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HOUSTON – May 23, 2008 – CenterPoint Energy, Inc.’s Gary L. Whitlock, executive vice president and chief financial officer, was recently honored by Houston Business Journal as one of the city’s top CFOs in the category of Large Public Company. Whitlock was one of nine CFOs recognized by the publication as part of its second annual Celebrate!Enterprise festival.

“On behalf of CenterPoint Energy, I congratulate Gary on this very well-deserved recognition,” said David M. McClanahan, president and Chief Executive Officer of CenterPoint Energy. “Gary is a key member of our leadership team that has helped transform the company over the last five years. During this time, he led a group of professionals that were instrumental in improving the financial health and stability  of the company, implementing enhanced planning and resource allocation processes, and developing policies and procedures that have materially improved the company’s internal control environment.”

The award winners acted as corporate financial stewards by meeting the following criteria:

• Assisting and/or coaching an owner or management team in recognizing opportunities for strategic innovation, and guiding them into the company’s business model and organization.
• Working closely with the company CEO to identify and manage risks, as well as develop creative ideas to diminish debt and achieve profitable growth through both organic and acquisition means.
•  Restoring life to an ailing company by making changes to a business that is failing to produce acceptable returns, and helping the company transition from crisis mode to a more collaborative decision-making process.
• Contributing not only to their companies, but to their communities through philanthropic means.

“To be considered for this award is an honor in itself but more importantly, I think it is an honor for CenterPoint Energy and recognition of the terrific and capable staff of financial professionals who work so hard every day to help our company be successful,” said Whitlock.

Before beginning his career at CenterPoint Energy, Whitlock was vice president of Finance and CFO of Dow AgroSciences, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.

He received a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in 1972, where he was named a Distinguished Alumni. Whitlock is also a member of the Texas Society of CPA’s, American Institute of CPA’s and Financial Executive’s International.  He is on the President’s Council for SHSU as well as the Dean’s Advisory Council for SHSU College of Business. Whitlock also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.