SPP names Emily Pennel chief of staff
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has named Emily Pennel as chief of staff reporting to incoming president and chief executive officer Lanny Nickell, effective April 1.
Pennel joined SPP in 2006. For the past two years, she has worked closely with Nickell and CEO Barbara Sugg to help facilitate the organization’s engagement with the SPP board of directors, stakeholders and staff. In this new role, Pennel will focus on executive communications, oversight of key projects and collaboration among SPP’s leaders and stakeholder groups.
“After 19 years at SPP, I'm as committed as ever to our mission of providing life-sustaining power to our region. Lanny Nickell is a tremendous leader, and I look forward to supporting him and our board of directors in this critical time for the electric utility industry,” Pennel said.
Pennel previously worked as a marketing director for Heart of Arkansas United Way and as an educator for the Department of Arkansas Heritage. She is a graduate of Hendrix College.