Fort Smith United Way boss named OG&E community manager

BusinessEnergyFort Smith

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) August 4, 2021 1:45 pm 1,389 views 

Eddie Lee Herndon, president and CEO of the United Way of Fort Smith, has been hired by OG&E as community affairs manager in western Arkansas. Herndon is resigning from the United Way effective Aug. 13.

In his OG&E role, Herndon will be involved in economic development, crisis management, policy advocacy, and community leadership, according to a statement from the United Way.

“Springboarding from United Way, I am very excited for this new opportunity where I will be using my talents to represent OG&E. United Way has over 93 years of success serving the community with great directors before me, and I am proud to have been a part of this history. United Way will no doubt continue an upward trajectory serving those in need under the new leadership,” Herndon said in the statement.

The United Way executive board and board of directors will meet Aug. 5 to begin the process of naming an interim director and outline the process for choosing a new president and CEO. Herndon was named United Way president and CEO in February 2015.

“I am excited for Eddie Lee’s opportunity with OG&E! He will be an asset to them, and we wish him the best! His work with the Fort Smith Area United Way has been exemplary; therefore, this is a huge loss. However, Eddie Lee has built a strong team of individuals who will carry on the work and continue to make a difference in the future,” said Suzy Wilson, United Way board chair.

Oklahoma City-based OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE: OGE) is the parent company of OG&E, and holds a 25.5% limited partner interest and 50% general partner interest in Enable Midstream Partners, LP. OG&E reports more than 863,000 customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas, with an electric transmission and distribution system that spans 30,000 square miles. With approximately 7,081 megawatts of capacity, OG&E generates electricity from natural gas, low-sulfur coal, wind and solar.

Judy McReynolds, president, CEO and board chair of Fort Smith-based ArcBest, is a director on the OGE Energy Corp. board.