and reporting structure that will serve as a roadmap for our continued success and leadership. With that in mind, this reorganization starts from the top down,” said Highley.

• The new Chief Operating Officer (COO), reporting to CEO Duane Highley, will oversee the day-to-day operations to implement the vision of Tri-State. This includes the consolidation of three positions – SVP Transmission, SVP Generation and SVP Energy Management – into the COO role. Barry Ingold will fill that role.
• The creation of a new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) position is designed to consolidate service functions within the organization. These functions include Human Resources, People and Culture, Information Technology, Cyber Security, and Support Services. That position will be filled by Elda de la Peña.
• Bob Frankmore will serve as Chief of Staff, and will work with Highley to coordinate activities and will oversee Government Relations and External Affairs, Communications, and Strategy.
• Barbara Walz, Senior Vice President, Policy & Compliance/Chief Compliance Officer, will now be responsible for Enterprise Risk Management and physical security in addition to her other responsibilities, which include reliability compliance; environmental compliance and policy; reclamation and remediation; and corporate safety.
• Reg Rudolph, Chief Energy Innovation Officer, who is currently responsible for development and implementation of competitive energy services and managing beneficial electrification programs, will assume member relations for the organization.
• Ken Reif, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Patrick Bridges, Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer will continue to serve on the leadership team in their existing capacities.  

“Barry, Elda and Bob bring the right expertise and experience to these new roles to ensure this transition is a success,” said Highley. “Under our new leadership structure, Tri-State will continue meeting our members’ needs to reliably deliver cleaner and more flexible power, while remaining financially strong and keeping electricity affordable.”

“Tri-State continues to focus on reliability while transitioning to a clean energy future, and I am enthusiastic about working with the executive team and am confident in their ability to serve the needs of all of our members across the rural West,” said Tri-State Chairman Tim Rabon.

Tri-State will reduce its workforce by nearly 3 percent through the elimination of 30 positions – 18 corporate employees immediately, and 12 employees from Tri-State’s Rifle and Escalante plants – which will happen gradually over the remainder of the year. As previously announced, Escalante Station is no longer operational and Rifle Station, with Colorado Public Utilities Commission approval, will cease operations later this year.

“For over 70 years, we’ve served our members, together providing reliable and affordable power across the west,” said Highley. “As the needs of our members and their communities change, so will our organization. We’ll continue to look for ways to make Tri-State more efficient, more streamlined and aligned with our members’ values and goals. The plan announced today will put us on a path to responsibly serve our members for years to come.”

###

About Tri-State
Tri-State is a wholesale power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, with 45 members, including 42 utility electric distribution cooperative and public power district members in four states that together deliver reliable, affordable and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West. For more information about Tri-State, visit www.tristate.coop.

Contact:
Lee Boughey, 303-254-3555, lboughey@tristategt.org

Certain information contained in this press statement are forward-looking statements including statements concerning Tri-State’s plans, future events, and other information that is not historical information. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described from time to time in Tri-State’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Tri-State’s expectations and beliefs are expressed in good faith, and Tri-State believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, Tri-State cannot assure you that management’s expectations and beliefs will be achieved. There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein.