The Prairie State leadership team is responsible for ensuring we provide reliable, affordable, and clean energy to our members. Thanks to their vision, Prairie State has established itself as a forward-thinking company, and a leader in the energy industry.

Randy Short

President & Chief Executive Officer

Randy Short is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Prairie State Generating Company (PSGC). Mr. Short joined Prairie State in 2014 as its first Chief Operating Officer. Prior to 2014, Mr. Short experienced more than 25 years in the utility industry, with previous roles as Plant Manager at both the coal-fueled Baldwin Energy Complex and the Wood River power plant. Additionally, he served as Senior Director for Generation Programs at Dynegy corporate headquarters in Houston.

As President and CEO, Mr. Short is responsible for the overall direction and leadership of Prairie State, and oversees coordination with the Prairie State ownership group, which includes nine non-profit power companies serving 2.5 million member-owners across eight states. Mr. Short is recognized as a skilled power industry leader with unique experience working in Illinois and with Illinois coal.

Mr. Short holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is an executive board member for the Council of Owners Construction Associates (COCA).

Jon Sander

Sr. Vice President of Campus Operations

Jonathan Sander is the Sr. Vice President of Campus Operations for Prairie State. He joined the Prairie State team in 2014 as Sr. Electrical Engineer and has since worked his way up through multiple roles in the company, until he was promoted to his current position in 2024. In his role, Mr. Sander is responsible for the overall direction, management, and operations of the power plant and coal mine.

Mr. Sander has 15 years of experience in the power generation industry. Prior to joining Prairie State, he served as a Turbine-Generator Engineer for Ameren. Between 2015 and 2017, he pursued other opportunities in the electrical sector before returning to Prairie State. He most recently served as the plant’s Vice President before reaching his current position.

Mr. Sander earned a B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. He is a licensed professional engineer, sits on the Board of the Council of Owners and Construction Associates (COCA), and serves on the Generation Sector Advisory Council for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

Alyssa Harre

Vice President of External Affairs & Organizational Strategy

Alyssa Harre is the Vice President of External Affairs and Organizational Strategy for Prairie State. Ms. Harre is responsible for the development and implementation of the company’s government affairs strategy, managing public policy outreach on both the state and national level. She leads a collaborative and cultural approach to long-range strategic planning, development of organizational policies and Human Resources programs that seek to propel Prairie State toward achieving its vision and mission. Ms. Harre also oversees Prairie State’s public relations and community outreach activities.

Ms. Harre joined Prairie State in 2013 as the External Affairs Manager, leading the communications and public relations programs for the campus. She has held various roles of increased responsibility within the company since that time. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Harre has demonstrated her dedication to the company’s long-term success, achieving positive changes to proposed legislation and regulations at both the state and federal level. Prior to joining Prairie State, she worked in the public relations field, most recently at RBM Golf Course and Osborn Barr Communications.

Ms. Harre earned a B.S. in communications and advertising from the University of Illinois in Urbana – Champaign. In addition, she is a member of the Illinois Coal Association, America’s Power, National Mining Association, and the Illinois Chamber Energy Council.

Helen Gallagher

General Counsel

Helen Gallagher is the General Counsel for PSGC. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the legal support of the company’s business activities. In addition, Ms. Gallagher manages the legal aspects of compliance and the compliance audit role regarding company policies, protocols, and procedures.

Ms. Gallagher has been practicing law for over 20 years.  Prior to joining Prairie State in 2018, she was the Director of Legal Services at Iroquois Gas Transmission Systems, LLC, as well as an adjunct professor at the University Of Connecticut Graduate School Of Business, where she taught courses in employment law and legal risks for contracts.

Ms. Gallagher earned a B.S. in Sociology from the University of Tampa, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University Of Connecticut School Of Business, and a Juris Doctorate from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law.

Tom Schmale

Vice President of Finance

Tom Schmale is the Vice President of Finance for Prairie State. In this role, he is responsible for the overall management and strategy of the finance, accounting, tax, and risk management functions for the campus.

Mr. Schmale joined the Prairie State team in 2010 as an accountant during the final construction phase of the campus, and has held various positions of increased responsibility since then. Most recently, he served as the Director of Finance.

Prior to joining Prairie State, Mr. Schmale served as an accountant with Nascote Industries and The Maschhoff’s Inc. He earned a B.S. in accounting and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Additionally, Mr. Schmale is a registered Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.