Kent appoints new VP of Customer Service and External Affairs at NPPD
Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) President and CEO Tom Kent recently announced changes in two executive leadership positions at the district.
As current Vice President of Customer Services and Chief Customer Officer Ken Curry transitions toward retirement, he will move into the role of Special Assistant to the President and CEO. While Courtney Dentlinger has been appointed by Kent, to the role of Vice President of Customer Service and External Affairs and Chief Customer Officer, effective September 1.
Curry has served the district for over 30 years, being appointed to the position of Vice President of Customer Services in 2011, and in 2016 his role was expanded to include safety, human resources, and diversity and inclusion. In 2020 Ken was appointed to Vice President of Customer Services and Chief Customer Officer.
“Ken has been a core part of NPPD for decades and his impact as a leader in the district will be missed. Along with his service to NPPD, he has made a great impact in the many community organizations he served such as Scouting, the Chamber of Commerce, and Columbus Public School board member for a decade, and currently serves as a Commissioner for the Nebraska Game and Parks, to name a few,” notes Kent, “As he prepares for retirement, he will assist with Courtney’s transition into the role of Vice President and will be working on several projects that will help us stay focused on operational excellence as an organization moving forward” Dentlinger has worked at NPPD since 2017, most recently serving as the Director of Wholesale Services and External Affairs before her appointment to Vice President.
“Courtney brings a wealth of experience in several areas. She is a true believer in the state’s public power model, great at building partnerships, and she brings a fresh perspective to our industry during a time of incredible change,” notes Kent.
Dentlinger has nearly two decades of experience in economic development, government relations, communications, and legal and policy analysis. A native of Battle Creek, Dentlinger earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, international studies and Spanish from Wayne State College, and a juris doctorate from George Washington University in Washington, DC. She has worked in the U.S. Senate, lobbied at the federal level, was a member of the administration of Northeast Community College, and led the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
