Les Penning

Senior Vice President - Strategic Development

Les is originally a South Dakota native who attended Black Hills State University out of Spearfish SD, majoring in Industrial Technology. After working in the engineering design department for a mining corporation in the early 90's he spent four years with facility and site management for the South Dakota school of Mines and Technology. Les then left the school of mines to start a company that worked primarily with satellite communication, commercial VSAT systems and telecommunications. In 1998 he sold this company and came to work for Powder River Energy to take advantage of the emerging opportunities of a foreseen deregulated market in the electric industry.

Les is responsible for three major areas for Powder River Energy including Purchasing, Material Management and Facility Management. In addition, he is responsible for strategic development and assumes the position of CEO when Mike Easley is not available.