Peggy Fowler, CEO of Portland General Electric

Forward Stride is proud to honor CEO and President of Portland General Electric Peggy Fowler as recipient of our 2006 Cowgirl of the Year Award. Her coronation will take place at The Cowgirl Ball on October 7, 2006. The Cowgirl of the Year is awarded to an outstanding Oregonian who demonstrates unfailing fortitude, uncommon gumption and a good dose of true grit. Our ideal cowgirl is a woman who has the vision to make the West a better place and enough pluck to roll up her sleeves and get the job done. As a fine example of a glass ceiling shattering CEO, Ms. Fowler stands heads and tails above the rest. She has been a strong voice for corporate ethics in the face of Enron shenanigans. While her business accomplishments dazzle us, her contributions to our community humble us.

Peggy Fowler, CEO and president of Portland General Electric (PGE), has more than 30 years of experience in the utility business and, in that time, has managed almost every major area of the company.

Fowler began her tenure at PGE in 1974 as a chemist in the company’s analytical laboratory where she performed extensive environmental testing. She later managed that department and eventually worked her way up through the ranks to hold senior officer posts as head of PGE’s Customer Service and Delivery areas; Power Production; Hydroelectric and Substation Operations; and one of PGE’s largest divisions, the Gresham Division. She also has served as PGE’s chief operating officer of distribution operations.

Fowler earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics from George Fox University in Newberg, Ore. She also has completed the specialized training offered in public utility executive programs at the University of Michigan and the University of Idaho.

Fowler resides in Tigard, Ore., with her husband Bob. Together, they have raised two sons. She enjoys outdoor activities, including golf and skiing. Fowler serves in several volunteer capacities that contribute to the future of the community, including the boards of Oregon Business Council, the Regence Group, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, SOLV Founders’ Circle, and the Oregon Independent College Foundation. Since 2004, she has been an ambassador for the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” campaign and is co-chairing the 2006 capital campaign for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area with her husband Bob. In 2005, she was named "Oregon’s Most Admired CEO" in the Portland Business Journal's survey of "Oregon's Most Admired Companies."