Your PUD
News Release
PUD realignment shifts departments; trims spending
Chelan County PUD
News Release
3/21/2007
General Manager Rich Riazzi announced Chelan County PUD management changes on Wednesday that realign key operating areas and save the utility more than $600,000 over the next two years compared to salary and benefits previously budgeted.
The Environmental Affairs Division, which will cover fish programs, water quality, licensing and Habitat Conservation Plans, is moving to the Generation Group overseen by Executive Manager Ed Odom. The PUD’s Parks Department will also move under Generation.
A District Services Group is aligned under Executive Manager Wayne Wright. The group includes a Shared Services Division under Director Steve Currit that will bring together Real Estate, Fleet, Office Services and Facilities.
Existing analysts have been consolidated into a Strategic Financial Planning Division that will continue high-level financial analysis begun as part of strategic planning. It will be headed by Kelly Boyd.
Customer Service functions have moved to the Utility Services Group headed by Jack Winter.
Riazzi met with PUD employees Wednesday to explain the changes, which take effect April 2.
Titles of top officials are changing from “assistant general manager” to “executive manager.” Riazzi will have eight executive managers reporting to him once a new risk management position is filled later this year. The executive managers include: Joe Jarvis, Finance Group, CFO; Randy Stedman, Human Resources Group; Carol Wardell, Legal Group, general counsel; Randy Lowe, Energy Resources Group; Wayne Wright, District Services Group; Ed Odom, Generation Group; and Jack Winter, Utility Services Group.
As a result of this realignment, three non-union positions were eliminated. They include the former director of strategic planning and District Services, a power manager and a safety and training specialist. Riazzi said they were each offered severance packages.
“Our goal was to broaden the span of control for managers and to flatten some layers of the organization,” said Riazzi. “I believe these changes will benefit all employees – and our customer-owners – by creating a more functionally aligned organization that will benefit from increased efficiency.”
He characterized the realignment as a first step in helping employees find further areas for improvement in the organizational structure over the next several months.
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For further information, contact:
Steve Lachowicz
(509) 661-4639
stevel@chelanpud.org