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Emera names local Tampa Electric, Peoples Gas board

 
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik
[Times file photo]
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik [Times file photo]
Published April 25, 2017

TAMPA — The energy conglomerate Emera promised to appoint a local board of directors when it acquired TECO Energy in late 2015 in a $10.4 billion deal. The idea was to keep close ties to the community.

On Tuesday, Emera kept that promise as it announced a board of well-known local and state community and business leaders to oversee operations of Tampa Electric and TECO Peoples Gas which together serve 1.1 million customers in Tampa Bay and across Florida.

The board includes:

• Former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, president and chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. She has spent three decades in public service, including two terms as mayor.

• Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik. Together with Bill Gates' Cascade Investment, Vinik is a partner in Strategic Property Partners, a development company embarking on a $3 billion, 10-year redevelopment of southern downtown Tampa.

• Will Weatherford, former speaker of the Florida House and a four-term state representative. Weatherford now manages Weatherford Partners, a strategic business advisory firm in Tampa.

• Rhea Law, chair of the Florida offices of Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney law firm and immediate past chair of the Florida Council of 100, a group that works with state leaders on economic development issues. She has held the top leadership positions in many civic and charitable organizations, including the chair of the University of South Florida's board of trustees, Emera said.

• Pat Geraghty, chief executive officer of Jacksonville-based Florida Blue (Florida's Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan) and its parent company, GuideWell Mutual Holding Corp., where he serves on the board. He is the chair of the Florida Council of 100.

"We are delighted to have these five well-admired leaders join the Tampa Electric Co. board," said Scott Balfour, chief operating officer of Emera and chairman of the Tampa Electric board. "Their interest in serving is a testament to the outstanding reputation built by this company for over 100 years."

Canada-based Emera has said the local board will, among a range of duties, oversee the utility's local charitable giving and community engagement.

Contact William R. Levesque at levesque@tampabay.com. Follow @Times_Levesque.