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LP&L names McCalla as director, CEO [Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Texas](Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (TX) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 29--Interim is in his title no longer. David McCalla was officially named director and CEO of Lubbock Power & Light by the Electric Utility Board at a meeting Monday morning. "I want to work really hard to prove myself worthy of the confidence the board and the council have expressed in me," McCalla said after the meeting. "I'm looking forward to showing some results." Initially hired as the assistant director of electric utilities, McCalla later took over as interim director after former CEO Gary Zheng was fired. McCalla was paid $200,000 a year as assistant director but is now looking at a $40,000 raise with the promotion. Unlike his predecessor, however, McCalla's employment agreement does not include a severance package. After being fired without cause, Zheng received a $692,764.53 lump-sum payout that included two years' worth of his $251,000 annual salary plus about $190,000 of accrued vacation and sick pay the former CEO would have received regardless. "They're only going to pay me for what I'm actually working," McCalla said. McCalla is the former general manager for Greenville Electric Utility System and past president of the Texas Public Power Association, according to an LP&L news release. LP&L's new director worked his way up the ranks in Greenville, holding the positions of engineering manager, director of engineering operations and assistant general manager during an 18-year period before being named general manager in 2006. He held that position through April. "We focus on improving our operations every day," EUB Chairman Greg Taylor said. "With the hiring of David McCalla as Director of Electric Utilities, LP&L has a new leadership team in place that is very well suited to tackle all of the challenges we as a utility face in order to ensure that we maintain our strong dedication to continually providing the citizens of Lubbock with the most reliable electric service at the lowest possible cost to the consumer." In looking for a new CEO, the EUB was sought after someone with a strong educational background in either engineering, business or public administration with at least 10 years of experience, the listing suggested. Zheng had nearly two decades of experience with LP&L along with a doctorate of power system from the University of Southern California and master's degrees in computer engineering and electrical engineering. But the wording of the job requirements leaves room for the board to choose a final candidate who may not fit conventional expectations, saying, "Any combination of relevant education and experience will be considered." "Education is important, but the best education is experience in the industry and a proven track record in leading a utility," EUB Vice Chairman Jerry Bell previously said. McCalla earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Texas Tech. ___ (c)2014 the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Lubbock, Texas) Visit the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Lubbock, Texas) at www.lubbockonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |