David R. Emery - 1985

Chairman, president and CEO, Black Hills Corporation

In 2005, David Emery was elected chairman of Black Hills Corporation, a diversified energy company headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, with operations in 13 states and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The company has a total of more than 750,000 gas and electric customers.

A 17-year veteran of the company, Emery was named president, CEO and a member of the board of directors a year earlier. Emery previously worked as a petroleum engineer for Union Pacific Resources in Denver; Rock Springs, Wyoming; and Houston and Fort Worth, Texas.

Emery is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. He earned an M.B.A. at the University of South Dakota and lives in Rapid City with his wife and two sons.

Photo courtesy of UW Photo Service