| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DIRECTOR OF INVESTMENTS
Kevin A. Easley
Chief Executive Officer/Director of Investments
keasley@grda.com
Kevin A. Easley relies on over two decades of experience with Oklahoma energy issues to guide him in his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Grand River Dam Authority. The nation’s 20th largest public power utility, GRDA has a generation capacity of 1,400 megawatts of electricity and transmits that electricity across a 2,000 mile transmission system in Oklahoma. GRDA also manages 70,000 surface acres of water and natural resources in Oklahoma.
Easley first joined GRDA in March 2004, after a 15 year career as an executive with Samson Resources, one of Oklahoma’s largest independent energy firms. For 20 years (from 1984 to 2004), he also served in the Oklahoma legislature where he authored some of the most progressive energy legislation in the country. During his 14 years of service to Oklahoma Senate District 18, he chaired the Senate Energy, Environment and Communications Committee as well as the Oklahoma Electric Utility Task Force. A graduate of the University of Tulsa, he earned degrees in accounting and business management before his election to the Oklahoma House at age 24. Easley also holds an MBA degree.
During his tenure at GRDA, he has led a revitalization of the utility’s financial and infrastructure needs, including raising its bond status from “BBB” to “A” with all the major Wall Street rating agencies. Mr. Easley has also spearheaded GRDA efforts to purchase new generation to meet the ever-growing demands of electric customers. He is also leading the agency through $30 million in new building construction projects, as well as a $70 million environmental upgrade, related to GRDA hydroelectric generation. Soon after joining GRDA, Mr. Easley established the GRDA Ecosystems Management Department. Today, that department is recognized nationwide as one of the leaders in lake management and stewardship initiatives.
Mr. Easley serves on the Southwest Power Pool’s Board of Directors/Members Committee and its Corporate Governance Committee since 2005. He is also a member of the American Public Power Association (APPA) Board of Directors. In June 2008, he was appointed to the board of directors of Hometown Connections, APPA’s utility services subsidiary which works to secure national group prices and service arrangements from leading industry suppliers.
Mr. Easley earned degrees in accounting and business management from the University of Tulsa. He and his wife, DeeAnn, are the parents of three children and are active in the community and their church.
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