Steve Wright plans to step down from his position as general manager of Washington State’s Chelan County PUD, the PUD said on April 27.
“After eight years it’s time for me to move on and give someone else a chance to run this great utility. My contract with the PUD to serve as the General Manager runs through the end of this year,” he said in a statement. “I have informed the board that I do not intend to serve as the General Manager beyond that.”
He said the primary reason "is simply that it’s been long enough. I’ve spent 40 years in the industry, 20 years in leadership. I want the opportunity to try something new."
Chelan’s board “has known of my intentions and has had time to make plans. I am announcing early so the board has plenty of time to conduct a full search. Hopefully, there will be time for overlap with a new general manager before I leave,” he said.
Wright currently serves as a member of the American Public Power Association’s Board of Directors and the board’s executive committee.
“We want to thank Steve for the work he has done leading this exceptional utility over the past eight years,” Chelan’s Board of Commissioners said in a statement. “We are particularly grateful that Steve will stay on as the general manager through the end of this year and fulfill the full term of his contract. We’d like for him to stay longer, but we appreciate the time he has given us.”
The board will conduct a full national search for a new general manager using the same recruiter who performed the last search for a General Manager.
“The board is committed to getting public input as to the characteristics customer-owners want to see in a new general manager. Opportunities for public input will be identified as the process moves forward,” it said.
The PUD is headquartered in Wenatchee, Wash.
