COLUMBUS, OH: American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) President and CEO Jolene Thompson is the new chair of the American Public Power Association (APPA) Board of Directors. Thompson was installed as chair during the APPA’s Public Power Connect Virtual Summit & Business Meeting on June 9. 

Thompson has been with AMP and working on behalf of municipal electric systems for nearly 30 years. Prior to becoming president and CEO, she served as executive vice president of member services and external affairs for AMP, overseeing the organization’s government relations, communications, technical services, environmental affairs and compliance, sustainability initiatives, risk, insurance, strategic planning, NERC compliance and member programs. She also served as the executive director of the Ohio Municipal Electric Association (OMEA) from 1997–2020. OMEA represents the state and federal legislative interests of Ohio’s more than 80 municipal electric systems. 

The APPA is the service organization for the nation’s more than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities that serve more than 49 million Americans. Thompson has been active with APPA for more than two decades. In addition to her role as chair, Thompson serves on the APPA Board Executive Committee. She previously chaired the Advisory Committee of State and Regional Associations, the Legislative and Resolutions Committee, and the Dues Committee. She has been a member of the Nominations and Awards Committee multiple times and is a past recipient of APPA’s Harold Kramer-John Preston Personal Service Award.

“A key benefit of membership organizations like AMP and APPA are the resources provided to support our members,” Thompson said. “In challenging times like we are experiencing, the value of joint action takes on enhanced importance. I am looking forward to working with the APPA Board and leadership team to raise awareness of the benefits of the public power business model.”

In her address to participants of the APPA’s Business Meeting on June 9, Thompson cited the many benefits of public power, including its non-profit status, contributions to the local community and local accountability. 

“Public power truly is a collection of people doing the right things for the right reasons, focused on serving the local community,” stated Thompson.

View Jolene Thompson’s full bio here and connect with her on social media at:
LinkedIn: @Jolene-Thompson
Twitter: @AMP_CEO