Jennifer Smestad To Assume Vice President, General Counsel, And Corporate Secretary Roles At Otter Tail Corporation

Otter Tail Corporation (Nasdaq: OTTR) today announced that Jennifer O. Smestad will assume the roles of Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary beginning January 1, 2018.

For the past 17 years, Smestad has served in roles of increasing responsibility for the corporation’s manufacturing and electric utility platforms. "Jennifer came aboard initially as an attorney for our manufacturing companies, then transitioned to support renewable and transmission expansion projects at the utility, and for the past four years has excelled as the General Counsel of Otter Tail Power Company,” said Otter Tail Corporation President and CEO Chuck MacFarlane. “Jennifer is a proven leader with deep knowledge of Otter Tail Corporation. I have every confidence in Jennifer and look forward to her becoming a key member of our executive team.”

Smestad will be responsible for the legal affairs of the corporation and will retain her role as General Counsel at Otter Tail Power Company. The electric utility is the corporation’s largest subsidiary.

She will succeed George Koeck, who this fall announced his plan to retire at the end of this year. "I've been pleased by the seamless transition between these two leaders,” said MacFarlane.

Smestad earned her bachelor of science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and her juris doctor degree from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. Smestad served as an Army Officer in the Medical Service Corps and Judge Advocate General, attaining the rank of Major. Prior to joining Otter Tail Corporation, Smestad worked as an associate and partner with the Pemberton Law firm.

Smestad is a member of the North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota Bar Associations, the Minnesota Chapter of the American Corporate Counsel Association, and the American Bar Association. She is active in several local nonprofit organizations.

Otter Tail Corporation has interests in diversified operations that include an electric utility and manufacturing businesses. Otter Tail Corporation stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol OTTR. The latest investor and corporate information is available at www.ottertail.com. Corporate offices are in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and Fargo, North Dakota.