OPPD pares field to four finalists for CEO

The Omaha Public Power District's (OPPD) board of directors is closer to deciding whom to hire as the company's new president and CEO to succeed W. Gary Gates, the board said Wednesday.

After the opening was posted through various professional outlets and the recruiting firm hired by OPPD, the board has chosen four finalists to be interviewed individually next week: Timothy Burke, OPPD's vice president of customer service and public affairs; Mohamad Doghman, OPPD's vice president of energy delivery and chief compliance officer; Stephen Mormann, former vice president of financial services and treasurer for CENG, LLC; and Gregory Starheim, Kenergy Corp.'s president and CEO.

"We promised that we would keep the public informed as we went through this process, and we are following through on that promise," Anne McGuire, OPPD's chairwoman, said. "We have had one goal since we began the search to replace Mr. Gates. That goal is to do what is best for the district and our customer-owners by selecting the best person for the job,” McGuire said.

The board will discuss the finalists at a public Board Committee meeting on March 17, with a closed session to follow, if needed, to make a final decision. If it is decided at the committee level to make a recommendation, a resolution will be prepared, posted on OPPD.com, then considered at the next regular board meeting on March 19.

“We feel this new process provides greater public transparency and will allow us to move forward and choose the best candidate to lead the District,” McGuire said.