The Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA) shuffled its executiveorganization Tuesday, yet its hunt for a new president continues.The NGSA said it still does not have a timeline for an appointmentto the presidency post, but it hopes to get the job filled quickly.

Richard Sharples, president of Anadarko Energy Services Co., hastaken over as NGSA chairman. Sharples said despite the search for apresident, the NGSA will be moving ahead on several issues. A toppriority for the association, Sharples said, was to work with FERC onthe NOPR and NOI (See Daily GPI, Jan.6,March 9).

Another of Sharples’ goals is to make the association more costeffective. “Over the past few years, NGSA has been able to reducemembers’ dues by approximately 35% and we will continue to look forways to be even more efficient. The association also has named acommittee of senior executives to conduct a search for a newpresident of the organization and to review NGSA’s organizationalstructure to make sure that we are meeting our members’ needs andare providing value.” Spokeswoman Linda Schoumacher said no dues orbudgetary cuts have been announced yet.

Daily GPI reported earlier this month Elizabeth Moler, formerdeputy energy secretary and FERC chair, and Katherine Edwards, aWashington attorney, headed a short list of candidates for NGSA’spresidency. Schoumacher declined to comment on the list, saying”We’ll announce a short list of one when we’ve found ourpresident.” The association has gone without a president sincemid-February, when Nicholas Bush, was put on administrative leavewithout pay due to an investigation and lawsuit accusing him ofmisappropriating more than $2 million from the group since the late1980s.

Taking over as secretary and treasurer will be Terry Hudgens,president of Texaco Natural Gas – North America. Hudgens has heldhis position at Texaco since 1996 and has been responsible for allaspects of the company’s North American natural gas business.

J Larry Nichols, CEO of Devon Energy, was re-appointed vicechairman of the association and Roberta Luxbacher, vice presidentnatural gas, Exxon Co., retained her post as chair of the NGSA’sAlternative Regulation Task Force.

©Copyright 1999 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.