USM Inspired Leaders Series Welcomes Entergy CFO Kimberly Fontan

Fri, 02/02/2024 - 08:39am | By: Van Arnold

Students will have an opportunity to glean insights from an accomplished business executive when the College of Business and Economic Development at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) welcomes the spring 2024 Inspired Leaders Series speaker on Thursday, Feb. 8 on the Hattiesburg campus.

The event is set for 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. in the Scianna Hall McDonnell Auditorium.

The Inspired Leaders Series provides industry leaders the opportunity to present their insights in large and small group settings with students.

The featured speaker is Kimberly Fontan, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Entergy, where she oversees corporate finance, accounting, internal audit, treasury, investor relations, and corporate development and planning. As CFO, Fontan maintains Entergy’s solid financial standing and ensures the company is well-positioned to achieve its strategic business objectives.

"We are honored to have Kimberly join us as our Inspired Leaders Series guest speaker for the business students, faculty, and staff,” said Dr. Bret Becton, Dean of USM’s College of Business and Economic Development. “As a distinguished professional with a remarkable career, Kimberly brings a wealth of valuable knowledge and expertise to the table. We are confident that her insights and experiences will inspire and enlighten our students as they embark on their own journeys in the world of business."

Fontan has an MBA from Loyola University New Orleans and a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from USM. She is a certified public accountant and a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Before becoming CFO at Entergy in 2022, Fontan served as senior vice president and chief accounting officer, where she oversaw the preparation of monthly financial reports, preparation of certain regulatory filings, and formulation and administration of accounting policy, procedures and controls. She also led the project management office in support of executing Entergy's strategic initiatives.

Prior to being named chief accounting officer, she served as vice president, system planning and operations; vice president, regulatory services; and vice president, Louisiana regulatory affairs.

Fontan previously held various roles of increasing scope and responsibility in accounting, including jurisdictional finance director for Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana in 1997. She was named controller of utility operations in 2011, where she oversaw fuel and revenue accounting and provided guidance on federal accounting matters and accounting policy. She joined Entergy in 1996 as a staff accountant.

In addition to her role at Entergy, she serves on the board of directors for the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.

About Entergy
Entergy is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more and follow @Entergy on social media.