FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Aug 14, 2019 – Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) today announced the promotion of Todd Jacobs to vice president of natural gas utilities and the appointment of Wes Ashton to vice president of operations for Black Hills Energy in Arkansas. In his new role, Ashton is responsible for all aspects of managing operations for Black Hills Energy in Arkansas. Black Hills Energy serves 172,000 customers in 104 Arkansas communities including Bentonville, Blytheville, Fayetteville, Harrison, Ozark, Rogers and Springdale.

“Wes’ new role will leverage his operational experience, industry knowledge and customer focus to live our mission of improving life with energy in the communities we serve, and ensure we are ready to provide our Arkansas customers with the valued service they’ve come to expect from Black Hills Energy,”

“Wes’ new role will leverage his operational experience, industry knowledge and customer focus to live our mission of improving life with energy in the communities we serve, and ensure we are ready to provide our Arkansas customers with the valued service they’ve come to expect from Black Hills Energy,” said Todd Jacobs, vice president of natural gas utilities, Black Hills Corp.

Ashton, who will be based in Fayetteville, joins the Arkansas team from Iowa where he served as Vice President of Operations for Black Hills Energy’s natural gas utility in Iowa. Ashton replaces vice president, Todd Jacobs, who will be relocating to Rapid City, South Dakota after being promoted to vice president for Black Hills Corporation’s natural gas utilities.

Ashton graduated from Kansas State University with a B.S. in Public Relations/Communications and Political Science, and received his Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, KS.  He joined the utility in 2006, and previously served in various leadership roles within the company in Kansas, Colorado and Iowa.