About LPPC

Anyanwu became CEO of Lincoln Electric System (LES) – the municipal public utility serving Lincoln, Nebraska and surrounding communities – in January 2024. Prior to LES, he served as Energy Innovation & Resources officer at Seattle City Light, one of the nation’s largest community-owned, not-for-profit utilities. In that role, he was responsible for leading strategic functions that included utility technology (IT/OT), information security, electrification, grid modernization, and current and future power resource strategy. Earlier in his career, Emeka spent 16 years at Kansas City Power & Light (now Evergy) in various roles, starting out as a Distribution Engineer, moving into progressive leadership roles in T&D operations.

Emeka has been an active participant and contributor in industry discussions throughout his career. He has spoken at a variety of industry events and engaged with several technical and trade organizations. He has served on industry Boards including the Public Power Council, the Public Generating Pool, and Energy Northwest, as well non-profit Boards for Genesis School and The Family Conservancy. He has also served on the External Advisory Committee for the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department at Iowa State University. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors for GridForward and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. Recent awards for him include the Smart Electric Power Alliance’s Individual 2021 Power Player of the Year and the Energy Thought Summit’s 2023 Thought Leader of the Year.

Emeka has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University and a Master of Business Administration from Rockhurst University. He and his wife Brandy have been married since 2015 and have 3 energetic kids.

Ms. Broyles-Aplin serves in the role of President & Chief Executive Officer of Nashville Electric Service (“NES”), one of the 12 largest public utilities in the U.S. with revenues of approximately $1.3 billion.  She began serving in that role on June 1, 2022.  She previously served as the Chief Financial Officer and as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Electric Power Board and was in that role for more than 15 years.  She oversaw the process of formulating and controlling an annual operating budget in excess of $1.2 billion and a capital budget of $200 million annually.  As the treasurer, she managed the investment assets, including $450 million in cash and investments and $800 million in pension and other trust assets.  She was also the point person for investor relations.  Customer Service and Information Technology are two major departments that were moved into her responsibilities upon the retirement of the COO and other vice presidents.

Ms. Broyles-Aplin spent many years in public accounting with most of that time being in the assurance and advisory practice of Deloitte.  She has extensive merger and acquisition experience and was the team lead for many due diligence projects. She has broad experience with Securities and Exchange Commission filings and was an integral member of several initial public offering teams.  Ms. Broyles-Aplin has also led the internal audit departments of two publicly-traded companies.

Ms. Broyles-Aplin graduated from Belmont University with a Master of Accountancy and from Austin Peay State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration.  Ms. Broyles-Aplin has acted as a subject matter expert and guest speaker for educational seminars on the topic of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and risk management.  She serves on the Board and Governance Committee for the YMCA of Middle Tennessee in addition to being the chair of the board for the downtown YMCA. She has been awarded the Belmont Massey Graduate School Distinguished Graduate Award and the CFO of the Year award by the Nashville Business Journal.

Jackie Flowers was appointed Director of Utilities in 2018. She has 30 years of professional experience, with 15 of those managing public utilities, including hydropower generation, power supply, power transmission and distribution, energy efficiency, engineering, operations technology, fiber optic networks, and traffic signalization. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County, the Large Public Power Council, and Grid Forward. She is also a member of the American Public Power Association CEO Climate Change Task Force.

The Board of Commissioners appointed John Haarlow to serve as CEO and General Manager beginning October 8, 2018. He joined Snohomish County PUD No. 1 in February 2017 as Assistant General Manager of Distribution & Engineering Services, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in the electric utility industry. In that role, he was responsible for construction, engineering, operations, and maintenance of the utility’s transmission, substation, and distribution assets. He also oversaw fleet, real estate, and environmental functions.

Before joining Snohomish County PUD No. 1, Mr. Haarlow worked for the Public Service Company of New Mexico, serving as both Director of Safety and Transmission and Distribution Engineering and Operations. He began his career at the Central Illinois Light Company where he was an IBEW journeyman for 10 years. Mr. Haarlow also worked as Vice President of Power Delivery for the AES Indiana. He attended University of Illinois and holds a B.A. in Accounting.

Rob joined Seattle City Light in 2020 and became Chief Operating Officer in November 2025. As COO, Rob oversees City Light’s Network, Substations and Technical Support Division, Field Operations Division, the Systems Operations Center, and Generation Operations. He has more than 30 years of experience in the electric utility industry, working his way up from a field crew member to a director. At City Light, Rob has held the positions of Director of the Network, Substations and Technical Support Division and Director of the Transmission & Distribution Field Operations Division.

Rob holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and recently completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Chief Operating Officer Certificate Program.

As President and CEO of Santee Cooper, Jimmy D. Staton is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the state-owned electric and water utility, advancing Santee Cooper’s mission to be the leading resource for improving the quality of life for all South Carolinians.

Prior to joining Santee Cooper, Mr. Staton served for more than five years as the President and CEO of Southern Star Central Corporation, a leading transporter of natural gas, with approximately 5,800 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline in the Midwest and Mid-Continent regions of the United States. He also has served as Executive Vice President and Group CEO for NiSource Inc., one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, with approximately 3.5 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across seven states; as Senior Vice President for Dominion Energy Inc.; and as President of Asset Operations for Consolidated Natural Gas Company (CNG) prior to its acquisition in 2000 by Dominion Energy.

Mr. Staton is on the Board of Directors for The Energy Authority (TEA) and a member of the Large Public Power Council (LPPC). He graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering. Mr. Staton enjoys sporting events, live music, golf, and the great outdoors. He and his wife, Karen, have two adult sons and a granddaughter. The Statons currently reside in Pinopolis and have a home in North Myrtle Beach, where they have been Santee Cooper customers for 15 years.

Jim Pratt is the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Salt River Project (SRP), Arizona’s largest community-based, not-for-profit utility. He leads the company’s more than 5,000 team members in fulfilling their mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable water and power to over 1 million customers across central Arizona.

Jim has worked in the utility industry for more than 39 years. He started at SRP in 1984 as an engineer and gained extensive experience in a variety of engineering and management positions relating to every aspect of the company’s business. In 2018, Jim was named Associate General Manager of Customer Operations & Chief Customer Executive. In that role he led SRP teams that are responsible for servicing SRP’s water and power customers, including Water Services, Customer Services & Strategy, Customer Programs and Distribution Grid Services.

The SRP Board of Directors selected him to be the company’s General Manager and Chief Executive Officer on March 23, 2023.

Jim serves on the board of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies; a board member of the Large Public Power Council, is an Executive Committee Vice Chair of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona; and is on the board of the Phoenix Zoo. He is also a member of the Greater Phoenix Leadership Board.

Paul Lau, who previously served as SMUD’s Chief Grid Strategy & Operations Officer, was named Chief Executive Officer & General Manager in October 2020. He reports to the SMUD Board of Directors. As CEO, he leads the sixth largest community-owned electric utility in the nation serving a population of 1.5 million residents and managing a $1.7 billion budget. 

As Chief Grid Strategy & Operations Officer, Mr. Lau was responsible for the operations of SMUD’s power markets, transmission, and distribution grids, including the Balancing Authority of Northern California, the development of a holistic smart grid strategy, and SMUD’s research and development programs. In this role, he served as executive sponsor for SMUD’s deployment of advanced metering infrastructure and smart grid initiatives.

A 40-year SMUD veteran, Mr. Lau has held several other executive leadership positions, including Assistant General Manager of Power Supply & Grid Operations and Assistant General Manager of Customer, Distribution & Technology. 

Mr. Lau serves on the boards of the Large Public Power Council, American Public Power Association, California Municipal Utilities Association, Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Smart Electric Power Alliance, Electric Transportation Community Development Corporation, and the California Mobility Center and as a Commissioner of the Balancing Authority of Northern California. He serves on the boards of a number of Sacramento-area community organizations, including the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, Greater Sacramento Economic Council, and Valley Vision. He serves as Director-at-Large and is Past Chair of the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce.

Active in international energy issues, Mr. Lau serves as a delegate with the United States Energy Association, where he has helped with electrification, operations, and demand-side management in countries such as Bangladesh, India, and Jordan. 

A registered professional electrical engineer in the state of California, Mr. Lau received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Power Engineering from California State University, Sacramento. He also is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum.

Mary Carmen Zapata Acosta, married and a resident of San Juan, is a licensed electrical engineer and retired from the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, where she worked for over 30 years. A native of Lajas, she studied at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus (RUM), where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, cum laude, with a concentration in power systems in 1990. One year after graduating from RUM, she obtained her professional engineering license. She began her professional career in 1990 in the Planning and Studies Division, where she held the position of Supervising Electrical Engineer I in the Distribution Systems Planning Department. During her career, Engineer Zapata Acosta also worked in the Electric Distribution Division, the Electric System Conservation Division, and the Executive Office of the Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Directorate. Upon her retirement in 2019, she held the position of Head of the Planning and Studies Division.

Engineer Zapata Acosta returned to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PPO) in October 2021, once again joining the PPO team and contributing her knowledge and extensive technical and administrative experience to the transformation of Puerto Rico's electricity system. Upon her return, Engineer Zapata Acosta was appointed Deputy Executive Director of Operations, the first woman to hold this position at the PPO. As a result of her performance as Deputy Executive Director of Operations, she was recognized as a Distinguished Engineer by the College of Engineers and Surveyors during International Women's Week 2023.

As Executive Deputy Director of Operations, Engineer Zapata Acosta oversaw the development of generating unit repair projects and the reconstruction of water supply systems. She also managed the offices of federal funds management, regulatory affairs, environmental protection, renewable energy projects, and information and operational technology. During her career, Engineer Zapata Acosta distinguished herself for her technical work in electrical system studies and new technology evaluations, as well as the creation, review, and drafting of rules and regulations, including construction standards for electric transmission and distribution lines. Additionally, she led and participated in the development of the Authority's two Integrated Resource Plans and was responsible for regulatory compliance since the creation of the Puerto Rico Energy Commission (now the Energy Bureau). She also served for years as an educator in technical courses offered by the Authority to engineers, supervisors, and technicians.

On January 8, 2025, Engineer Zapata Acosta was appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico, Honorable Jenniffer González Colón, to serve as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. In the Authority's more than 80-year history, Engineer Zapata Acosta is the first woman to lead the corporation as Chief Executive Officer. Currently, Engineer Zapata Acosta contributes her extensive experience and skills to the execution of Puerto Rico's energy public policy and the continued transformation of the energy sector.

Jason Frisbie joined Platte River Power Authority in 1982 as a college intern and upon graduating began a full-time career at the Rawhide Energy Station. Mr. Frisbie held various positions in facilities, maintenance, fuel handling, and power production before becoming plant manager in 1999. He transitioned to division manager of power production in 2001 and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2010, overseeing generation and transmission assets, power sales, fuel, water, and system engineering. Mr. Frisbie became general manager/chief executive officer of Platte River in 2016 and is committed to leading the organization during a transformational time in the utility industry.

Mr. Frisbie is a tireless advocate of public power and of transitioning to a new energy future while maintaining system reliability and financial sustainability. He represents Platte River’s interests on a regional basis and serves on the Trapper Mine Board of Directors, chairs the Trapper Compensation Committee, and is a member of the Yampa Coordinating Committee. As an industry leader, Mr. Frisbie is a sought-after panelist and public speaker on the topics of transitioning energy portfolios from fossil fuels to noncarbon resources, the value of joining an organized market, and the benefits of public power and local community control. Mr. Frisbie also contributes his industry and leadership expertise to the American Public Power Association and the Large Public Power Council.

Mr. Frisbie earned a B.S. in Industrial Technology from Colorado State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Clint P. Bullock is the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer for the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC—The Reliable One), the 14th largest public power utility in the United States. In this leadership role, Mr. Bullock oversees a utility that employs more than 1,200 highly specialized professionals and provides electric and water services to more than 400,000 accounts spread across Orlando, St. Cloud, and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties. OUC generates nearly $1 billion in annual revenues from its core services and a diverse array of products, including indoor and outdoor commercial lighting, chilled water services, electric vehicle charging stations, backup generation, and dark fiber. 

Mr. Bullock joined OUC in 1989 and has worked in many aspects of the company, including Customer Service, Sustainability, and Strategic Planning. Before moving into his current position, he served as Vice President of Electric & Water Delivery. In this role, he was responsible for all electric and water engineering, construction, maintenance, and operations of the transmission and distribution system, including substations and communications. He led a team charged with maintaining the high standards that ensure OUC lives up to its name as The Reliable One. OUC has consistently been recognized as one of the most reliable electric utilities in Florida.

During his tenure with OUC, Mr. Bullock has worked on numerous major, company-wide initiatives, including the development and implementation of a strategic plan and an electric integrated resource plan, the latter focused on expanding OUC’s renewable energy portfolio and electric and water conservation programs. Under his leadership, OUC set a goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with interim CO₂ reductions of 50% by 2030 and 75% by 2040. Included in this initiative are plans to retire OUC’s two coal units—one by 2025 and the other by 2027—and significantly expand its reliance on solar power and other clean energy technologies like battery storage.

Mr. Bullock is very proud of the high praise OUC has garnered from its customers: OUC was named the "2020 Most Trusted Brand" among electric utilities in a nationwide independent customer survey, followed a year later with being named the nation’s highest-ranked midsize water utility based on an annual water utility residential customer satisfaction study conducted by J.D. Power. And 2022 brought OUC its fifth consecutive annual Environmental Champion award and its first No. 1 ranking among U.S. electric utilities for "environmental dedication." Both recognitions were the results of an independent customer survey. 

Mr. Bullock himself also was honored to be named a "2021 CEO of the Year" by Orlando Business Journal and was included on the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Florida Trend 500 list, a compilation of the 500 most influential business leaders in different economic sectors throughout the state. Additionally, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando and Prospera recognized him as the 2021 Hispanic Community Champion.

His community involvement includes serving on the Boone High School Athletic Association, University of Central Florida (UCF) Foundation and Alumni Boards, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida’s board, the Central Florida regional housing trust, Orlando Economic Partnership’s Governors Council, and the After-School All-Stars, a program dedicated to providing comprehensive youth development programs that keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life.

L. Javier Fernandez joined Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) in June 2017 as vice president and chief financial officer. He was selected by the OPPD Board of Directors to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer starting in July 2021.

Mr. Fernandez came to OPPD from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), U.S. Department of Energy, in Portland, Oregon. He had been with the federal power marketing organization since 2012, most recently serving as executive vice president and chief financial officer. 

Before joining BPA, Mr. Fernandez served for three years as senior vice president with D.A. Davidson & Co., a financial services firm, and seven years with Seattle-Northwest Securities, where he performed public finance banking and financial advisory services for municipal jurisdictions, primarily in Oregon.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in Mexico City, an MBA from Yale University, a Utility Management Certificate from Willamette University, and a Utility Executive Certificate from the University of Idaho.

He currently serves as a Board Member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Omaha Branch, Bellevue University, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and Habitat for Humanity of Omaha.

Justin E. Driscoll is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the nation's largest state-owned electric utility. He is responsible for developing and implementing the statewide utility's strategic vision and mission and for supervising its operations, legal and financial matters, and relationships with external stakeholders.

Mr. Driscoll previously served as the chief legal officer of the New York Power Authority (NYPA). He also supervised the activities of the Hydropower Licensing Group, the Regulatory/Energy Markets functions, Legislative and Community Affairs Group, Environmental Justice, and held the roles of Corporate Secretary and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. He also served on the Enterprise Risk Management Committee and was management’s liaison to the Cyber and Physical Security Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Before joining NYPA, Mr. Driscoll was engaged in the private practice of law and represented clients that included Fortune 500 companies, governmental entities, and energy companies in complex commercial litigation and regulatory matters.

Mr. Driscoll serves on several Boards including The Alliance to Save Energy, New York City’s Urban Green Council, the Large Public Power Council, and the World Resources Institute’s Global Energy Advisory Board in Washington, DC.

Mr. Driscoll is a graduate of American University in Washington, DC with a bachelor’s degree from the School of Public Affairs. He received his law degree from the New York Law School and attended the New York University School of Law LLM Program in trade regulation. He is a member of the New York City Bar Association and the Energy Bar Association.

Tom Kent was appointed Nebraska Public Power District's (NPPD) President & Chief Executive Officer May 1, 2020. Mr. Kent graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1985 and an MBA in 2005. He has also completed the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Leadership at the Peak, and holds certification as a Situational Leadership® trainer. Mr. Kent is a registered professional electrical engineer in the State of Nebraska. He joined the District in May 1990 as an Environmental Qualification Coordinator at Cooper Nuclear Station and has served in many positions during his career at NPPD. He was appointed Vice President & Chief Operating Officer in May 2011, and then named Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer in January 2020. Mr. Kent is very active in the electric utility industry and his community, serving on the Southwest Power Pool Members Committee, and as a board member of the following: Nebraska Power Association; Nebraska Chamber of Commerce; Nuclear Energy Institute; The Energy Authority (TEA), currently serving as chair; Large Public Power Council; American Public Power Association; and the Mid-America Council, Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Kent is a veteran of the United States Navy, and he and his wife, Dacia, live in rural Lancaster County, Nebraska, and have two adult children.

Jim Fuller serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of MEAG Power. He has more than 40 years of utility experience and has been with MEAG Power since 1997. Before being elected President and CEO in 2016, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining MEAG Power, Mr. Fuller worked for the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company in various finance and audit positions. He is a Certified Public Accountant, received his undergraduate degree from Western New England University, and holds a master’s degree from Bentley University.

Mr. Fuller currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Public Power Association (APPA); serves on the Board of the Large Public Power Council, an organization comprising the 29 largest public power utilities in the United States; and serves as a Trustee of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

​Jim Travis began serving as LCRA’s acting general manager and chief financial officer on March 12, 2026. LCRA’s acting general manager and CFO serves as the organization’s chief executive officer and carries out LCRA Board policy, manages LCRA’s relationships with its customers and stakeholders, appoints and directs executive staff, and oversees projects and operations that support LCRA’s public service mission.

Jim Travis also is responsible for the financial management of LCRA. He oversees accounting, capital and financial planning, finance, investor relations, treasury activities, and supply chain, as well as the financial oversight and compliance related to energy trading and hedging. Since joining LCRA in 1992, Jim has served as controller, manager of planning and treasurer, in addition to leading risk management activities.

Prior to joining LCRA, Jim held various positions in finance, audit and accounting with Tenneco Inc., an international energy and manufacturing company. Jim holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Texas A&M University. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

David W. Hanson is the Interim General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation’s largest publicly owned water and power utility. He was appointed to this position in March 2026, following a unanimous vote by the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners. He leads the organization of nearly 12,000 employees, delivering water and power to the approximately four million residents of Los Angeles.

Most recently, Mr. Hanson served as the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Assistant General Manager – Power System, overseeing the entire Power System as it works to provide reliable and resilient power service to Los Angeles, upgrade and modernize its infrastructure and systems, and achieve the City’s ambitious clean energy targets of 100% carbon-free energy by 2035. While under Mr. Hanson’s leadership, LADWP successfully eliminated coal from its power supply and commissioned Eland Solar-plus-Storage Center, the largest solar and battery storage project to provide renewable energy to Los Angeles.

Mr. Hanson’s career at LADWP spans more than 20 years. He began as an Electrical Mechanic and is a graduate of LADWP's Electrical Mechanic Training Program. Since then, he has held an array of positions within the Power System, including an assignment as Safety Representative for Power System Safety. In that role, he responded to severe incidents and employee injuries and conducted investigations to resolve issues that led up to the incident, with a focus on preventing recurrence. As Superintendent of the Electrical Mechanic Training Center, Mr. Hanson revamped the training center's hiring process to expand the program, enabling it to triple in size. He has also served as Assistant Director of Power Transmission and Distribution and Director of Power Construction and Maintenance.

Before joining LADWP, Mr. Hanson served for 10 years in the United States Navy Nuclear Powered Submarine Force as an Electrician's Mate First Class, Sub Surface. He was assigned to two fast-attack submarines—first the USS Drum, followed by the USS Bremerton—and also was a Navy recruiter in the Inland Empire.

Mr. Hanson has completed UCLA's Construction Management Certificate Program. Born and raised in Louisiana, he is a father of three and has been happily married for 27 years. He enjoys attending car shows and is an avid fan of air-cooled Volkswagens and vintage Porsche cars.

Carrie Meek Gallagher was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) on June 25, 2025. She brings more than two decades of leadership experience in public utilities, environmental protection, regional planning, and sustainability, most of it in service to the Long Island region.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Gallagher served as Director of the Long Island Office of the New York State Department of Public Service, where she led the Department’s regional regulatory oversight of LIPA and PSEG Long Island. In this capacity, she worked to ensure fair and reasonable electric rates and access to secure, reliable, and sustainable utility services across electricity, gas, water, and telecommunications. She also played a key role in advancing consumer engagement and facilitating clean energy development in support of the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Earlier, Ms. Gallagher served in the Executive Chamber as Acting Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Energy and Environment, where she managed policy development and operations for a portfolio of agencies and authorities, including the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and LIPA. In that role, she was responsible for advancing statewide clean energy goals and overseeing cross-agency collaboration on environmental and infrastructure initiatives.

Her prior public service includes roles as Regional Director for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, overseeing environmental programs across Long Island, and as Chief Sustainability Officer for the Suffolk County Water Authority, where she led efforts on source water protection, energy efficiency, and renewable energy integration. She also served as Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Environment and Energy and as Deputy Director of Planning for Suffolk County.

Ms. Gallagher’s earlier roles include Director of the Long Island Index at the Rauch Foundation, Director of the Nassau County Economic Development Resource Center, and Program Director for Sustainable Long Island’s Brownfields Redevelopment initiative.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Development and Latin American Studies
from Amherst College, a Master of Science in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from the University of Maryland at College Park, and a Master of Business Administration from the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University.

Ms. Gallagher has been recognized for her contributions to public service and environmental leadership by numerous organizations, including the U.S. Green Building Council Long Island Chapter, City & State, the Long Island Contractors’ Association, the Town of Brookhaven, and Long Island Business News.

Vickie Cavey was named JEA’s interim managing director and chief executive officer in April 2024. A frequent counselor to JEA executive leadership and 32‐year operations veteran, Cavey brings a deep knowledge of JEA in roles that have spanned organizational lines through engagement with the Northeast Florida business community, other utilities, regulatory bodies, and elected officials.

Following her retirement from JEA in 2016, Cavey returned as special assistant for external affairs to interim CEO Paul McElroy in 2020, then assisted McElroy’s successor, Jay Stowe, as board liaison until January 2021. She began her JEA career in 1984 as a mechanical engineer in the power engineering division, one of JEA’s first female engineers. She then advanced to managerial roles in commercial key accounts and special projects prior to director roles overseeing strategic partnerships/acquisitions and strategy development and execution.

Cavey earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida. She has a long history of involvement in the local nonprofit community, in which she currently serves as an advisory board member for the Stellar Academy of Engineering at Nease High School. She is also a past president and board member of the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach Foundation. Her volunteer service in local nonprofits spans decades, including the United Way, BEAM, Mission House, PACE Center for Girls and many others.

Jamie Asbury serves as Imperial Irrigation District’s chief executive, managing the largest irrigation district in the nation and the third largest public power provider in California.

With a workforce of about 1,400 employees, her focus as general manager is to lead major forward-thinking initiatives at the regional, national, and binational levels on behalf of IID, confronting critical upcoming water and power challenges successfully. 

Prior to her role as general manager she led IID’s Energy Department and served as Associate Counsel. At IID she served as contract administration specialist on the All-American Canal Lining Project; was IID’s transactional team leader in the $80 million acquisition of the 20-megawatt SunPeak Solar facility; negotiated and finalized contracts supporting the upgrade of IID’s S-Line 230kV transmission infrastructure, securing a third-party contribution of $40 million; conducted an open season process that resulted in the Path 42 Upgrade, from 600 megawatts to 1,455 megawatts; and since 2012, facilitated interconnection of more than 500 megawatts of renewable energy generation through IID’s tariff process.

As Energy Department manager, she oversaw administration, regulatory policy, customer programs, operations, energy maintenance and construction infrastructure, resource planning, engineering, system and trading operations, and generation to meet the district’s strategic plan and the department’s goals and objectives.

She studied at Imperial Valley College and earned a bachelor of science in business management with an emphasis in public administration from the University of Phoenix and a juris doctorate from the Concord Law School at Purdue University. She is a member of the California State Bar.

Mertlich joined Grant PUD in 2019 as the senior manager of Financial Planning and Analysis. He focused on budgeting and expense forecasting. Since late 2023, he has assembled and led the Energy Supply Management business unit as the chief commercial officer, working to ensure Grant PUD has enough energy resources to meet Grant County's growing demand for electricity into the future.

He has worked in the utility sector for over 20 years. Before coming to Grant PUD, he spent 15 years at PacifiCorp, where his responsibilities included technical forecasting and budgeting, financial performance reporting and serving as an advisor across various financial planning activities including that utility’s Integrated Resource Plan and regulatory filings. His expertise includes business and economic analysis, project finance, and communicating complex business concepts around renewable energy, risk management, commodity markets and valuation.

Mertlich holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Economics and a master’s in Economics from Portland State University. He and his wife Viva live in Wenatchee with two of their three children. He is also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

Dan Sullivan joined Grand River Dam Authority in 2011 as President/CEO. Prior to that he worked of counsel at Pierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green, LLP from 2005–2011, and he was Oklahoma State Representative for District 71 from 2004–2011. Mr. Sullivan received a B.S. in Business Administration from Northeastern State University and a J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law.

Roy L. Jones is the Chief Executive Officer of ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc., headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Jones joined ElectriCities in 2009 as the Senior Vice President of Planning and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2011 before becoming CEO in November 2015. As CEO, he is responsible for executive leadership of ElectriCities, North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1, and North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency. Mr. Jones has more than 40 years of experience in the electric power industry, including public power, Independent System Operator, and investor-owned utility experience. He began his career with Entergy in 1981. Following his time with Entergy, he joined Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) in Indiana, where he was ultimately responsible for the design and implementation of its Energy and Ancillary Service Market and Balancing Authority consolidation. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from LaSalle University.

Rudy D. Garza is the President & CEO of CPS Energy, the nation’s largest electric and natural gas public utility, overseeing an energy portfolio of over 10,000 megawatts, over $15 billion in assets, close to $4 billion in annual revenue, and a workforce of over 3,600 employees. CPS Energy is the fourth-largest energy provider in Texas and the fifth-largest in the nation for solar capacity.

Rudy is responsible for CPS Energy’s diverse energy portfolio, which includes nuclear, solar, wind, battery storage, natural gas, and coal, powering over 1.4 million homes and businesses in South Texas. Rudy's leadership team has led innovative initiatives, including grid modernization, customer experience enhancements, and community resiliency.

Rudy has 30 years of experience in the utility industry, serving in both the public and private sectors. He previously served as Chief Customer & Stakeholder Engagement Officer, Senior Vice President of Distribution Service & Operations, and Vice President of External Relations. Prior to joining CPS Energy, Rudy served as Assistant City Manager of Business Support Services and Director of Intergovernmental Relations for the City of Corpus Christi, driving advocacy efforts before the Texas legislature and U.S. Congress.

He has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Texas.  

Rudy currently serves on the national board of directors for the Keystone Policy Center, the American Gas Association, and the Large Public Power Council, and regionally on the boards of the Brooks Development Authority, the Texas Public Power Association, and the University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering. He recently served as the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County Campaign Co-Chair, where he exceeded a fundraising goal of $46 million.

Travas Deal was sworn in as Chief Executive Officer on Feb. 24, 2023.

He joined Colorado Springs Utilities in 2017 as Field Services Manager. In 2018, Deal transitioned to the Energy Services Division, serving in a district manager role then two general manager positions, leading significant process improvements for the utility. He was named Chief Operations Officer in April 2020, responsible for the safe and reliable operations of the utility’s four services – electric, natural gas, water and wastewater. He also served as the utility’s acting CEO prior to being named CEO.

Deal served as a U.S. Marine for a decade before a successful career in transportation – first in rail-based freight transportation and later at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana.

He joined Duke Energy in 2008, working at Gibson Generating Station, the largest coal generating plant in the United States at 3,250 megawatts. During his tenure at Duke, he held various management roles in operations and maintenance, including operations excellence manager.

Deal holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Oakland City University.

Lena Wittler is a 20-year veteran of the utility industry, having served in a variety of finance, human resources, and communications roles, most recently as the Director of Communications and Employee Resources overseeing all communications, public affairs, utility-wide research and analytics, human resources, and loss control. She was named CEO and General Manager in June of 2019.

Ms. Wittler holds a B.A. from Willamette University and an MBA from the University of Portland and prior to her work with the utility she worked in education and judicial support.

Kirk Hudson began serving as the General Manager of Chelan County PUD No. 1 in January 2022. Mr. Hudson has 24 years of experience at Chelan County PUD No. 1 and during that time has been responsible for generation & transmission, reliability compliance, engineering, project controls, electric distribution, warehousing, fleet services, customer service, water/wastewater, wholesale telecommunications operations, and natural resources.

Mr. Hudson is also the President and Chairman of the Board for the Hydropower Research Institute, a nonprofit company formed in 2018 by Chelan County PUD No. 1 and Southern Company with the mission to ensure hydropower continues to be the premier carbon‐free, electricity‐generating resource by pursuing digital transformation and technological advancement.

Prior to joining Chelan County PUD No. 1, Mr. Hudson worked for three consulting firms in the Seattle and Tri‐Cities area of Washington, providing engineering and environmental consulting services mostly for aerospace, petroleum, Department of Defense, and Department of Energy clients from Alaska to California.

Mr. Hudson grew up in the Tri‐Cities area of Eastern Washington and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Civil Engineering.

Stuart Reilly serves as Interim General Manager. He is responsible for overseeing Austin Energy’s day-to-day operations and strategic direction, including a dedication to delivering reliable, sustainable, affordable, and equitable energy solutions for our community.

Reilly brings nearly 20 years of municipal energy experience, most recently as Deputy General Manager of Business Services. In that position, Reilly served as Chief Risk Officer and Chief Administrative Officer while overseeing Finance, Technology and Data, Employee Development and Corporate Support Services. He has previously served as Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer as well as Austin Energy Chief of Staff. Prior to that, he worked as an attorney specializing in utility regulations, operations, transactions, customer programs and renewable energy.

Stuart Reilly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University Law School.

Jolene Thompson has served as President and CEO for American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) since 2020. She also serves as the General Manager of the Municipal Energy Services Agency (MESA). Thompson started her career at AMP as an intern in the late 1980s before moving into a full-time role in 1990. Prior to being named President and CEO, she served as Executive Vice President of Member Services and External Affairs, where she provided oversight of AMP’s government relations; communications; training; environmental affairs; sustainability initiatives; risk; insurance; strategic planning; Member programs; and safety, environmental and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance activities. 

Thompson is active nationally. She is a member of the Boards of The Energy Authority (TEA) and Large Public Power Council (LPPC). She serves as the vice chair of the TEA Board of Directors, and on the LPPC CEO Steering Committee in her role as chair of the Policy Advocacy, Customers and Workforce Board Committee. Notably, she served on the American Public Power Association (APPA) Board of Directors from 2015 to 2022, where she was Board chair from 2020 to 2021, a member of the executive committee from 2016 to 2022, an officer from 2018 to 2022, and Nominating Committee chair from 2021 to 2022. Having completed her terms on the APPA Board, she remains a member of the Nominating Committee. Thompson was previously a member of the Transmission Access Policy Study (TAPS) Group Board of Directors, where she served on the executive committee and as chair of the legislative committee. She also previously chaired the APPA Advisory Committee of State and Regional Associations and Legislative and Resolutions Committee and sat on the Consumer Federation of America Board of Directors.

Thompson is a recipient of two APPA awards — the Alex Radin Distinguished Service Award (2023) and the Harold Kramer-John Preston Personal Service Award (2003). The Radin award is the highest award granted by APPA and recognizes exceptional leadership and dedication to public power.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Otterbein University. She was Executive Director of the Ohio Municipal Electric Association (OMEA) in a dual role with her AMP position from 1997 to 2020. Throughout her career, Thompson has worked closely with AMP Members and advocated with state and federal policymakers on behalf of AMP and public power.

To learn more, visit www.amppartner.org