American Municipal Power on Sept. 21 announced several promotions, as well as additions to the organization’s leadership structure.

AMP reported that:

  • Paul Beckhusen has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Power Supply and Generation Operations and Chief Commercial Officer and will join AMP’s Leadership Team; Beckhusen is a member of AMP’s Executive Management Team.
  • Branndon Kelley has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Strategy and Innovation and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) and will remain part of AMP’s Leadership Team; Kelley is a member of AMP’s Executive Management Team.
  • Drew Dunagin has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and will remain part of AMP’s Leadership Team; Dunagin is a member of AMP’s Executive Management Team.
  • Bart Taberner, who was previously promoted to Executive Vice President of AMP Transmission (AMPT), is being added to AMP’s Leadership Team; Taberner is a member of AMP’s Executive Management Team.
  • Adam Ward has been promoted to Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Services and Chief External Affairs Officer; Ward is on AMP’s Executive Management Team.
  • Kellie Pertuset has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Talent Management and Chief People Officer; Pertuset is on AMP’s Executive Management Team.
  • Steve Lieberman has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Transmission and Regulatory Affairs and will join AMP’s Executive Management Team.
  • Jared Price has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO) and will join AMP’s Executive Management Team.
  • Craig Kleinhenz has been promoted to Vice President of Power Supply Planning.
     

“Strong leadership is essential to delivering value to our Member communities and positioning AMP for future success,” said AMP President and CEO Jolene Thompson. “These promotions and leadership additions recognize talented individuals who have demonstrated expertise, commitment, and dedication to our mission. I am confident that their experience will help drive operational excellence, innovation and long-term success for our organization.”

Beckhusen, who joined AMP in 2019, was promoted to Senior Vice President of Power Supply Operations and Generation Operations and Chief Commercial Officer in September 2025. 

He oversees AMP’s Power Supply Planning, Energy Control Center and Marketing teams, as well as Generation Operations and Development. He began his career in the public power sector in 2000 as Electric Operations Manager for the Coldwater Board of Public Utilities (CBPU). 

He was promoted to Director of the CBPU in 2003 and then was named General Manager for the Michigan South Central Power Agency (MSCPA) in 2017. He also served as a member of the AMP Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2019 and the American Public Power Association Board of Directors from 2011 to 2014.

Kelley joined AMP in 2009 as the Senior Vice President of Technology and CIO, and he has more than 25 years of experience providing vision, leadership, governance and execution of technology and strategic programs, projects and departments. 

Kelley, who was named CSO and Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation in 2023, also serves as chair of the Hometown Connections, Inc., Board of Directors. In addition to serving on the HCI Board, Kelley serves on the board of the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative and as president of the Board of Directors of the DeVry Scholarship Fund.

Dunagin joined AMP in 2022 as Senior Vice President of Finance and CFO. He oversees the financial operations of the organization, including the strategic leadership and performance of the financial business unit; management of liquidity and debt; and the ongoing development and monitoring of control systems designed to provide Members and the organization with accurate, timely and transparent financial information. 

Dunagin has about 20 years of experience in the energy sector, five years in financial services, and five years in public accounting. He has held financial leadership roles with a number of organizations, including as CFO and Vice President of Financial Services for the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative.

Taberner joined AMP in 2025 as Senior Director of Transmission Planning and Development and was promoted to Executive Vice President of AMPT in April 2026. He oversees and directs functions of AMPT, including acquisition, development, planning, engineering, construction and operation functions. He also ensures compliance with all relevant and applicable tariffs, rules and regulations. Taberner brings more than 38 years of industry experience to the position. Prior to joining AMP, he spent most of his career with American Electric Power and its subsidiaries.

Ward, who joined AMP in 2016, served as Senior Vice President of Member Services, Environmental Affairs and Policy prior to this recent promotion. In this new role, he will continue to oversee AMP’s Member programs; technical services; corporate environmental, safety; and North American Electric Reliability Corporation compliance activities. 

In addition, he will now oversee legislative affairs and communications. He serves on the Prairie State Generating Company External Affairs Committee and holds a seat on the National Hydropower Association’s Rapid Response Policy Team.

Pertuset joined AMP in 2025 as Vice President of Human Resources and Talent Management. She leads and provides strategic direction to the Human Resources (HR) Department. This includes talent management, training, recruiting, compliance, payroll, benefits, budgeting and labor relations. Pertuset has more than 25 years of experience in HR management, most recently serving as Head of HR for Mettler-Toledo International, Inc., a multinational corporation that produces precision instruments and services where she was a member of the organization’s senior leadership team.

Lieberman joined AMP in 2017 as Director of PJM Regulatory Affairs and was promoted to Vice President of Transmission and Regulatory Affairs in 2021. He has more than 25 years of experience in the electric industry, specializing in power market fundamentals and regulatory affairs. A recognized leader in the regulatory arena, particularly with PJM Interconnection, LLC, and Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator, he oversees regulatory affairs that extend to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Lieberman has participated as a panelist at trade conferences and at technical conferences in front of FERC staff and Commissioners.

Price, who joined AMP in 2011 as IT Director, was previously promoted to Vice President of Information and Chief Technology Officer in 2015, and CIO in 2023. He oversees all information technology functions, including all data centers and technical service centers and all computer systems operations across the organization. Before joining AMP, Price worked at OhioHealth Group, where he was Manager of Information Systems; and United Midwest Savings Bank, where he was Director of Information Technology.

Kleinhenz joined AMP in 2005 as a Power Coordinator and moved to the Power Supply Department later that year. He was promoted to Manager of Power Supply Planning in late 2009, director in 2017 and Assistant Vice President of Power Supply Planning in 2022. 

He oversees the planning supply group and leads innovation and cross-functionality strategies across the organization to ensure valued power supply services and effective solutions are delivered to AMP Members. 

Kleinhenz received the 2009 AMP DNA Award and was named one of Public Utilities Fortnightly’s 2021 Under 40 Rising Stars.