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NPPD president, CEO Ron Asche to retire in February
COLUMBUS, Nebraska -- Today, Nebraska Public Power District President and CEO Ron Asche announced to the NPPD Board of Directors he will retire from NPPD on February 2, 2011. After 35 years of service to the utility, Asche is leaving to pursue another career opportunity outside of Nebraska. A location and/or employer has not been disclosed. He assumed his position as the utility's president and CEO on Feb. 18, 2006.
"Ron has been a great asset for NPPD, and we hate to see him go," said NPPD Board Chairman Larry Linstrom. "We will be starting the process to find a new CEO for NPPD immediately, and hope to fill the position as quickly as we can. The timeline we have before Ron retires is short, so it is likely we will select an interim CEO."
Under his leadership, Asche oversaw the restoration of more than 1,000 miles of high-voltage transmission line impacted by the 2006-2007 ice storm, as well as the continued investment in transmission upgrades and refurbishments for service reliability. In recent months, he helped the NPPD Board launch a project to update its strategic plan, and just this week, accepted a 20-year license renewal for Cooper Nuclear Station from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
During his career, Asche also led the restructuring and refinancing of $1.1 billion in long-term debt. This financing was the largest municipal refinancing in the state of Nebraska. He also assisted in the restructuring and related savings of administrative and operating costs. All of these savings accrue to NPPD's ratepayers.
In a message to the NPPD employees, Asche said, "I believe NPPD is well positioned for the future. We have physical assets, our power plants, transmission, distribution, and other facilities, that will continue to serve NPPD and our customers for many years to come. Most importantly, NPPD has each one of you, a solid leadership and management team, and a strong Board of Directors to continue to lead the organization forward. My retirement should not impede that progress."
Mr. Asche holds various professional offices and/or memberships in local, state, and national organizations. He is president of the Nebraska Power Association, which represents Nebraska's municipalities, public power districts, public power and irrigation districts, and cooperatives, engaged in the operation of generation, transmission or distribution of electric energy in the state.
Asche graduated from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Following four years in the U.S. Air Force, he was hired by NPPD in February 1976 as an accounting systems supervisor. Throughout his 35-year career with NPPD, he has held such leadership positions as rate & contract manager, rate & budget manager, treasurer-controller and division manager of finance & accounting. He was elected treasurer on Jan. 3, 1991 and was later named chief financial officer in March of 1995 and vice president in April 1996. Prior to his selection as president and CEO, Asche served as NPPD's vice president and chief financial officer. He and his wife have three grown children.