As Executive Director of the Northwest Gas Association (NWGA), Kirschner is an expert on natural gas in the Pacific Northwest. He works to foster understanding and informed decision-making on natural gas issues in the region. Prior to the NWGA, Kirschner worked in the Washington State Legislature, for the U.S. Senate and for a regional chamber of commerce in the Northwest. He adds an MBA to his policy and public affairs experience.

The NWGA is a bi-national trade organization of the Pacific Northwest natural gas industry. Its mission is to promote the use of natural gas as a solution to the region’s energy, economic and environmental needs. The NWGA accomplishes its mission by telling the compelling natural gas story; by advocating for its members interests and by producing timely and regionally relevant information relating to natural gas. NWGA members include six natural gas utilities serving communities throughout Idaho, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, and three transmission pipelines that transport natural gas from production areas in Alberta, British Columbia and the U.S. Rockies into and through the Pacific Northwest.