Austin businesswoman Carolyn Lewis Gallagher has been selected as a new independent member of the ERCOT Board of Directors, Chairman Mike Greene announced today at the ERCOT board meeting.

Gallagher was appointed by President George W. Bush to the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service, where she has served since 2004.  She was president and CEO of Texwood Furniture Corporation, Austin, 1988-2000, and manager, business development for the Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta.  Prior to that, she was vice president of strategic planning for Distribution Systems, Inc., Houston.

She is also a trustee and past chair of St. Edward's University Board of Trustees and the Employees Retirement System (ERS) of Texas.  She was appointed to the ERS board by then-Governor Bush in 1996 and reappointed in 2000 to a term ending in 2006.  ERS manages the $20 billion retirement fund and administers the health benefit plans for all state employees.

Gallagher has been active in the Austin community, including positions as past chair of the Austin Musical Theatre and the Paramount Theatre.  She is currently president of the Headliner's Club of Austin.

She has a bachelor's degree from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business.

"Carolyn has an extremely impressive background," Greene said.  "We believe she will be a great addition to the board."

Gallagher replaces David Baggett, who was serving a one-year term on the board.  The unaffiliated directors serve staggered three-year terms.

ERCOT's 14-member "hybrid" board includes three unaffiliated (or independent) members; six representatives from each of the industry segments (investor-owned utilities, municipally-owned utilities, cooperatives, generators, power marketers and retail electric providers); three consumer segment representatives (industrial, commercial and residential); and the ERCOT CEO and Public Utility Commission chair.  The three unaffiliated members were recruited for their expertise in specific areas: information technology, finance and risk management.

ERCOT hired the executive search firm Spencer Stuart through an open bidding process to conduct a nation-wide search.  A nominating committee made up of the ERCOT board of directors interviewed the finalists and selected Gallagher as their finalist.  Gallagher was then approved unanimously by the ERCOT membership.