Renae Conley joined Ball State's Board of Trustees in 2014, previously serving as chair of the board from January 2020-January 2024, and vice chair from January 2016-January 2020.
Conley is CEO of consulting firm ER Solutions, LLC. She retired as executive vice president of human resources and administration from Entergy Corporation, where she also served as chief diversity officer. She previously served as president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana for 10 years. During her tenure running Entergy’s Louisiana utilities, she was responsible for the companies’ electric transmission and distribution systems, customer service, regulatory and governmental affairs, and economic development programs, as well as the companies’ financial performance.
Prior to joining Entergy, she worked for 18 years for PSI Energy/Cinergy Corporation, where Conley held a variety of positions including president of Cincinnati Gas and Electric.
She is the recipient of a number of awards. In 2004, she was recognized for the second consecutive year as a Key Woman in Energy in the Americas, a national honor bestowed on female executives for their contributions to the industry. She is also the recipient of the Ball State University Miller College of Business 2001 Award of Achievement and 2007 Award of Distinction. She was inducted into the Miller College of Business Hall of Fame in 2013.
She also played a key role leading utility restoration efforts in Louisiana in the wake of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike. A respected business leader, Conley serves on the board of PNM Resources, a utility company in New Mexico, and numerous other boards across the nation.
Conley earned an MBA from Ball State in 1982 as well as a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1980.