Ryan Long serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Xcel Energy Inc., a leading U.S. electric and natural gas utility company. With over two decades of experience in corporate law, compliance, and regulatory affairs, Long joined Xcel Energy in 2017 as Vice President and General Counsel before ascending to his current role. Prior to Xcel, he spent more than a decade at Target Corporation, where he rose to Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer, overseeing global compliance programs, litigation, and risk management during a period of significant retail expansion and regulatory scrutiny. Earlier in his career, Long was a partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, specializing in corporate finance, securities, mergers and acquisitions, and energy transactions, advising Fortune 500 clients on complex deals and capital markets activities. In his leadership position at Xcel Energy, Long directs the company's legal, compliance, ethics, and corporate secretary functions, supporting a workforce of over 11,000 employees across eight states. He plays a pivotal role in navigating the energy sector's regulatory landscape, including federal and state oversight from bodies like the FERC and PUCs, while advancing Xcel's clean energy goals, such as achieving 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. Under his guidance, Xcel has successfully managed high-profile matters, including multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects, rate cases, and sustainability initiatives, earning recognition for robust governance and ethical standards. Long holds a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. A respected leader in the legal community, he actively participates in industry groups like the Edison Electric Institute's Legal Committee and mentors emerging lawyers, contributing to the evolution of compliance practices in the utilities sector.