NGT&S Announces NiSource Energy Ventures President and COO Joe Blount
NGT&S Contact
Shawn Trahan, Director Communications
(713) 267-4732
HOUSTON (July 11, 2011) – NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage (NGT&S) today announced the creation of a new executive position for NiSource Energy Ventures, a unit of NiSource Inc. Industry veteran Joe Blount joins NGT&S as president and chief operations officer of NiSource Energy Ventures (NEVCO) effective July 7, 2011. Blount will office in Houston, reporting directly to Chris Helms, NGT&S executive vice president and group CEO.
“NGT&S continues to grow in new and innovative ways,” said Helms. “NiSource Energy Ventures plays a key role in meeting our aggressive targets for project origination, management and execution, as well as enhanced revenue streams. Joe’s unique talents for taking organizations to high levels of performance in competitive markets will serve NEVCO well. He’s an energetic leader with a reputation for integrity and for getting strong results across a broad range of businesses. We are pleased to have him as part of the NGT&S team.”
Blount has more than 28 years of energy industry experience most recently serving as president and chief operating officer of Genesis Energy Inc., the past general partner of Genesis Energy LP. During his tenure at Genesis the master limited partnership saw rapid growth and a substantial increase in shareholder value. Prior to joining Genesis in 2006, Blount was president and chief operating officer of Unocal Midstream and Trade where he oversaw the worldwide marketing of UNOCAL's natural gas, crude oil and condensate resources, the development and management of its large portfolio of midstream assets including pipelines, terminals and storage assets, and its commodity risk management activities. He has also previously served in executive and senior management roles at Koch Industries and with Transco Energy Company.
In addition, he has served in several industry leadership roles including chairman of Colonial Pipeline Company, chairman of NGSA, chairman of the Natural Gas Council and as a member of the board of directors for Northrock Resources, LTD (Canadian E&P).
Active in his community, Blount serves as chairman of the board of Camp For All whose mission is to provide children and young adults with various medical challenges and special needs a unique camping experience.
Blount is a graduate of Virginia Tech and the Harvard Business School.
About NiSource Energy Ventures
NiSource Energy Ventures (NEVCO) is a wholly owned subsidiary of NiSource Inc. NEVCO will oversee the management of NiSource Midstream Services, Energy Interchange and the NGT&S partnership companies Millennium Pipeline and Hardy Storage.