CU hires associate general managers

City Utilities of Springfield this morning announced the hiring of two associate general managers.

Amy Derdall was named associate GM and chief financial officer, and Brent Baker was chosen as associate GM over customer operations and communications. While both are outside hires, they have prior experience with CU, according to a news release.

Derdall worked 1998-2009 on CU's finance team, including the role of director of financial reporting. She most recently served as director of regulatory and finance for Rapid City, South Dakota-based energy company Black Hills Corp.

“I’m excited to again be part of City Utilities of Springfield and look forward to the opportunity to work with a leader in a community-owned utility,” she said in the release. “CU is well known and respected for its forward thinking and ability to provide exceptional services to the customers.”

Derdall succeeds Mike Finch, who is retiring after serving as CU's CFO since 2010.

Baker joins CU from Liberty Utilities in Joplin, where he worked as vice president of national customer experience operations, according to the release. He served 1998-2000 as a co-op engineer for CU's water engineering group.

“I look forward to working with not only the staff at CU but also directly with our customers,” Baker said in the release. “This is an exciting time in the utility industry with many changes on the horizon. Helping to implement these advances and educate our customers of the benefits is rewarding.”

Baker takes over the role left vacant by Gary Gibson, who last year became general manager of CU.

Derdall and Baker report directly to Gibson, according to the release.