SHREVEPORT, LA – Southwestern Electric Power Company today announced Shanda Hunter has been named Arkansas State Government Affairs Manager, effective October 12. Hunter takes over from Bradley Hardin, who retired July 1, following a career with SWEPCO that spanned more than four decades.

Based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Hunter will be responsible for government relations within the state and serve as the company’s liaison with elected officials and their staff members. She will also work closely with SWEPCO’s regulatory, federal and external affairs, corporate communications, operations and customer services groups to engage and achieve positive outcomes for stakeholders. She’ll report directly to SWEPCO’s VP of External Affairs, William Bradford, Jr.

“I’m looking forward to this new opportunity to work closely with Arkansas’ elected officials on issues including local economic development, government, business, education and emergency service coordination as we focus on the needs of our customers and communities,” Shanda said.

Shanda began her SWEPCO career last August when she joined the corporate communications team. She quickly made an impact in support of SWEPCO customers and has been a strong advocate and trusted voice with stakeholders in the Northwest Arkansas region and beyond. Shanda served SWEPCO’s Fayetteville District and provided on-site media relations support and led public relations efforts across Arkansas and the Fayetteville District territory.

“During the past year, Shanda’s expertise, strategic approach to news gathering, stakeholder engagement, reputation management and business mindset were on display as she worked to further showcase the good energy of our employees and the service we provide,” said William Bradford, Jr. “In addition, her experience as a journalist gives her important perspective on issues that are top of mind for our customers and our industry. We are thrilled to congratulate Shanda on her new role at SWEPCO and look forward to the positive impact she will undoubtedly continue to make.”

Shanda’s entire career is built on storytelling as a multimedia journalist who brings to the role experiences gained from a 20-year career in television news that included newsrooms in Northwest Arkansas, Texas, South Dakota, Florida and Tennessee markets, before exploring opportunities in business, corporate communications and marketing, including work on behalf of the City of Rogers in Arkansas.

Shanda studied journalism at South Dakota State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism and last summer graduated with a master’s in business administration from the University of Arkansas’s flagship campus at Fayetteville. She is an FAA-certified drone pilot and is among 53 professionals recently tapped for the Leadership Arkansas program where participants build upon a commitment to making Arkansas a better place to live and work.

Shanda and her husband Chase are the proud parents of two children.