Cohen-recommended TVA Board Nominee Ron Walter Approved by Senate Committee, Final Confirmation to Follow

[WASHINGTON, DC] – The nomination of Ronald Walter to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors, recommended to President Obama by Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), was unanimously approved today by the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works. The United States Senate is now set to consider Walter’s nomination and, if confirmed, he will fill one of the nine positions on the TVA Board. Video of Congressman Cohen introducing Ron Walter to the Senate Committee last month is available here.

“I was pleased to recommend Ron Walter to President Obama, as I have known Ron for nearly 40 years and know of no finer citizen of our community. He is diligent in all things and active and loved in the community for his genuine, caring attitude. I know Ron will do an outstanding job and serve the TVA constituency with good judgment and rectitude if confirmed, and I am pleased the full Senate will consider his nomination.”

Ronald Walter is currently the President and General Manager of WREG-TV, a position he has held since 2004. Mr. Walter has served in a variety of positions at WREG-TV since 1987. He was Executive Vice President/Station Manager from 1994 to 2004, concurrently serving as Vice President of Government and Cable Relations for the New York Times Broadcast Group, WREG-TV’s former parent company from 2001 to 2004. He served as Vice President and Station Manager from 1991 to 1994, Vice President of Government and Public Relations from 1989 to 1990, and Director of Marketing, Production and Client Services from 1987 to 1989. Mr. Walter was Vice President of Customer Relations for the Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division from 1982 to 1987. From 1980 to 1982, he served as Assistant to the President at Memphis Light, Gas and Water. Mr. Walter received a B.A. from Clark University and an M.S.L.S. from Case Western Reserve University.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.