Current Position: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In this role, the principle business unit leaders report to Prochazka. In addition, he also oversees corporate functions such as human resources, corporate communications, community relations and regulatory. He has shared responsibility with the CFO for strategic planning and business development.

Previous positions: Prochazka joined CenterPoint Energy in 2001 and has held many key leadership positions within the company. Since February 2009, he has been responsible for the company’s electric transmission and distribution utility serving more than 2.1 million consumers in the Houston area.

He also served in leadership roles in strategic planning, customer service and gas operations. Prior to joining CenterPoint Energy, Prochazka worked for Dow Chemical from 1989 to 2001 in a variety of management roles.

Education and Accreditation:  Prochazka received a bachelor’s degree with honors in chemical engineering from The University of Texas. He has also completed executive development programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

Affiliations and Honors: He currently serves on the boards of The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. and Gridwise Alliance. He is the current chairman of the Southeastern Electric Exchange and is a past chairman of the Texas Gas Association. Additionally, Prochazka is active in the community and is currently on the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas. He also serves on the president’s advisory council for the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

Personal: A native of Denver, Colorado, Prochazka is married with four children.