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Ward Slocum

The general manager for the Kansas natural gas division of Black Hills Energy is now based in Lawrence.

The South Dakota-based utility recently promoted Ward Slocum to general manager of Kansas operations, and made the decision to locate the general manager in the company’s offices on North Iowa Street in Lawrence.

Previously, Wichita had served as the home base for the general manager of the company’s natural gas division.

Slocum previously was director of operations in Kansas and was based in Lawrence as part of that job. When Slocum was picked to serve as Kansas general manager for the company, the decision was made to transfer the position to the Lawrence office.

“I love Lawrence,” said Slocum, who moved to Lawrence in 2021 when he joined Black Hills Energy after working for a Pennsylvania pipeline operator. “It took us about three seconds to make the decision to move to Lawrence originally.”

The change in designations isn’t producing a significant number of new jobs at the company’s Lawrence offices, which are located at 601 N. Iowa St. Slocum said the Lawrence office has about 20 of the company’s 150 Kansas employees.

The new designation, though, is a recognition of the importance of the Lawrence market to Black Hills’ Kansas operations. Lawrence is the company’s second-largest market in Kansas, behind Wichita.

The market also has good growth potential as the City of Lawrence is contemplating new annexations and other ways to boost its housing stock as the community struggles with housing affordability issues. Slocum said Black Hills is in a good position to expand its infrastructure in Lawrence, if the city does grow into new areas.

We are up for the challenge,” said Slocum, who said the utility has had good communication with the city about possible expansion needs. “As the opportunities for growth come, we will be ready for the task at hand.”

Slocum is replacing former Kansas general manager Jerry Watkins, who is retiring after 40 years with Black Hills Energy.

As part of the leadership changes, Black Hills also announced a new vice president for its Arkansas and Kansas region. Marc Eyre is taking over that role. Eyre previously was the vice president for the company’s South Dakota region and has been in the gas and electric utility industries for about 20 years.