FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jul 29 2015 12:00:00:000AM
News Media Contact: Joseph Barrios, (520) 884-3725, jbarrios@tep.com
TEP, UES Name New Leaders Of Operations, Public Policy, Customer Service
Tucson, Ariz. — Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and UniSource Energy Services (UES) have named new leaders to oversee transmission and distribution (T&D) system operations and engineering, public policy and customer service.
T&D Operations
Susan Gray has been promoted to Vice President of T&D Operations and Engineering. In that capacity, she will oversee the delivery of safe, reliable service to TEP customers and the engineering services that support both TEP and UES.
Gray came to TEP as a student engineer in 1994 before being hired in 1997 as an Energy Management System engineer. Promoted to supervisory roles along the way, she advanced to Superintendent of T&D Design/Build in 2004. She was named Director of Design and Construction Services in 2011 and was promoted to Senior Director of T&D in 2013.
“Susan’s focus on operational excellence will help us meet our customers’ high expectations for service and reliability,” said David G. Hutchens, President and CEO of TEP, UES and their parent company, UNS Energy.
Public Policy
Jo Smith has been promoted to Vice President of Public Policy. In that capacity, she will oversee the regulatory affairs, government relations, communications and community engagement efforts of TEP and UES.
Smith joined TEP in 2003 as Director of Investor Relations after having previously served in that role at Portland General Electric. She advanced to Director of Regulatory Services in 2011 and was promoted to Senior Director of Regulatory Services and Corporate Communications in 2013.
“Jo will be leading our efforts to develop forward-looking policies that ensure the continued availability of our cost-effective service while improving the quality of life in the communities we serve,” Hutchens said.
Customer Service
TEP’s customer service efforts will be led by Cathy Ries in her new role as Vice President of Customer and Human Resources.
Ries, who previously served as Vice President of Human Resources and Information Technology, came to TEP in 2007 after serving as Vice President of Human Resources for Clopay Building Products Company, a division of Griffon Corporation. Ms. Ries also spent more than a dozen years in the airline industry, where she specialized in organizational development and training.
“Cathy’s leadership will help us remain focused on building and preserving a strong connection with our customers,” Hutchens said.
Tucson Electric Power provides safe, reliable electric service to approximately 414,000 customers in southern Arizona. To learn more, visit tep.com. UniSource Energy Services provides electric service to approximately 93,000 customers and delivers natural gas to approximately 150,000 customers in northern and southern Arizona. For more information, visit uesaz.com.
TEP, UES and their parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis, which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across Canada and in the United States and the Caribbean. To learn more, visit fortisinc.com.
