PALMER – The MEA Board of Directors has unanimously approved hiring Joe Griffith as MEA’s permanent general manager pending contract approval. In July 2009 the Board voted to hire Mr. Griffith as MEA’s interim general manager.
“It has been a pleasure to serve as MEA’s interim general manager, and I am honored by the unanimous endorsement from the Board to now serve as the co-op’s permanent general manager,” said Mr. Griffith. “My experience in the electric utility industry in Alaska will continue to be an asset to MEA, especially during such an important time of Railbelt power planning,” he added.
Mr. Griffith has 18 years of finance and operational experience in the electric power industry. In 1989 he was hired by Chugach Electric Association as Chief Financial Officer, and then in 2001 he was tapped by the Board to serve as the Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Griffith retired from Chugach Electric Association in 2005.
“Mr. Griffith has done an outstanding job as interim general manager by uniting MEA with other electric utilities on important issues such as planning for future power generation,” said Lois Lester, MEA Board President. “Our co-op is fortunate to have someone with his characteristics and talents to continue leading this co-op through the difficult task of power supply planning,” she added. “Having nearly two decades of experience working for a power generation cooperative, I understand the challenges of supplying power,” Griffith said.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Mr. Griffith has long been an active community member. He served 14 years on the Board of Directors for the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, and six years on the United Way Board of Directors. Mr. Griffith has served 16 years on the Board of Directors for Commonwealth North, two years of which he served as President. He was a member of the Vision Anchorage advisory board and a member of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. Mr. Griffith serves on the UAA College of Business and Public Policy advisory board, and is past Chairman of the Board for the not-for-profit organization that manages the Anchorage Museum of History and Art.
Mr. Griffith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in scientific and engineering curricula from the US Air Force Academy and a Master of Science in General Engineering from Oklahoma State University.