Meet the CEO
Black Hills Corporation’s CEO and Chairman, David Emery, Sets the Course for Company’s Future
 “Energy drives the future, and we’re proud to be a provider,” said David Emery, Chairman, President and CEO of Black Hills Corporation. Growing through responsible energy development in the West is central to Black Hills Corporation’s mission, and David Emery is committed to leading the Company in developing the vast energy resources of the western United States. Black Hills has electric and gas distribution utilities; electricity, coal, gas and oil production assets; and oil and gas marketing interests located in a total of twelve states and Canada.
“Energy markets remain extremely volatile. However, out of volatility springs opportunity. We are pursuing opportunities to help serve the growing demand for energy," remarked Emery. "We continue to focus on our utility roots and look for ways to expand our retail presence through power plant construction and possible acquisitions. We also plan to increase oil and gas production, grow our oil and gas marketing operation, and expand our wholesale power services to utilities in the West.”
David is a Black Hills native, and a third generation Black Hills Corporation employee. His father, Jim Emery, worked 35 years and retired as Southern Hills Manager for Black Hills Power in 1996. He also served in the South Dakota State Senate. His grandfather, also Jim Emery, retired from Black Hills Power in 1969 after working for 17 years in a Rapid City maintenance shop and power plant.
David and his wife, Deanna, have two sons and live in Rapid City. “I interviewed with Black Hills Corporation on my honeymoon,” said Emery. Prior to being named CEO and Chairman of the Board, Emery was President and Chief Operating Officer of Black Hills’ Retail Business Segment. He was Vice President of Fuel Resources for six years and General Manager of Black Hills Exploration and Production for four years. Before joining Black Hills as a petroleum engineer in 1989 he worked for a large independent oil and gas company in Colorado, Wyoming and Texas. He holds a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Wyoming and an M.B.A. from the University of South Dakota.
As an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, David was encouraged in his Native American heritage by his father, and particularly his grandfather, who taught Lakota Language at the University of South Dakota following his retirement from Black Hills Power. “The thing I love so much about Lakota culture is its emphasis on generosity and the extended family,” said Emery.
“I am honored to serve the shareholders, customers, and employees of Black Hills Corporation. Our success is attributable to a corporate culture created by our highly-motivated, dedicated, and focused employees. We work with devotion and enthusiasm to serve customers and shareholders, to develop productive assets, and to improve our communities. We are as much about commitment, values, and passion as we are about the services and products we offer. These corporate values have been the foundation of this company, and are vital to our future success. It is my goal to ensure they continue.”
|
