[BETA] Fortnightly

Paul J. Evanson was named president of Florida Power & Light Co. to succeed Stephen E. Frank, who resigned in January. Frank led the company through a tough restructuring process. Evanson, 53, previously was v.p., finance, and CFO for both Florida Power & Light and FPL Group Inc. Evanson will be succeeded by Michael W. Yackira, formerly senior v.p., market and regulatory services.

Carole Keeton Rylander, former mayor of Austin, TX, became the first woman elected to the Texas Railroad Commission, which primarily regulates the state's oil and gas industry.

Cody L. Graves was elected chairman of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which regulates the state's electric and gas utilities, communications, water utilities, and oil and gas production.

Janet Gail Besser was appointed by Gov. William F. Weld as a commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. Besser most recently was policy director for the National Independent Energy Producers, and previously served as the primary advisor on electricity issues for the Massachusetts DPU.

Dave Penn and Jeffrey Tarbert were promoted to assistant executive directors of the American Public Power Association. Penn was formerly director of policy analysis, and Tarbert was director of management services.

J.D. Wessling was elected v.p., finance, of Cascade Natural Gas Corp. in Seattle, WA. Wessling joined Cascade in January 1994 as director of finance.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has named Alexander MacLachlan, formerly senior v.p. for research and development at DuPont Co., to the new position of deputy undersecretary for technology partnerships and economic competitiveness. MacLachlan will oversee technology-transfer partnerships between DOE labs and industry.

Karl R. R bago resigned as a member of the Texas Public Utility Commission to become DOE's deputy assistant secretary for utility technologies. He will oversee national programs involving the commercialization and promotion of renewable energy technologies, integrated resource planning, energy management, and energy efficiency. He was a Texas PUC member since May 1992 and served as vice-chair of NARUC's energy conservation committee.

James G. Bachman was named v.p., marketing, to head a newly created marketing group at Central Illinois Public Service Co. He joined the company in 1977 and previously was v.p., corporate planning.

Consolidated Natural Gas Co. elected Lester D. Johnson to the new post of vice chairman and CFO. David M. Westfall was elected senior v.p., financial. Johnson was Consolidated's executive v.p. and CFO. Westfall was senior v.p. and treasurer at CNG Transmission Corp.

W. David Hall, manager of fossil and hydro engineering at the Tennessee Valley Authority, was named TVA's engineer of the year for his efforts to assist the former Soviet republic of Georgia in developing its energy resources and electrification projects.

Kevin A. Kirby was promoted to v.p., integrated resource management, a new position at EUA Service Corp. Kirby joined EUA in 1986 as an engineer in resource planning. EUA provides resource management and technical services to subsidiaries of Eastern Utilities Associates in Boston.

Ann G. Bahme was elected v.p., state government affairs, of Coastal States Management Corp., which is responsible for Coastal Corp.'s state government affairs.

Bradley C. Hall was elected to the newly created