----3/18/2010----

LINCOLN - Four finalists for the position of administrator & CEO of Lincoln Electric System (LES) have been announced by Administrative Board Chair Dawn Rockey.

The four will be interviewed April 2-3 by the LES Board at the Lincoln Electric Building (LEB), 1040 O St., she said. The public is invited to take part in question and answer sessions with the candidates April 2-3 at the Walter A. Canney Service Center, 2620 Fairfield St. The Board will then meet April 5 at 7 p.m. at the LEB to gather comments from the public and rank and vote on the finalists.

"We look forward to the community meeting the finalists and giving the Board their input," Rockey said. "The Board's job is to hire the person who will take LES to the next level. We are confident our finalists are up to that challenge."

The finalists, their interview times and public question and answer sessions are as follows:

Kevin G. Wailes, Tallahassee, Fla., general manager-electrical utility, City of Tallahassee, Fla. Wailes has 34 years of utility experience and earned a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Colorado State University in 1976. His past and current community involvement includes the board of directors of the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council, and board member and president of the Lamar, Colo., Chamber of Commerce. The interview of Wailes by the Board will be April 2, 8-10 a.m., and he will handle the public's questions 2-2:45 p.m.

Hugh W. Smith, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., president, Recycled Energy Development Holding Co. Smith has 30 years of utility experience, and earned a B.S. degree from the University of Florida in 1978. His past and current community involvement includes serving on the board of directors of the United Way of Central New Mexico, and on the Electric Power Research Institute, Research Advisory Committee. Smith will be interviewed by the LES Board April 2, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., and will meet the public 2:45-3:30 p.m.

Andy Ramirez, El Paso, Texas, vice president of Power Generation, El Paso Electric Co. Ramirez has 28 years of utility experience. He earned a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1982, and an M.B.A. from Texas State University in 2000. His past and current community involvement includes service as a board member of the South Texas Nuclear Operating Co., and the LBJ Science Academy Advisory Board. The Board will interview Ramirez April 3, 8-10 a.m., and he will talk with the public 2-2:45 p.m.

James R. Webb, Fairview, Wyo., president/CEO, Lower Valley Energy. Webb has 24 years of utility experience. He earned a B.S. in accounting from University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1984; National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Management Internship Program, University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1992; and Advanced Management Program, University of North Carolina in 1999. His past and current community involvement includes serving as commissioner of the Wyoming Energy Commission, and board member of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce. The Board's interview of Webb will be April 3, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., and his public meeting will be 2:45-3:30 p.m.

The candidates also will participate in internal meetings at LES while in Lincoln.

"We undertook a thorough search process several months ago with the intent of hiring a CEO who is talented and experienced to keep LES moving forward," Rockey said. "The Board members have been very diligent and our process has been deliberative and demanded a significant commitment of our time. At the outset, the entire Board agreed we would err on the side of caution and take our time, rather than rush through the process.

"Our next CEO will be stepping into a well-run organization with professional, experienced and dedicated employees who have built LES to become a highly-respected electric utility," she said. "It was gratifying to see so much interest in the position from across the country."

Terry L. Bundy took early retirement May 1, 2009, as LES' second Administrator & CEO, and Doug Curry was named to the position during the search. Bundy died August 16, 2009, after battling cancer.

The search for an administrator & CEO was assisted by Mycoff, Fry & Prouse LLC, of Conifer, Colo., a search and selection consulting firm for the utility industry.