Bill Austin
Board Member
Mr. Austin was appointed to the Board on December 13, 2023. His appointment was confirmed by the Legislature on February 14, 2024. His term of office will end January 1, 2027. He is the Board’s designated attorney member. Mr. Austin lives in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Born in New York City, New York in 1949, Mr. Austin moved to McCook, Nebraska, in 1961. He attended McCook Junior College and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1970 with a degree in Political Science. Thereafter, he graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1973 with a Juris Doctorate. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Austin joined the staff of the City Attorney for the City of Lincoln, Nebraska. He was appointed the City Attorney for the City of Lincoln in 1979, a position that he held until 1999, at which time he resigned to go into private practice.
Mr. Austin practiced primarily in the area of governmental and administrative law. He served as village attorney for a number of villages in Lancaster County, Nebraska, general counsel for the City of Lincoln Airport Authority, general counsel for the District Energy Corporation (Lincoln/Lancaster County) and Public Advocate for natural gas matters for the Nebraska Public Service Commission. He also served as a member of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission from 2011 to 2014.
Mr. Austin and his wife Lynda reside in Lincoln and are parishioners of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Kristen Gottschalk
Vice Chairwoman
Ms. Gottschalk was appointed to the Board on August 30, 2022, and was confirmed by the Legislature on January 27, 2023. She took her oath of office on February 1, 2023. Her term will end on January 1, 2026. She is one of the Board's two lay members.
Ms. Gottschalk graduated from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln with a degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources -- Wildlife Management in 1985.
Ms. Gottschalk worked for the Nebraska Rural Electric Association from 1999 to 2021. From 1999-2001 she was editor of the Association's magazine and the Public Affairs Director. From 2001 to 2021 she was the Government Relations Director. From 1994 to 1999 she served as the legislative aide to Nebraska state senator Stan Schellpeper.
Ms. Gottschalk lives in Colon, Nebraska.
Chuck Hutchison
Chairman
Mr. Hutchison was originally appointed to the Power Review Board on May 10, 2017, and confirmed by the Legislature on May 23, 2017. Governor Ricketts appointed him to a second term on January 2, 2021, and was confirmed by the Legislature on March 31, 2021. His current term of office will expire on January 1, 2025. He is one of the Board's two designated lay members. Mr. Hutchison lives in Bellevue, Nebraska.
Mr. Hutchison is a Senior Technical Advisor for the Director of Capability and Resource Integration at the U.S. Strategic Command, where he informs the development of innovative military capabilities. He served in the Navy for 28 years, first as a nuclear-trained submarine officer and later supporting overseas contingency operations from U.S. Cyber Command.
Mr. Hutchison received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from California State University at Northridge and an M.S. in Engineering Management from the University of Nebraska.
Mr. Hutchison has been involved in the Bellevue community for over 25 years. He is a local real estate investor and has served in various community leadership roles while supporting various ministries at his church.
Dennis Grennan
Board Member
Mr. Grennan was appointed to the Board on March 19, 2025, and was confirmed by the Legislature on May 14, 2025. His current term will end on January 1, 2029. He previously served two terms on the Board from 2014 through 2022.
Mr. Grennan graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1971. He has also attended executive courses in nuclear plant operations and utility business at MIT and the University of Michigan.
He worked for the Nebraska Public Power District for 32 years, holding senior management positions in generation, transmission, distribution, and customer services and contracts. He joined HDR, Inc., an engineering firm headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2003. He works in the power division, providing consulting services in all areas of the utility business.
Mr. Grennan lives in Columbus, Nebraska, where he serves on the Columbus Chamber of Commerce Board. He is active in the St. Bonaventure Parish, Elks Country Club, and several other organizations. He and his wife Coni have three children, nine grandchildren, and stay active in their many activities. He enjoys golf, swimming, and the outdoors in general.
David B. Liegl, JD, CPA
Board Member
Mr. Liegl was appointed by Governor Pillen on December 22, 2023. He was confirmed by the Legislature on February 14, 2024. His term will expire on January 1, 2026. He is the Board’s designated accountant member (the Legislature removed the requirement that an accountant be on the Board in 2024, so this designation will end at the conclusion of Mr. Liegl's current term). He lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. Mr. Leigl graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He then received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
Staff
Timothy J. Texel
Executive Director and General Counsel
Mr. Texel received his Bachelor of Arts degrees (with honors) in English and Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1988. He went on to receive a Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska in 1991.
From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Texel served as a Judge Advocate in the United States Army with the 25th Infantry Division in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. For over one year he was assigned to the legal assistance office, assisting soldiers and their families with all civil legal issues. Then for approximately two years he was assigned to the trial defense service, in which he represented soldiers in administrative actions and Courts-Martial. From February 1995 to August 1998, Mr. Texel was an Assistant Attorney General with the Nebraska Department of Justice. While at the Attorney General's Office, he handled civil matters for twelve state agencies including trial and appellate level representation, review of new or amended regulations, drafting Attorney General Opinions, and general advice on all administrative or regulatory matters.
Mr. Texel was appointed by the Power Review Board as its Executive Director and General Counsel on August 17, 1998. He serves at the discretion of the Board.
Rebecca Hallgren
Business Manager
Ms. Hallgren graduated with an Associate's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting from the Southeast Community College in 2007. She began her employment with the Power Review Board at the beginning of 2012. Prior to becomming the Board's business manager, she was a budget officer with the Nebraska Real Estate Commission from 2007 to 2011.
Ms. Hallgren is responsible for the Board's payroll, accounting, utility assessments, office management and other related office functions, as assigned by the executive director or the Board.
Sara Birkett
Paralegal
Ms. Birkett is a 2005 graduate of Hamilton College, where she received an Associates Degree in Applied Sciences (A.A.S.), with honors, in Paralegal Studies. She also attended Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska, where she received an Associate of Arts degree in 1991, studying Elementary Education.
Ms. Birkett began her paralegal duties with the Nebraska Power Review Board on June 21, 2006.
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