New General Manager named at Rochester Public Utilities
At a special meeting this morning, the Utility Board of the Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) unanimously appointed Mark Kotschevar as its next general manager, replacing the retiring Larry Koshire.
Kotschevar is a 32-year employee of RPU and is currently the Director of Core Services. In addition to his present position, he has also served as Manager of Maintenance and Construction, Senior Electrical Engineer, Project Electrical Engineer and Electrical Engineer. These positions have given him experiences in electric transmission and its distribution, water supply and its distribution, system operations and engineering.
Kotschevar has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Electronics from North Dakota State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Winona State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer and a licensed “Class A” Master Electrician in the State of Minnesota.
Jerry Williams, President of the Utility Board, calls Kotschevar a “great fit for the organization, now and moving it forward into the future.” Williams went on to say that “his experiences with both sides of the business, electricity and water, are emblematic of his work at RPU and critical as we look at the many challenges and opportunities that are part of a changing business. He has the foresight and determination to continue to make RPU, the largest municipal in the State, a pre-eminent utility that exists to serve the needs of its customers, the citizens of Rochester.”
When told of his selection, Kotschevar said he was “humbled” and pledged to do whatever is necessary to continue RPU’s positive momentum into the future. “The utility’s core values of safety, integrity, service, stewardship, accountability and skill will continue to guide us, as they have so successfully done in the past.”
After the board vote, an all-staff meeting was held to introduce Kotschevar as the new general manager, effective May 1.
About Rochester Public Utilities
As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 120 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 50,000 customers. Water customers number more than 38,000. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include smart grid, water sustainability, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.
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