We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020/2021 Ron Huxman Distinguished Service Award – Colin Hansen, Executive Director for Kansas Municipal Utilities (KMU) and Kimberly Svaty, Principal of Gencur Svaty Public Affairs and KMU Legislative Liaison. In 2016, KMGA established this award in honor of Ron Huxman. Ron played a leading role in the day-to-day activities of the agency, as well as serving as President, Executive Committee member and Joint Board member. The award honors his contributions to KMGA and is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and devoted service to both KMGA and to the Municipal Natural Gas Industry.
Colin Hansen
Colin has worked in the public power industry for over 26 years. Since 2000, he has served as Executive Director for Kansas Municipal Utilities, the statewide trade association representing and serving 185 communities across Kansas on electric, natural gas, water, wastewater & telecommunications issues. Under his guidance, KMU has grown nearly tenfold and opened the KMU Training Center to provide hands-on training to the next generation of municipal utility workers. Prior to joining KMU, Colin worked for the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities in a number of capacities including Assistant Executive Director. Colin is a graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Drake University with a Masters in Business Administration. Colin has served on the Board of Directors of the American Public Power Association and was named as Chair of that Board at APPA’s National Conference in June. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Mid-West Electric Consumers.
Kimberly Svaty
Kimberly has directed governmental affairs across multi-state regions, managed stated and federal political action committees and recruitment and led public affairs departments. With that experience, she founded Topeka-based Gencur Svaty Public Affairs in 2007 to implement government relations, public affairs, and community outreach strategies for clients. She has also served as a staff member for the Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee in Congress, and she completed a Master of Arts in International Studies while serving at the Dole Institute for Politics at the University of Kansas. Kimberly began representing KMU and other municipal utilities and organizations as Legislative Liaison in 2007 and continues her work for utilities today along with her business partner and husband Josh Svaty.
We would like to offer a special thanks to Colin and Kimberly as they have demonstrated exceptional leadership and devoted service to both KMGA and to the Municipal Natural Gas Industry, going over and beyond to assist us with the Winter Storm Uri event.
