Jan 31, 2017 2 min read

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – NiSource Inc. Tuesday announced leadership changes related to its Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania operating unit.

The company said in a news release that Mark Kempic, president of Southpointe-based Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and Columbia Gas of Maryland since 2012, will become NiSource’s chief transformation officer, effective Feb. 13.

On Tuesday, Merrillville, Ind.-based NiSource also named Mike Huwar president of Columbia’s Pennsylvania and Maryland units, effective Feb. 13.

Huwar re-joins NiSource after serving as vice president of marketing for Columbia Midstream, a subsidiary of Columbia Pipeline Group. His career at Columbia Gas began in 1986, and prior to joining Columbia Midstream, he served as vice president and general manager at Columbia Gas of Virginia. His experience also includes a variety of leadership positions in sales and customer relations across the NiSource gas distribution companies.

A Fayette County native from Perryopolis, Huwar earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh and completed an executive leadership training program at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh.

In his new role, Kempic will continue building on and enhancing NiSource’s efforts to integrate processes and technology across the company’s seven-state footprint. He will report to NiSource President and CEO Joseph Hamrock and join the company’s executive council.

Kempic has more than 35 years of experience in the energy industry and has served in a broad range of functions, including engineering, gas supply, corporate planning and regulatory policy. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer and information science from the University of Pittsburgh, an associate’s degree in solar heating and cooling engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a law degree from Capital University School of Law.