Mike Ross serves as Senior Vice President for External Affairs and Stakeholder Relations for Southwest Power Pool (SPP).  As a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission designated regional transmission organization, SPP manages the electric grid for all or part of 17 states, and ensures reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale electricity prices. 

His responsibilities include leading SPP’s government affairs at the federal level and the 17 state region it serves; and has responsibility for external affairs, stakeholder relations and corporate communications for the company. 

Before joining SPP in 2013, Mike served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas’ Fourth Congressional District, including as a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. During his 12 years in the congress, Mike was also member of the House Financial Services Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, House Agriculture Committee, House Small Business Committee, and House Science and Technology Committee.  He was also elected vice president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. 

Additionally, Mike previously spent 10 years in the Arkansas State Senate, owned a pharmacy and home medical equipment business and was a licensed independent insurance agent.   

He serves on the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and is a past chair and current member of the UA Little Rock School of Business Advisory Council. He is also a past chair of the Mount Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center in Fayetteville, AR and a past independent director of CapRocq Core REIT. 

As a fifth generation Arkansan and native of Hope and Prescott, AR, Mike is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, working his way through college as a radio announcer.  Mike is married to Dr. Krystal Thrailkill, vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas at Rich Mountain.  Together they have five children.