Your PUD News Release
General Manager John Janney
John Janney hired as next general manager of Chelan County PUD
Chelan County PUD
News Release
8/3/2010
Chelan County PUD commissioners Tuesday afternoon unanimously approved hiring John Janney as the next general manager, saying they have great confidence in his ability to carry the PUD forward with the momentum established through strategic planning and strong new financial policies.
“John exemplifies all the things we need in a general manager,” said Commissioner Carnan Bergren as he moved to hire Janney.
A new general manager was needed after Rich Riazzi announced last month that he was leaving after four years to take a job as president and CEO of Duquesne Light Co. in Pittsburgh, Penn. Janney, 48, has been with the PUD since 2007, when he joined as executive manager of risk and chief risk officer. He has also been serving as chief financial officer since 2008. Janney was the principal architect of new financial policies that were adopted by the board on June 21 as part of a new strategic plan being developed for the next several years and beyond.
Commissioner Randy Smith seconded the motion to hire Janney, saying he appreciated someone with the toughness to know when to push back on commissioners to make his point of view understood. He said it became quite clear to him as he visited with bond rating agencies on Wall Street a few weeks ago how important it was to continue the momentum established through the new PUD financial policies and strategic planning. Smith also said departing General Manager Riazzi had recommended Janney as the right person to succeed him.
Accepting the position, Janney said, “I’m really excited about where we are as a utility.” He said he has great confidence in his co-workers, and that he will be counting on them for help as he takes over his duties permanently. Janney had been the interim manager since Riazzi’s departure last week.
A formal resolution ratifying today’s action will be presented at the board meeting Aug. 16 that will establish Janney’s salary and any other working conditions.
PUD commissioners had called a special meeting today to discuss the process for hiring the next general manager. After meeting in executive session for several hours, commissioners came into open session and began discussing qualifications they thought were important to have in the next general manager. Commissioners said they believed they could find the right person within the PUD to fill the job.
Commissioner Ann Congdon said the PUD needs a leader who has integrity and character, who is well regarded and who is a good communicator with employees and the public. “We need someone with great maturity and a great value system.”
Commission President Dennis Bolz said he was looking for someone who could bring a wealth of external experience and combine it with solid internal understanding of the PUD organization as well as having a solid understanding of financial markets. He said he was looking for someone able to be forthright with the board.
Commissioner Norm Gutzwiler said an extensive external search similar to when Riazzi was hired in 2006 would take at least six months. And he worried that a manager from outside the PUD would want to change direction from the strategic plan and policies that are being developed.
A native of Deer Lodge, Mont., Janney began his career in banking and served at the Boston Federal Reserve Bank and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C. Wanting to be closer to home, he moved west in 1995, where he has worked at several public utilities and energy companies including Idaho Power and Arizona Public Service.
He and his wife, Collette, have three children.
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The next regular commission meeting is at 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 9, in the PUD boardroom at 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.
Steve Lachowicz
Communications director
509-661-4639, direct line
509-679-0148, cell
steve.lachowicz@chelanpud.org