President Chosen to Lead Midwest Energy Association into the Future

Midwest Energy Association's (MEA) Chairman Bill Doty, Executive Vice President, Vectren, announced today that Patrick Van Beek will succeed Ric Hinkie as President of MEA on October 1, 2007. As part of the transition process, Van Beek will become Chief Operating Officer, effective June 1.

Minnetonka, MN (PRWEB) May 21, 2007 -- Midwest Energy Association's (MEA) Chairman Bill Doty, Executive Vice President, Vectren, announced today that Patrick Van Beek will succeed Ric Hinkie as President of MEA on October 1, 2007. As part of the transition process, Van Beek will become Chief Operating Officer, effective June 1.

Van Beek presently is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MEA. He joined MEA in 1992. Since joining MEA, Van Beek has held a variety of management roles in the gas, electric, www.energyu.org, and financial activities of MEA. He has 22 years of association management experience.

"I am grateful and honored to be given the opportunity to serve the members of MEA. Our association has benefited from 17 years of vision, passion, and leadership under President Hinkie," says Van Beek.

"Patrick has shown his commitment to enhancing the operational excellence reputation of MEA over the years in increasingly responsible positions, and his capability to lead MEA into the future has been demonstrated by his performance," explained Doty. "I have enjoyed working closely with Patrick this past year in my role as MEA's incoming chair. He has clearly earned this opportunity."

"Thanks to Ric Hinkie's vision and leadership MEA is blessed with a strong leadership team," continued Doty. "MEA's substantial member growth and sound financial base reflects the strength of this team and the commitment of the Board of Directors. MEA has a strong Strategic Plan in place that will continue to guide the organization."

"MEA's Board of Directors and committee leadership," explains Van Beek, "have encouraged MEA to go beyond traditional association meeting services into initiatives like www.energyu.org, our pharmacy coalition, providing nationally recognized leadership development packages, and creating a national damage prevention training site at www.diggingsafely.com. Members are saving thousands through these joint development efforts. I look forward to enhancing these services, while adding to our strong meeting and conference traditions, plus developing new opportunities to increase safety and customer service."

Midwest Energy Association is in its second century of service to the Gas, Electric, and Liquids energy industry in all 50 states. Its roundtables, learning conferences, on-line learning services and web portals provide for the sharing and development of successful practices leading to operational excellences in the energy delivery industry. Over 750 utilities, pipelines, contractors, and supplier companies and more than 50,000 of their employees rely on MEA services at www.energyu.org for compliance and skill development training and testing.

###