Kelso has held the position of interim CEO following the departure of its previous CEO Ian Taylor in June 2023. Taylor announced in April his plan to retire from public service after 17 years with NBU.
"Ryan Kelso's appointment as CEO is a testament to his outstanding leadership skills and unwavering dedication to NBU,” NBU Board President Wayne Peters said. “I am confident that under his guidance, NBU will continue to thrive and serve our community with excellence."
The framework
Kelso has held various positions at NBU since starting with the company in 2015, including Control Center Supervisor, Systems Control Manager, Director of Water Services, and Chief Operations Officer, according to a news release.
"I am honored and excited to take on the role of CEO at NBU,” Kelso said. “I am deeply committed to the success of our organization and the well-being of our community. Together with the incredible team at NBU, I am confident that we will continue to make progress towards the NBU vision of being a trusted community partner dedicated to excellence."
The process of finding the next CEO began in October by surveying NBU employees and the community for what qualities they wanted to see in the candidate. Conducted by executive search firm Baker Tilly, the survey had nearly 200 participants.
"Our community's input has been invaluable in selecting NBU’s next CEO,” New Braunfels Mayor Neal Linnartz said. “The engagement and feedback from both our employees and the public have played a crucial role in this decision-making process."
A closer look
According to a news release, 42 candidates applied for the position, with 15 participating in the first round of interviews. The top five individuals moved to the second round of interviews which consisted of discussions about risk aversion, work-life balance, futuristic thinking and unique characteristics the candidate would bring to NBU.
"I am confident that Ryan Kelso's leadership will contribute to the continued success of NBU and benefit our community at large,” Judith Hoffmann, NBU Board Vice President, said. “Congratulations to Ryan on this well-deserved achievement."
Next, the NBU board will finalize the CEO Agreement through contract negotiations for approval at a January 2024 meeting.
