EEI Announces Promotions of Key Employees, Welcomes Loaned Leader to Help Advance Industry DEI Initiative

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today announced the promotions of four employees in recognition of their leadership and contributions to EEI and the industry across the clean energy, external affairs, human resources, and state regulatory fronts. The promotions were approved by EEI's Board of Directors during the Institute's winter meeting, which was held virtually, and are effective immediately.

EEI's Board also welcomed a loaned leader from Entergy who will work with EEI and member companies to advance our industry's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiative. Todd Manuel will serve as EEI's Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Transformation, reporting to EEI President Tom Kuhn. At Entergy, Manuel is Director of Organizational Health and Diversity, and his responsibilities include developing and leading the company's strategy for improving organizational health, diversity, and inclusion, in addition to ensuring the company's compliance with all requirements of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He joined the company in 2012 and previously served as assistant general counsel within the legal services department's litigation group.

"I am excited to welcome Todd to this new role at EEI," said Kuhn. "Todd's experience and leadership will be incredibly valuable to our EEI team and to our member companies as we work to advance our industry's DEI initiative, increasing workforce diversity and helping to shape our industry's long-term strategy for sustained DEI commitment. Todd also will serve as an internal resource as we work to foster a more diverse and inclusive environment across EEI."

EEI's Board also approved the promotions of:

    --  Emily Sanford Fisher to General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Senior
        Vice President, Clean Energy. Fisher joined EEI in 2008 and has headed
        the legal department, first as Vice President, Law, and then as General
        Counsel, since 2017, when she also was named Corporate Secretary. She
        will continue in those roles, as she oversees and coordinates strategic
        clean energy engagement across EEI and across the federal government.
        Fisher has directed EEI's response to climate change-related regulations
        and litigation since 2015. Before joining EEI, Fisher was a Foreign
        Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State and was in private
        practice representing electric companies before the Federal Energy
        Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
        She is a member of the Advisory Council for the Energy Systems
        Integration Group and the National Board for the Women's Energy Network.
        She will continue to report to EEI President Tom Kuhn.
    --  Adam Benshoff to Vice President, Regulatory Affairs. Benshoff joined EEI
        in 2015 and oversees EEI's engagement and strategy on economic
        regulatory issues before both FERC and state public utility commissions.
        He also co-leads EEI's cross functional state practice, which focuses on
        emerging industry policy trends on key topics. Prior to his current
        role, Benshoff served as Deputy General Counsel, State and Federal
        Regulatory, where he represented EEI and its member companies in
        proceedings before state utility commissions and various federal
        regulatory agencies. Prior to joining EEI, Benshoff worked for National
        Grid, and he also spent time in private practice with the law firm of
        McNees Wallace and Nurick, where he represented the interests of
        commercial and industrial end users in electric, natural gas, and water
        proceedings. Benshoff will continue to report to Phil Moeller, EEI
        Executive Vice President of the Business Operations Group and Regulatory
        Affairs.
    --  Terri Oliva to Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Oliva
        joined EEI in 2009 and oversees EEI's internal human resources
        department and facility operations. She also leads EEI's external
        engagement with member company chief human resources officers; industry
        DEI initiatives; and the supplier diversity program. Oliva began her
        career with KPMG as an auditor, serving clients in the financial
        services and not-for-profit industries. She also held accounting,
        compensation, and benefit positions at Johnson & Johnson, Freddie Mac,
        and Fannie Mae prior to joining EEI. Oliva will continue to report to
        EEI President Tom Kuhn.
    --  Brad Viator to Vice President, External Affairs. Viator joined EEI in
        2011, and his primary responsibilities include outreach to state elected
        officials, including state legislators, governors, and attorneys
        general. He manages EEI's online advocacy community, We Stand For
        Energy, and co-leads EEI's cross functional state practice with
        Benshoff. Before joining EEI, Viator worked at the National Association
        of Realtors, focusing on electoral and legislative advocacy for federal
        elected officials. He also did extensive political campaign work at the
        local, state, and federal levels in several western states. Viator will
        continue to report to Brian Wolff, EEI Executive Vice President of
        Public Policy and External Affairs.

"I am pleased to announce the promotions of Adam, Emily, Terri, and Brad," said Kuhn. "Each manages critical portfolios for EEI and is a major contributor to our overall success. I look forward to their continued leadership and service on behalf of EEI's member companies and the customers they serve."

The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide electricity for more than 220 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As a whole, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities across the United States. In addition to our U.S. members, EEI has more than 65 international electric companies as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eei-announces-promotions-of-key-employees-welcomes-loaned-leader-to-help-advance-industry-dei-initiative-301208926.html

SOURCE Edison Electric Institute