Denise Buffington, Jd, Mba Email & Phone Number

A proven corporate leader, I blend business and legal acumen to define and implement strategic direction and corporate policies and procedures that drive growth and profitability in a heavily regulated market. Additionally, I excel in collaborating up and down an organization while building strong external relationships to negotiate and advance win-win partnerships and transactions.As the Director of Federal Regulatory Affairs at Evergy, Inc., I provide proven leadership in crafting and communicating company position and policy on regulatory issues and driving achievement of public policy objectives. I specialize in creating and implementing policies for transmission rates and market-based service conditions. Evergy was formed in 2018 as a merger between Westar Energy and Kansas City Power & Light (where I’ve worked since 2010). At that time, I provided leadership in winning federal regulatory approvals for the merger and structuring corporate governance thereafter. My areas of expertise include:* Deal Structuring: Provided leadership in formulating plans and capturing federal regulatory approvals for the merger of Great Plains Energy (Kansas City Power & Light’s parent company) and Westar Energy to form Evergy, Inc. in 2018. Also led the formation of Transource Energy in 2012, a JV between Great Plains Energy and American Electric Power Co.* Coalition Building: Organized and represented SPP transmission owners in litigation against Midcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator, winning additional compensation for as-available transmission service. Built coalitions and teams for multiple departments and JVs, working to adjust to market changes while driving growth and profitability.* Legal Representation: Guided electric utility in planning, drafting, and submitting an unprecedented application for approval to distribute excess decommissioning fund proceeds and net gains from the sale of a nuclear power plant, yielding a settlement to resolve all issues with a distribution of a one-time payment of funds to existing wholesale clients.* Strategic Leadership: Define direction and represent utilities before state and federal regulatory bodies, influencing transmission and wholesale power rates, driving business growth, winning approval for M&As, and more.As a member of the District of Columbia Bar and Kansas State Bar, I earned my JD at American University. I also completed an Executive MBA at University of Missouri Kansas City and a Bachelor’s in Political Science (Minor in Business Law & Law Enforcement) at Minnesota State University.

Listed skills include Corporate Law, Litigation, Energy Policy, Energy, and 28 others.