Three Leaders from CMUA Members Receive Awards at National Public Power Conference
Three CMUA members were recognized with prestigious individual awards at the American Public Power Association’s national conference in Orlando, Fla., on Tuesday, June 22.
Michelle Bertolino, electric utility director for the City of Roseville Electric Utility, received the James D. Donovan Individual Achievement Award recognizing those who have made substantial contributions to the electric utility industry, with a special commitment to public power. Bertolino is currently the first vice president for the Northwest Public Power Association and is a past president of the CMUA Board of Governors. She oversees the utility's $165 million budget and over 150 employees who are responsible for the generation and distribution of electricity to about 60,000 residential and business customers.
David Hagele, chair of Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) and councilmember and former mayor of the City of Healdsburg, received the Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award recognizing elected or appointed local officials who have contributed to APPA’s goals. In 2016, Hagele was elected to the Healdsburg City Council in Sonoma County. In 2019, he was unanimously selected to serve as mayor – during which time he led the city through evacuations and recovery from the Kincade Fire. Hagele speaks personally about the key issues affecting public power in both face-to-face and virtual meetings with key policymakers and stakeholders at the state and federal levels.
Vidhi Chawla, Alameda Municipal Power’s (AMP) assistant general manager of Energy Resources Planning won the Robert E. Roundtree Rising Star Award, a scholarship presented to future leaders in public power. Chawla has made significant contributions to the Alameda community and AMP since she started at the utility in January 2018. Some of her innovative contributions to the utility and the community include maintaining AMP's 100 percent clean energy portfolio into the future through the implementation of AMP's integrated resources plan, advancing the electrification of transportation in Alameda through innovative rate design.
View the full list of 22 individuals and 11 utilities that received awards at APPA’s conference.
Michelle Bertolino, electric utility director for the City of Roseville Electric Utility, received the James D. Donovan Individual Achievement Award recognizing those who have made substantial contributions to the electric utility industry, with a special commitment to public power. Bertolino is currently the first vice president for the Northwest Public Power Association and is a past president of the CMUA Board of Governors. She oversees the utility's $165 million budget and over 150 employees who are responsible for the generation and distribution of electricity to about 60,000 residential and business customers.
David Hagele, chair of Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) and councilmember and former mayor of the City of Healdsburg, received the Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award recognizing elected or appointed local officials who have contributed to APPA’s goals. In 2016, Hagele was elected to the Healdsburg City Council in Sonoma County. In 2019, he was unanimously selected to serve as mayor – during which time he led the city through evacuations and recovery from the Kincade Fire. Hagele speaks personally about the key issues affecting public power in both face-to-face and virtual meetings with key policymakers and stakeholders at the state and federal levels.
Vidhi Chawla, Alameda Municipal Power’s (AMP) assistant general manager of Energy Resources Planning won the Robert E. Roundtree Rising Star Award, a scholarship presented to future leaders in public power. Chawla has made significant contributions to the Alameda community and AMP since she started at the utility in January 2018. Some of her innovative contributions to the utility and the community include maintaining AMP's 100 percent clean energy portfolio into the future through the implementation of AMP's integrated resources plan, advancing the electrification of transportation in Alameda through innovative rate design.
View the full list of 22 individuals and 11 utilities that received awards at APPA’s conference.