Local Utility Executives Elected to Lead Statewide Power Agency

Public officials, utility managers to lead wholesale power agency for 2019-2020

ORLANDO, Fla., July 17, 2019 – Managers and public officials from public power utilities throughout Florida elected four officers to lead a statewide wholesale power agency in 2019-2020. Elections for the Florida Municipal Power Agency’s (FMPA) Board of Directors and All-Requirements Executive Committee took place today at a public meeting in Bonita Springs, Florida.

New Chair Elected, Outgoing Chair Honored

Members of FMPA elected Barbara Quiñones, Director of Electric Utilities for Homestead Public Services, as Chair of the Board of Directors for 2019-2020. She replaces outgoing Chair Bill Conrad, the former Mayor of the city of Newberry, who reached the six-year term limit of the position.

Previously, Quiñones had served as FMPA’s Vice Chair since 2014. She has been a member of FMPA’s Board since 2009 when she joined Homestead. Quiñones also served as President and Board Member of Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA). In all, Quiñones has 36 years of experience in the electric utility industry serving in various roles, including management, planning, design, power restoration and power quality.

Conrad served six years as Chair, one year as Treasurer and 10 years on FMPA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. FMPA honored Conrad’s dedicated service by presenting him with a Resolution of Appreciation. He will continue to serve as Newberry’s representative to FMPA’s governing boards.

Two Existing Officers Receive New Appointments

Lynne Tejeda, General Manager and CEO of Keys Energy Services, was elected Vice Chair after serving as FMPA’s Secretary for six years. She was appointed as her utility’s alternate to FMPA’s Board of Directors in 2005 and as a member of the Board in 2013. She has served on the Executive Committee since 2005. She is also Chair of FMPA’s Conservation and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee, of which she is a founding member. Tejeda was also the past President and Board member of FMEA.

Larry Mattern, Vice President of Operations for Kissimmee Utility Authority, was elected as Secretary after serving as FMPA’s Treasurer for four years. Mattern was appointed as his utility’s alternate to FMPA’s Board of Directors in 2007 and as a member of the Board in 2014. He has served on the Executive Committee since 2011.

New Officer Added

Allen Putnam, Director of Beaches Energy Services, was elected as Treasurer. Putnam has 30 years of experience in the electric utility industry. He has been with Beaches Energy for four years, where he manages the utility’s daily operations and long-term planning. Putnam is a member of FMPA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He also serves as Vice President and Board Member of FMEA.

FMPA’s Board of Directors makes policy decisions for the power supply projects of FMPA, except the All-Requirements Project. Each of FMPA’s 31 members appoint one representative to the Board of Directors, and Board officers are elected by popular vote of the members.

Two Officers Re-Elected for Executive Committee

FMPA members also re-elected Howard McKinnon, Town Manager of the Town of Havana, as Chair of the All-Requirements Project Executive Committee for 2019-2020. This is his ninth term as Chair. McKinnon has served on the All-Requirements Project Executive Committee and FMPA’s Board of Directors since 2006.

Lynne Tejeda was re-elected as Vice Chair. She was first elected to fill an unexpired term as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee in December 2014.

The elected Secretary and Treasurer of FMPA’s Board of Directors, Larry Mattern and Allen Putnam, also serve as Secretary and Treasurer for the Executive Committee.

FMPA’s Executive Committee includes one appointed representative from each member of FMPA’s All-Requirements Project. The Executive Committee governs and manages the business affairs of the All-Requirements Project.

FMPA’s All-Requirements Project provides all the wholesale power needs of 13 Florida cities, including Bushnell, Clewiston, Fort Meade, Fort Pierce, Green Cove Springs, Town of Havana, Jacksonville Beach, Key West, Kissimmee, Leesburg, Newberry, Ocala and Starke.