People: Patriot Coal Corp (PCXCQ.PK)

Mr. Robert O. Viets is Independent Director of Patriot Coal Corporation. Mr. Viets is the former President, Chief Executive Officer and director of CILCORP, Inc., a NYSE-listed holding company which owned a regulated electric and natural gas utility (CILCO) in central Illinois. Mr. Viets served in this capacity from 1988 until 1999, when CILCORP was acquired by AES Corporation. He also served as Chief Financial Officer during his 26-year career at CILCORP. Prior to joining CILCORP, Mr. Viets was an auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co. Following his career at CILCORP, Mr. Viets has provided consulting services to regulated energy and communication businesses. Mr. Viets has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Washburn University (Topeka) and a Juris Doctorate degree from Washington University School of Law. He is also a certified public accountant. He has served as a director of, among other companies, RLI Corp., a specialty property and casualty insurer (1993-present), Consumers Water Company, a Maine-based regulated water utility (1996-1998) and Philadelphia Suburban Corp., now Aqua America, Inc. (1998-2001), including serving as a member of the audit committees at RLI Corp. and Philadelphia Suburban Corp.