Consumers Energy Names Dennis Dobbs as Vice President of Generation Engineering and Services

JACKSON, Mich., March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dennis Dobbs, a 20-year veteran of the utility industry, has been named vice president of generation engineering and services for Consumers Energy, the utility announced today.

Dobbs has served as the general manager for the company's Karn/Weadock Generating Complex, near Bay City, since 2008.  His promotion is effective April 16.

In his new position, Dobbs will be responsible for engineering support for the company's generating fleet, the development of new renewable and conventional generating units, and environmental compliance and strategy. He also will be responsible for administrative support and strategic planning for the utility's power plants.

Consumers Energy owns and operates a balanced portfolio of power plants that can generate about 6,300 megawatts, enough electricity to serve nearly 4.1 million people. The utility employs about 1,200 in its generation group.

"Dennis is a proven leader who is committed to the company's mission of providing safe, reliable and affordable energy to its customers. He understands the key role that our generating fleet plays in serving our 1.8 million electric customers and meeting the electric needs of our customers in an environmentally responsible manner," said Jack Hanson, the senior vice president of electric generation for Consumers Energy.

Dobbs, who will report to Hanson, joined Consumers Energy as a senior engineer in 1999 and has held a series of increasingly responsible positions at the company. He began his utility career at Illinois Power in 1991 after serving in the U.S. Army during Operation Desert Storm.

He earned a master's of business administration degree from Illinois State University and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Consumers Energy also announced today that Guy Packard will replace Dobbs as the manager for the Karn/Weadock complex, which has about 315 employees and can generate up to 2,100 megawatts, enough to power a city of 1.3 million.

Packard now serves as the manager for the company's Campbell Generating Complex, near West Olive. The Campbell Generating Complex has about 290 employees and can generate up to 1,450 megawatts.

The utility also said that Tom Gesinski, the manager for its Cobb plant in Muskegon, will manage both the Cobb and Campbell sites. The Cobb plant has about 100 employees and can generate up to 320 megawatts.

Packard and Gesinski will report to Rich Ford, vice president of generation operations.

"Guy and Tom are dedicated professionals with extensive experience in operating and managing power plants. Both have a record of success and are strong leaders who achieve impressive results through teamwork and collaboration. They are uniquely qualified to take on the challenges and responsibilities in their new roles," Ford said.

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at www.consumersenergy.com

SOURCE Consumers Energy