We are the hub for activities shaping Wyoming’s energy sector.

The Wyoming Energy Authority combines the existing scopes of the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, Wyoming Pipeline Authority and the State Energy Office, effectively consolidating Wyoming’s energy program into one entity that works to advance the state’s energy strategy by supporting Wyoming’s full energy portfolio.

The Hub of the Industry

The Wyoming Energy Authority coordinates with the entire energy spectrum, empowering collaboration, innovation and growth. This means we:

Promote and support the development of commercial energy projects

Promote and support the development of commercial energy projects

Preserve existing markets while identifying and pursuing new areas for market development

Preserve existing markets while identifying and pursuing new areas for market development

Promote Wyoming’s energy resources and provide education, data and resources with the benefits of Wyoming’s energy assets

Promote Wyoming’s energy resources and provide education, data and resources with the benefits of Wyoming’s energy assets

Leverage financial opportunities to develop efforts conducive to the sustainability of the energy sector in Wyoming

Leverage financial opportunities to develop efforts conducive to the sustainability of the energy sector in Wyoming

Leverage Wyoming’s diverse energy resources for the benefit of Wyoming citizens while preserving environmental stewardship

Leverage Wyoming’s diverse energy resources for the benefit of Wyoming citizens while preserving environmental stewardship

Support the transition of innovative technologies and practices into the Wyoming energy sector

Support the transition of innovative technologies and practices into the Wyoming energy sector

Navigate the Wyoming energy sector through emerging opportunities and help frame best practices for other communities and states

Navigate the Wyoming energy sector through emerging opportunities and help frame best practices for other communities and states

Develop and promote public policies and regulations to ensure the sustainable use of Wyoming’s energy resources

Develop and promote public policies and regulations to ensure the sustainable use of Wyoming’s energy resources

About Us

Advocates, Partners, Stewards, Innovators. Learn more about the Wyoming Energy Authority and Board of Directors.

Meet Our Staff

Rob Creager

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Patrick Millin

STATE ENERGY PROGRAM MANAGER

Kyle J. Wendtland

DIRECTOR OF FOSSIL FUEL DEVELOPMENT

Jami Blosmo

ACCOUNTING MANAGER

Brayden Connour

DIRECTOR OF INVESTMENTS

Cindy Prevedel

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Sean Schaub

NUCLEAR INDUSTRY COORDINATOR

John Jenks

DIRECTOR OF ENERGY MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Meet Our Board

The Wyoming Energy Authority is governed by a board of seven voting members appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the Senate. Five dedicated ex-officio members participate to ensure collaboration across Wyoming’s energy and business development organizations.

Wanda Burget

Chairwoman

Michelle Koch

Vice Chairwoman

Kara Choquette

SECRETARY

Ken Miller

Donna Lawrence

Wendy Hutchinson

Mark Stege

Holly Krutka

EX-OFFICIO

Josh Dorrell

EX-OFFICIO

Tom Kropatsch

EX-OFFICIO

Randall Luthi

EX-OFFICIO

Lon Whitman

EX-OFFICIO

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Partners

WY GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

WY BUSINESS COUNCIL

WY PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

WY INTEGRATED TEST CENTER

UW SCHOOL OF ENERGY RESOURCES

ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY INSTITUTE

OIL & GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION

WY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

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Rob Creager

Rob Creager is the Executive Director of the WEA. He previously served as Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Mark Gordon, where he strongly emphasized Wyoming’s economic portfolio and public policy. In that role, he led multiple efforts, including implementing multiple pieces of federal legislation and the successful execution of five pandemic-related business relief programs. He led the Governor’s budget transparency promise by creating the Wyoming Sense initiative. Creager has also presided over several of Wyoming’s state agencies and served as the Governor’s liaison to the White House. He is a native of Casper, Wyoming and a graduate of the University of Wyoming.

Patrick Millin

Patrick Millin joins the Wyoming Energy Authority to serve as the State Energy Program Manager. Patrick completed both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Wyoming. Patrick was born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming and graduated from Cheyenne Central High in 2016. Previously, Patrick worked as a Quality Assurance analyst for Everly Health Diagnostics.

Kyle J. Wendtland

Kyle J. Wendtland is the Director of Fossil Fuel Development of the WEA. He previously served as the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Land Quality Division Administrator. Prior to this, he was an Environmental Engineering Manager for the coal industry. Wendtland has held a wide range of environmental and engineering positions and has extensive experience in mining and mineral extraction. He began his career with the Montana Department of State Lands in 1991, moved to private industry in 1993, and then to the DEQ in 2015. Wendtland holds a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Range Management with a focus in disturbed land reclamation from the University of Wyoming. Wendtland has been recognized for his contributions to the mining industry and advancing reclamation science at the state and national levels. He resides in Cheyenne and grew up in Casper and Dubois, Wyoming.

Jami Blosmo

Jami Blosmo

Jami Blosmo serves as the Accounting Manager for the Wyoming Energy Authority. She previously worked for Sierra Trading Post where she held the positions of Accounts Payable Manager and most recently Quality Assurance Supervisor. Originally from Metz, Missouri, Jami obtained her BS in Business Administration: Management from Park College in Parkville, Missouri. Jami and her husband Brian reside outside of Cheyenne with their two children, Dalton and Emma.

Brayden Connour

Brayden Connour serves as the Director of Investments at the Wyoming Energy Authority. Brayden comes to the WEA after serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Go Goshen; Goshen County’s economic development entity. Brayden brings experience in project management as well as working with the private sector to bring investment and development to the benefit of the state of Wyoming. Brayden is a native of Wyoming and a graduate of the University of Wyoming.

Cindy Prevedel

Cindy Prevedel serves as an administrative assistant for the Wyoming Energy Authority. She previously worked as an English teacher for thirty-one years. She taught for twenty-two years in Laramie County School District #1. Originally from Columbia, South Carolina, Cindy earned a B.A in English with Honors from the University of Wyoming and a M.Ed. from the University of Maryland.

Sean Schaub

Sean Schaub is the Nuclear Industry Coordinator at the Wyoming Energy Authority. Sean brings a diverse background and range of experiences to this role, including planning, evaluating and developing in-situ uranium mines for Wyoming’s largest uranium mining company, consulting with Wyoming’s manufacturing companies to provide a wide range of growth and cost reduction solutions, and deployment of novel vertical farming technology worldwide. Through this dynamic career path, Sean has gained experience in technical sales support, supply chain and logistics management, purchasing and procurement, project management, relationship building and cross-functional collaboration. Sean is a native of Riverton and holds a geology degree from the University of Wyoming. In addition, he serves as treasurer on the board of directors for the Big Hollow Food Coop in Laramie, Wyoming. 

John Jenks

John Jenks is the Director of Energy Market Development at the WEA. Previously, he worked as the Economic Initiatives Director at the Wyoming Business Council, focusing on policy changes to grow Wyoming’s economy. With the electric power industry’s rapid transformations and the fast-growing demand for more power, John understands that it is more critical than ever for states to be at the forefront of policy to shape the framework for reliable and affordable energy. Prior to his work at the WBC, John was the Public Policy Director at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, which focused on advocacy and lobbying in Topeka and Jefferson City. John received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Mississippi. Get in touch with John at john.jenks1@wyo.gov. 

Wanda Burget

Wanda Burget

Vice Chairwoman

Wanda Burget has over 44 years of experience in environmental project management.

Prior to her retirement from the coal industry, she worked 30 years for Peabody Energy Corporation, where she managed permitting and environmental compliance for four major surface mining operations in Wyoming and served as the Director, Sustainable Development for Peabody Energy Corporation’s U.S. operations. She was also a member of Peabody’s international project support team. She is the owner and principal of Accord Resource Solutions, LLC, a natural resource consultancy.

Michelle Koch

Michelle Koch is a Regulatory and Government Affairs Professional with Merit Energy Company, an oil and gas company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. With over 18 years of experience in the industry, she specialized in the areas of environmental regulation, emergency response, and governmental affairs. Her career spans all segments of the industry, from refining and transport terminals to new upstream oil fields to legacy fields that have been produced for over 100 years. Before Merit, Michelle worked for Marathon Petroleum and Marathon Oil Company. Based in Cody, Michelle is an active member of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, and the Wyoming Industrial Energy Consumers organization. She holds a BS in Environmental Science and Biology and an MBA from the University of Findlay, as well as a Masters in Financial Planning from the University of Alabama.

Kara Choquette

Kara Choquette

For over 16 years, Choquette has helped The Anschutz Corporation develop significant energy projects for the West, including the 3+ GW Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project in Carbon County and the 732-mile interregional TransWest Express Transmission Project. Choquette’s expertise areas include electricity markets, renewable power, tax policy and federal permitting. She previously worked in water/energy for an engineering firm and in high-tech for Xerox Corporation. She grew up on a Nebraska farm/ranch and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Iowa and Missouri universities.

Ken Miller

Ken Miller

Kenneth Miller has worked in the mineral industries for over 40 years. He graduated from SD School of Mines with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1975. He served as President and CEO of the Millennium Bulk Terminals Longview port on the Columbia River for three years. Prior to that, he worked at the Black Thunder Mine in Wyoming for 23 years as a Department Manager in Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Major Projects, and Process Improvement. Ken has been a Subject Matter Expert for the Coal Industry before the WY Public Service Commission.  He has worked on mining project locations in Australia, Colorado, and North Dakota. He is a retired Professional Engineer in the states of WY and CO.

Ken is a Past President and Life Member of the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute.  He also served 12 years on the SD School of Mines Foundation Board– the last two years as the Executive Committee Vice-Chairman.

Donna Lawrence

Donna Lawrence

Donna Lawrence is most recently former Tax Manager, Property, with Denbury Inc. (a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp.), an oil operator headquartered in Texas and specializing in enhanced oil recovery & CCUS with field operations in Wyoming, Texas, Montana, Louisiana, and Mississippi.  Donna has over 20 years of experience in the property tax field, specializing in the oil & gas industry. Before Denbury, Donna’s previous employment was with Burlington Resources/ConocoPhillips. Along with the WEA Board of Directors, she has experience serving on the Board of Directors for The Wyoming Taxpayers Association and serving on committees for the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, Texas Taxpayers & Research Association, Texas Oil & Gas Association, and Louisiana Oil & Gas Association, guiding state tax policy. She has received several service awards for her professional service to the O&G and Tax industry. She is a graduate of the University of Texas with a BBA in Petroleum Land Management.

WENDY HUTCHINSON

Wendy Hutchinson

Chairwoman

A rancher from Campbell County, Wyoming, Chairwoman Hutchinson has over 35 years of experience in industrial site development, environmental management, and external affairs.  She is the former Senior Vice President of External Affairs for Millennium Bulk Terminals, an operating bulk materials port on the Columbia River.  Previously, Wendy was the Regulatory Affairs Manager for Thunder Basin Coal Company in Wright, WY.  She oversaw permitting for several major expansions that grew permitted capacity more than fivefold. In 2018 Wendy was named one of the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining.  She earned BS and MS degrees in civil engineering from The Ohio State University.  

Mark Stege

Mark Stege

Secretary/Treasurer

With over 28 years of experience in the electric and natural gas utility industry, Mark recently retired from Black Hills Energy, where he held the position of Vice President of Wyoming Operations in natural gas and electric operations. Mark is active in the community and state and currently serves on the boards of the Wyoming Energy Authority (Secretary/Treasurer), Laramie County Community College Foundation Board (Vice President), and the Blue Federal Credit Union Board (Vice President). Mark also served as the past chairman of the board for the WEA, Wyoming Infrastructure Authority and LEADS. Mark received a B.S. in Geology from the University of Wyoming, a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Northern Colorado, and a licensed CPA in Wyoming (inactive).