MEA hires permanent general manager

In a regular board meeting of the Matanuska Electric Association, the board offered the job of general manager to Joe Griffith. Griffith is currently MEA’s

general manager.

Griffith responded favorably to the offer. He said while he wouldn’t want to hold the job for the next eight years, he’d be willing to take the general manager position for three to five years. The hiring will be finalized after the board, MEA’s attorneys and Griffith have agreed on the employment contract terms.

Last summer, the MEA board fired long-time general manager Wayne Carmony and Joe Griffith was hired in July as the interim general manager. A general manager search committee had been looking for a permanent manager until board member Janet Kincaid made the motion during last Monday’s meeting to hire Griffith permanently. Kincaid told the board that they have the best man on the job already and that staff morale would continue to rise if they know that a permanent general manager is in charge. Kincaid added that it would be to MEA’s advantage if other railbelt utilities knew that Griffith has the power associated with the general manager’s title.

MEA and other railbelt utilities are currently in negotiations to create a greater railbelt energy transmission corporation.  The co-op is also in the process to build a new power plant in Eklutna.

Before joining MEA, Griffith worked for the Chugach Electric Association from 1989 to 2005.