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Kandi Hughes

Kandi Hughes is Senior Corporate Counsel at MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator). MISO, headquartered in Indiana, is an independent, not-for-profit, member-based organization that manages the generation and transmission of high-voltage electricity across 15 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. With almost 15 years of legal practice, Ms. Hughes joined MISO after serving as an attorney at SPP, Associate General Counsel at the University of Central Arkansas and as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Little Rock.

Her primary areas of focus are corporate governance, human resources, and transactional matters. Ms. Hughes is also an adjunct faculty member at UA Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law where she teaches Lawyering Skills. A Little Rock, Arkansas native, Ms. Hughes received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from Duke University. She received a Juris Doctor from UA Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law, an MBA with a concentration in Business Administration and Management from the University of Central Arkansas, and certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. Ms. Hughes is a member of industry organizations including the American Water Works Association, the National Black MBA Association, Corporate Counsel Women of Color, Arkansas Women in Power, and the American Association of Blacks in Energy.

Ms. Hughes’ civic affiliations include membership on the Duke University Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee, Junior League of Little Rock Sustainer, former chair of the Leadership Foundation for Women, board member of the Oscar Washington Jr. Educational Fund, and secretary of the Tendaji CDC Board of Directors. Ms. Hughes has been an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for over 20 years. Ms. Hughes’ public service includes serving on the U.S Commission on Civil Rights’ Arkansas Advisory Committee and is a Commissioner on the Central Arkansas Water Board of Commission. Ms. Hughes is a graduate of the Little Rock Regional Chamber’s Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXXI and a member of Saint Mark Baptist Church. Ms. Hughes has been recognized, annually since 2017, in Arkansas Business’ publication, Arkansas 250, honoring a group of Arkansans who influence the way we live, learn, and do business in the state.

Ms. Hughes was also recognized by Arkansas Business as a 40 Under 40 honoree and by Little Rock Soirée as a Woman to Watch honoree. She is the recipient of the Irma Hunter Brown Women’s Leadership Award, given by the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus. Ms. Hughes has been named as one of 40 Top Attorneys in Arkansas by Arkansas Life Magazine and honored as a Future 50 by Arkansas Money & Politics. She is the 2022 Little Rock Regional Chamber’s Outstanding Young Professional of the Year.