Twitty named Mercy Springfield board chairman

“John is a great fit for this role and is known throughout the community for his calm demeanor and excellent leadership, no matter the challenge,” said Jon Swope, president and CEO of Mercy Springfield Communities, in a news release.

Twitty, who stepped down from CU’s top post in June 2011, now serves as executive director of Madison, Wis.-based Transmission Access Policy Study Group, an electric utility and transmission advocacy organization. Twitty works from Springfield.

“There is no question health care is one of the most important aspects of our society and at Mercy, we’re focused on providing quality health care for this region, doing so at competitive and affordable prices, and planning for the future,” Twitty said in the release.

Twitty had a 20-year career with CU. He spent nine years as GM – a term that was marked by his negotiation of new union agreements, a long-term power supply agreement, nonunion salary and benefit plans revisions and construction of the $697 million Southwest II power plant, now known as the John Twitty Energy Center.

Last year during the American Public Power Association national conference, Twitty received the E.F. Scattergood System Achievement Award, which recognizes APPA-member systems that have improved the public power utility image through sustained achievement and customer service. In addition, Twitty was part of Springfield Business Journal’s inaugural Men of the Year class last year and was featured in SBJ’s 12 People You Need to Know breakfast-interview series.