AMARILLO, Texas (Feb. 13, 2025) – Xcel Energy has announced the promotion of James Lackey to director of Customer Relations for Texas and New Mexico, succeeding Justin Smiley, who has been named director of Corporate Economic Development.
James Lackey, who has been with Xcel Energy for 17 years, will now oversee a team of account representatives responsible for managing relationships with the company’s large industrial customers in both states. He started at the company in 2008 as a plant engineer at the Cunningham Station in Hobbs, advancing through roles, including senior engineer and key accounts manager. Lackey previously served as manager of Community Relations and Economic Development for southeast New Mexico, where he successfully fostered strong ties with local communities, including Hobbs and Carlsbad.
A native of Aztec, New Mexico, Lackey holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico and an MBA from West Texas A&M University. He is a licensed professional engineer in both New Mexico and Texas.
“James brings a wealth of experience and exceptional relationship-building skills to this role,” said Adrian J. Rodriguez, president, Xcel Energy – New Mexico, Texas. “His understanding of the region and his background make him the ideal leader to strengthen our partnerships within the communities we serve.”
Justin Smiley is now leading corporate economic development efforts across the company. He started his career 23 years ago as an engineering intern in Amarillo, working in the Distribution group until 2010. He then moved to the Transmission group as a substation field engineer and was later promoted to senior operations manager in Substation Operations and Maintenance for Texas and New Mexico. Since 2022, Smiley has served as director of Customer Relations, leading the Account Management team.
Originally from Amarillo, Smiley holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University and is a licensed professional engineer in Texas.
“Justin’s knowledge of both operations and economic development will be instrumental in driving our long-term growth and innovation,” Rodriguez said. “His expertise and years of proven leadership will ensure Xcel Energy remains well-positioned for sustained success.”
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About Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on X and Facebook.
