TULSA, Okla., May 17, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) and ONEOK Partners, L.P. (NYSE: OKS) today announced several officer appointments.
Kent Shortridge, 40, has been named president, ONEOK Partners' pipelines and storage segment, effective June 1, 2007. He replaces S. W. "Pete" Walker, 56, who will retire on July 1, after more than 30 years of service. Shortridge will report to John W. Gibson, chief executive officer of ONEOK and president and chief executive officer of ONEOK Partners. Shortridge has been vice president of gas supply and administration for ONEOK, Inc.'s distribution segment. He joined the company in 1990 and has held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility. Shortridge holds a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the University of Oklahoma and a master's degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University.
Ronald D. Bridgewater, 41, becomes regional vice president, operations, for Kansas Gas Service, replacing Joseph Diskin, 64, who retired on May 1, after more than 33 years of service in the industry. He is currently manager of large operations for Kansas Gas Service, responsible for customer service, construction and maintenance as well as operational and regulatory compliance. An honors graduate with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Missouri in Kansas City, Bridgewater started his career in 1988.
Kari L. French, 50, becomes vice president, administration, for Kansas Gas Service, replacing William G. Eliason, 55, who will retire from the company on July 1, after more than 19 years of service. She is currently manager of human resources for Kansas Gas Service. French joined the company in 1990 and received a bachelor's degree from William Jewell University and a master's degree from Avila University.
Bridgewater and French will begin their new assignments immediately and will report to Brad Dixon, president of Kansas Gas Service.
ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) is a diversified energy company. We are the general partner and own 45.7 percent of ONEOK Partners, L.P. (NYSE: OKS), one of the largest publicly traded limited partnerships, which is a leader in the gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas in the U.S. and owns one of the nation's premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems, connecting much of the natural gas and NGL supply in the Mid-Continent with key market centers. ONEOK is among the largest natural gas distributors in the United States, serving more than 2 million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Our energy services operation focuses primarily on marketing natural gas and related services throughout the U.S. ONEOK is a Fortune 500 company.
For information about ONEOK, Inc. visit the Web site: http://www.oneok.com.
ONEOK Partners, L.P. (NYSE: OKS) is one of the largest publicly traded limited partnerships, and is a leader in the gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas in the U.S. and owns one of the nation's premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems, connecting much of the natural gas and NGL supply in the Mid-Continent with key market centers. Its general partner is a wholly owned subsidiary of ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE), a diversified energy company, which owns 45.7 percent of the overall partnership interest. ONEOK is one of the largest natural gas distributors in the United States, and its energy services operation focuses primarily on marketing natural gas and related services throughout the U.S.
For more information about ONEOK Partners, L.P., visit the Web site: http://www.oneokpartners.com.
Analyst Contact: Dan Harrison
918-588-7950
Media Contact: Megan Washbourne
918-588-7572
OKE-G OKS-G
SOURCE ONEOK, Inc.; ONEOK Partners, L.P.
Analysts, Dan Harrison, +1-918-588-7950, or Media, Megan Washbourne, +1-918-588-7572,
both of ONEOK, Inc.
http://www.oneok.com