Power Across Texas Announces New Chief Executive

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Power Across Texas (PAT), a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to balancing the debate over the best way to ensure a clean, robust and reliable power supply in Texas, today announced its new Chief Executive Karen R. Johnson, a well-known and long-time expert in energy issues.  "Karen R. Johnson is an accomplished attorney with over 40 years of executive and management experience, which combined with her energy policy expertise, makes her the ideal Chief Executive to lead Power Across Texas in these critical times as our state wrestles with  issues relating to current and future power needs," stated PAT Chair Rebecca Klein.

Johnson will take over the helm at Power Across Texas today, February 12, 2013. She is presently Chief Executive Officer of United Ways of Texas (UWT), another key non-profit organization in the advocacy arena.  Johnson recently announced to the UWT Board her intention to retire from that position later in 2013.  

As the PAT Chief Executive, Johnson will oversee all operations and report to the Chair and the PAT Advisory Board.  Johnson will be instrumental in furthering Power Across Texas' mission through growing current programming, which includes bi-weekly energy updates, objective issue briefs, regular high-level policy forums with statewide and national policy makers, and an annual statewide innovation challenge that brings together academia, policymakers and industry leaders.   In addition, Johnson will help take the organization to the next level in terms of membership, public education and policy impact.

The recipient of a 'Profiles in Power' award by the Austin Business Journal, Johnson made her mark in the energy industry when she served as President of Entergy, Texas, one of the state's major power companies. She continues to sit on the Energy Future Holdings Sustainable Energy Advisory Board in Texas and the Electric Power Research Institute's Advisory Board headquartered in California.  In addition, Johnson's background boasts a number of distinguished accomplishments, including being a former briefing attorney for the Texas Supreme Court, elected the first woman president of the Travis County Bar Association and the first female Executive Director of the State Bar of Texas.  Johnson also serves as the current chair of the Texas Society of Association Executives.

Please visit our website www.poweracrosstexas.org or email [email protected] for more information.

Contact: Lyda Creus Molanphy
(512) 751-1636 

SOURCE Power Across Texas