Roger Kline’s oldest son, Samuel, was born in Hood River so even though the family moved to Eugene in 2007, the Columbia River Gorge has remained a special place.
And now Kline is returning to the area as general manager of the Northern Wasco County People’s Utility District.
His first day is Monday, Jan. 4.
“It’s a well-run organization and a community I’m familiar with,” Kline said. “I had a great experience with the board and bring my 22 years of experience to a place in a growth mode.”
This won’t be his first time in Wasco County.
Kline is originally from Yakima, Wash. but relocated to The Dalles in 2001 while he worked for the Calpine Corporation, which built the Goldendale Energy Center. His wife, Dena, was on the Wasco County Commission on Children and Families.
In 2007, Kline began working in Eugene for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He’s also worked with the U.S. Navy, Texas Independent Energy and Solar Turbines Inc.
He holds a bachelor’s degree cum laude in business administration from Colorado Technical University, a graduate certificate in utility management from Willamette University and has also completed the American Public Power Association’s Certified Public Power Manager course along with many other industry specific trainings.
His latest job was as the enterprise risk and internal controls manager for the Eugene Water and Electric Board.
Kline will replace Dwight Langer, who retired on Dec. 15 after joining the Northern Wasco PUD in 1993. Kline will lead 49 employees who provide electric power services to approximately 9,866 customers in The Dalles, Rowena, Dufur, Tygh Valley and Wamic areas.
Kline was selected from 21 applicants who passed through the consulting firm of Mycoff Fry and Prouse LLC.
The PUD board then interviewed six people from Oregon and Washington before choosing Kline.
“He was the candidate that had overall the qualities we were looking for and the personality we thought would fit in with the PUD here,” Board of Directors President Dan Williams said.
“It was a very intense draining interview process.”
Kline and his wife have two children—Samuel, age 10, and Zachary, 7.
Roger enjoys fly fishing, mountain biking and competing in triathlons.
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