Corporate Governance

Governance Overview

The Board of Directors sets high standards for the Company’s employees, officers and directors. Implicit in this philosophy is the importance of sound corporate governance. It is the duty of the Board of Directors to serve as a prudent fiduciary for shareholders and to oversee the management of the Company’s business. To fulfill its responsibilities and to discharge its duty, the Board of Directors follows the procedures and standards that are set forth in these guidelines. These guidelines are subject to modification from time to time as the Board of Directors deems appropriate in the best interests of the Company or as required by applicable laws and regulations.

Committee Charters
Governance Documents
Contact the Board

You can contact Via Renewables, Inc.’s Board of Directors to provide comments, to report concerns, or to ask a question, at the following address.

Corporate Secretary
Via Renewables, Inc.
12140 Wickchester Ln.
STE. 100
Houston, TX 77079
United States

You may submit your concern anonymously or confidentially by postal mail. You may also indicate whether you are a shareholder, customer, supplier, or other interested party. Communications are distributed to the Board, or to any individual directors as appropriate, depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communication. In that regard, the Via Renewables, Inc. board of directors has requested that certain items which are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the board should be excluded, such as:

  • Product complaints
  • Product inquiries
  • New product suggestions
  • Resumes and other forms of job inquiries
  • Surveys
  • Business solicitations or advertisements

In addition, material that is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or similarly unsuitable will be excluded, with the provision that any communication that is filtered out must be made available to any non-management director upon request. You may also communicate online with our Board of Directors as a group. Please submit your question using the form below.

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Via Renewables Leadership

W. Keith Maxwell III
Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of Directors
W. Keith Maxwell III
Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of Directors

Mr. Maxwell serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and was appointed to this position in connection with the IPO in 2014. Mr. Maxwell also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Spark Energy as well as Chief Executive Officer of several privately owned energy related companies. Prior to founding the predecessor of Spark Energy in 1999, Mr. Maxwell was a founding partner in Wickford Energy, an oil and natural gas services company which was sold to Black Hills Utilities in 1997. Prior to Wickford Energy, Mr. Maxwell was a partner in Polaris Pipeline, a natural gas producer services and midstream company that sold to TECO Pipeline in 1994. In 2010, Mr. Maxwell was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Energy, Chemicals and Mining category. A native of Houston, Texas, Mr. Maxwell earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987. Mr. Maxwell has several philanthropic interests, including the Special Olympics, Child Advocates, Salvation Army, Star of Hope and Helping a Hero. We believe that Mr. Maxwell’s extensive energy industry background, leadership experience, and strategic planning and oversight brings an important skill set to our board of directors.

Amanda Bush
Independent Director
Amanda Bush
Independent Director

Mandy Bush is the Chief Financial Officer of Azure Midstream Energy, LLC. Prior to joining Azure, she was the Chief Financial Officer at Marlin Midstream Partners, LP, leading their successful IPO in 2013. Prior to being the CFO of Marlin, Ms. Bush held various finance and accounting roles within the energy industry. Ms. Bush began her career in public accounting with PwC auditing Fortune 500 companies. She has a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Houston and is a Texas certified public accountant.

Steve Kennedy
Independent Director
Steve Kennedy
Independent Director

Steve Kennedy began his role as Founder & Senior Advisor – Energy Group for Amegy Bank in 2022, where he is currently employed. Prior to that, he was EVP & Head of Energy Banking at Amegy for 25 years. Before his time with Amegy, he held a position as VP of Energy Banking at Wells Fargo. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Mr. Kennedy held a position of AVP of Energy Banking at Bank One. He holds an M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Baylor University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University. He has authored several articles on energy matters, including one regarding energy derivatives published in the October 2005 edition of the “Oil & Gas Financial Journal.” He also served as the President of the Petroleum Club of Houston from 2022 to 2023 and is a founding board member of the Houston Energy Forum.

Kenneth M. Hartwick
Independent Director
Kenneth M. Hartwick
Independent Director

Mr. Hartwick has served as a director since August 2014. Mr. Hartwick currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Power Generation, Inc., an electricity producer, a position he has held since April 2019. Previously, Mr. Hartwick served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ontario Power Generation, Inc., from March 2016 to April 2019. Mr. Hartwick also serves as a director of MYR Group, Inc., an electrical contractor specializing in transmission, distribution, and substation projects, a position he has held since 2015. Mr. Hartwick served as the Chief Financial Officer of Wellspring Financial Corporation, a sales financing company, from February 2015 until March 2016. Mr. Hartwick also served as the interim Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Power Corporation, a power generation plant operator, from September 2014 until January 2015 and as a director of Atlantic Power Corporation from October 2004 until March 2016. He has served in various roles for Just Energy Group Inc., most recently serving as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2004 to February 2014. Mr. Hartwick also served as President for Just Energy Group Inc. from 2006 to 2008, as Chief Financial Officer from 2004 to 2006, and as a director from 2008 to February 2014. Mr. Hartwick also served as the Chief Financial Officer of Hydro One, Inc., an energy distribution company, from 2002 to 2004. Mr. Hartwick holds an Honours of Business Administration degree from Trent University. Mr. Hartwick was selected to serve as a director because of his extensive knowledge of the retail natural gas and electricity business and his leadership and management expertise.

Mike Barajas
Chief Financial Officer
Mike Barajas
Chief Financial Officer

Mike Barajas was appointed Chief Financial Officer in November 2021. Immediately prior to his appointment as CFO, Mr. Barajas served as the Vice President of Finance and Investor Relations. Mr. Barajas oversees the Company’s accounting, tax, SEC reporting, treasury, financial planning and analysis, and investor relations functions. He is also the Chief Risk Officer.

Prior to rejoining the Company in 2019, Mr. Barajas worked for several energy companies including Spark Energy from 2009 to 2014, Marlin Midstream, Xcalibur Logistics, and National Gas & Electric with leadership experience in accounting, finance, mergers & acquisitions, and treasury.

Mr. Barajas holds a Master of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the C.T. Bauer College of Business at The University of Houston.  Mr. Barajas is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas.

Paul Konikowski
Chief Operating Officer
Paul Konikowski
Chief Operating Officer

Paul Konikowski was appointed Chief Operating Officer in November 2021. Immediately prior to his appointment as COO, Mr. Konikowski served as Senior Vice President of National Gas and Electric (“NG&E”), a position he had held since April 2015.

Prior to NG&E, Mr. Konikowski served as Chief Operating Officer of Glacial Energy and Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Via Renewables, Inc. (formerly Spark Energy, Inc.). Mr. Konikowski has extensive retail energy experience spanning 20+ years including, sales, operations, risk and IT.

Mr. Konikowski holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems and Marketing from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Misti Day
Vice President, Operations
Misti Day
Vice President, Operations

Ms. Day was appointed Vice President of Operations in May 2020. Immediately prior to her appointment as VP of Operations, Ms. Day served as Sr. Director of Operational Accounting. As Sr. Director of Operational Accounting, Ms. Day managed revenue recognition, gross margin accounting and analysis, gas and power settlements, accounts receivable and bad debt, and now manages all aspects of customer enrollments, billing and fulfillment.

Prior to joining the Company in 2011, Ms. Day worked at Direct Energy, Synagro, UBS Warburg, and Enron with leadership experience in Accounting, Finance, and Risk.

Ms. Day holds a Master of Public Accountancy and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Kira Jordan
Vice President, Portfolio Management and Business Insights
Kira Jordan
Vice President, Portfolio Management and Business Insights

Kira Jordan became the VP of Portfolio Management and Business Insights in 2018.  She previously served in multiple Sales and Marketing roles in the Company before assuming the role of Sr. Director of Portfolio Management in 2015.  As VP of Portfolio Management and Business Insights, Ms. Jordan manages mass market pricing, business intelligence, sales quality, and marketing – all centered on leveraging analytics and process design to efficiently acquire and retain customers.  Ms. Jordan joined the Company in 2013 which marked a return the industry she joined early in her career as a Systems Analyst for Reliant Energy in 2002.

Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Jordan served Fortune 500 organizations as a management consultant with Ernst & Young’s Performance Improvement practice.  Her engagements focused on using customer experience as a tool to enhance value of products and services.

Ms. Jordan holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Rice University in Houston, TX.  She has been a certified Project Management Professional since 2013.

Jana Hargrave
Chief Accounting Officer
Jana Hargrave
Chief Accounting Officer

Ms. Hargrave was appointed Chief Accounting Officer in May 2020. As CAO, she manages the Company’s SEC reporting, financial reporting, accounting, and tax functions.

Ms. Hargrave joined the Company in 2016, serving as Assistant Controller and Controller prior to her current role. Ms. Hargrave began her career in public accounting, spending 14 years in the audit practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).

Ms. Hargrave holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Mississippi College, and a Master of Accountancy from the Patterson School of Accountancy at the University of Mississippi. Ms. Hargrave is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas.

Chris Leonard
Vice President of Structuring and Supply
Chris Leonard
Vice President of Structuring and Supply

Mr. Leonard was appointed Vice President of Structuring & Supply in 2014. Immediately prior to his appointment as VP of Structuring and Supply, Mr. Leonard served as Managing Director of Power, with oversight of the procurement of the Company’s supply of gas and power.

Prior to joining the Company in 2012, Mr. Leonard worked for several Energy companies including Direct Energy, Enron, Shell, and Sabine Texican Pipeline with leadership experience in Finance, Risk Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Trading & Supply.

Mr. Leonard holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of Houston and Bachelor of Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University in Finance.

Board Member

Board of Directors & Committee Composition

Compensation CommitteeAudit CommitteeNominating and Corporate Governance Committee
W. Keith Maxwell III
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Biography >
Kenneth M. Hartwick
Independent Director
Biography >
ChairpersonMemberMember
Amanda Bush
Independent Director
Biography >
MemberChairpersonMember