Oct. / Nov. / Dec. 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District

Ron Hostetter honored with Archway Award
At the Columbus Area Business Hall of Fame
Banquet on Nov. 17, Ron Hostetter received
the 21st annual Archway Award for his business
contributions. He is CEO and general manager of
Cornhusker Public Power District.
Hostetter has been working in utilities since 1972.
He first worked at Omaha Public Power District, then
NPPD in 1977. He began working at Cornhusker in
1985 as director of technical operations. In 1993, he
was named CEO and general manager.
“It’s been great in Columbus. Columbus as we all
know, for sure, is the national capitol of public power.
It just serves us so well to have three power districts
here,” he said.
Under his direction Cornhusker received a national
award for the Community Builders Program, which is
a program that allows nearly 20 regional communities
to meet at rotating locations four times a year. The
business also started the Cornhusker Goodwill Fund
through which customers can round up their power
bills to fund community projects. Nearly $200,000 has
been distributed through that project by Cornhusker to
the community.
Hostetter also is a member of the Columbus
Economic Council and a Nebraska diplomat. He was
elected to the National Rural Electric Cooperative
On Oct. 30, retired Economist
Donis Petersan received a
lifetime achievement award from the
Nebraska Economics and Business
Association (NEBA) during its
annual meeting at the Omaha Branch
of the Federal Reserve.
NEBA is a statewide organization
of professional and academic
economists and researchers
involved with issues and research
on economics and business topics
in general, and focuses on issues
and research related to the economy of
Nebraska and the Great Plains. Petersan
ENERGY INSIGHT • OCTOBER / NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2009 23
R E T I R E E N E W S
Donis Petersan earns Lifetime Achievement Award
Donis Petersan
Ron Hostetter with the 21st annual Archway Award.
Association Marketing committee, served on the
NRECA Issues Committee, the Nebraska Rural
Electric Association Job Training and Safety and
Legislative Committees, and the Power Advisory
Committee for NPPD. He also was elected chairman
of the Midplains Energy Services Alliance.
Hostetter also was a past recipient of the Charles
E. Farnham Volunteer of the Year in 2004 for his
community involvement. He and his wife, Mary, have
three married daughters and one granddaughter.
has been a member of NEBA since
1969 and is a past president.
A lifetime member and past
president of the Nebraska Economic
Developers Association, Petersan
is also a long-time member of the
International Economic Development
Council (IEDC) and was awarded an
Honorary Life Membership in IEDC
before his retirement.
Petersan holds a Ph.D. in economics
from the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln. He retired in February 2008
after 29 years of employment with the
District.