Mark Kempic has been named president and chief operating officer of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and Columbia Gas of Maryland, effective Sept. 1.

His appointment follows the recent announcement that Mike Huwar will be departing the company.

Kempic began his career with Columbia Gas in 1979 as a part-time night dispatcher and continued through the company, serving as an engineering technician, operations research analyst, information center analyst, gas supply analyst and corporate planning coordinator.

Kempic holds a bachelor’s degree in computer and information science from the University of Pittsburgh and an associate engineering degree in solar heating and cooling from Pennsylvania State University.

He lives in Pittsburgh.