Forty Under 40: Joey Msall

Joey Msall has always been interested in building and construction. He is fascinated by design, civil engineering and long-term city planning. In 2010, he decided that the energy sector might be the best bet for a promising career.

“It just seemed like at that time, that it (energy) was such a critical industry that there would be a lot of need and opportunity. And in hindsight, it’s been good. It’s been fun to be a part of it,” said Msall, now Arkansas director of operations for Rapid City, S.D.-based Black Hills Energy.

The company has 1.3 million natural gas and electric utility customers in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

The Cabot native graduated in 2005 from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He worked for Kawneer in Springdale but left Northwest Arkansas for a job in Jacksonville. In 2010, he took a job with then Centerpoint, now Summit Utilities. In April 2021, he returned to Fayetteville to work with Black Hills.

His job in Arkansas is focused on managing everyone from pipeline workers out in the field to residential service techs. Msall said he works to create connections with those he manages and all the different Black Hills customers.

“Good leadership involves establishing strong relationships with customers and team members as well,” he said.

Msall also said he is working to be more involved in community service organizations, including the United Way and local food banks.

“I look forward to really digging in on that front,” he said.

Msall said part of his focus now is helping the company repair and replace “distribution mains” that deliver natural gas.

“That work is measured in years, for sure,” he said.