FirstEnergy continues to build our organizational structure to help carry out our strategy to improve the customer experience, drive a continuous improvement mindset and engage our employees so that decisions can be made closer to where work is performed.

The company took another important step in our efforts to strengthen our state leadership teams and provide the resources our state and transmission businesses need to execute at the local level.

Today FirstEnergy announced we have hired Kelly Gower as Vice President, Finance and Regulatory for Pennsylvania and Teresa Reed as Vice President, Finance and Regulatory for New Jersey. In addition, Jeremy Hay has been promoted to Vice President, Construction and Design Services. All positions are effective Dec. 30.

As Vice Presidents, Finance and Regulatory, Kelly and Teresa will be responsible for developing and implementing financial strategy for each state, including budgeting, forecasting and financial planning. They will also oversee relationships with state commissions and staff while leading the development of regulatory strategy in their respective states. This position is responsible for aligning the financial and regulatory strategies which is important to driving business and financial performance within the state.

Kelly will report to John Hawkins, President, Pennsylvania, and Teresa will report to Doug Mokoid, President, New Jersey. As communicated previously, the structure under each State President will include certain state-specific functions including local and state external affairs, a state finance and regulatory group, field operations, and customer teams managing state-focused functions such as local economic development, and state-approved energy assistance outreach programs and energy efficiency implementation.

As Vice President, Construction and Design Services, Jeremy is responsible for overseeing the design and construction of substation and transmission infrastructure and improving the reliability and efficiency of energy delivery systems. He will also be responsible for design and construction of certain large or complex distribution projects and programs.   Additional responsibilities include providing oversight in developing and delivering the capital portfolio to meet operational and financial business unit and corporate objectives. Jeremy will continue to report to Toby Thomas, Chief Operating Officer.

“Jeremy has demonstrated strategic oversight, operational excellence and the ability to drive innovation,” said Toby. “His proven leadership as acting Vice President of this group will be key to successfully executing the significant transmission work that is central to our business strategy.”

Next Steps

We will continue to update the organization on a timely basis as announcements are made. Where we have vacancies, we will fill from a combination of succession planning, internal postings and external hiring based on the needs of each area of the business.

Teams affected by moves will be informed prior to any broader organizational announcements. In the meantime, employees should continue to report as you do today and remain focused on working safely.

Stay tuned regarding additional leadership announcements and details in the coming weeks and months as we make further progress on our organizational structure.

Kelly Gower’s Background

Kelly joins FirstEnergy from PPL Electric Utilities, where she has been Director, Financial Planning, Budgeting and Administration since 2022. In this role, her responsibilities included strategic planning, decision-making, and business plan implementation to achieve financial goals. Earlier, she was the company’s Manager Regional Work Management, where she led planning and development of workplans and drove operational strategy. Gower began her career as a member of PPL Corporation’s financial analysis team in 2004 and served in a series of financial roles across the company and its former competitive subsidiary.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Princeton University.

Teresa Reed’s Background

Teresa joins FirstEnergy from Duke Energy Corporation, where she has been Director, Rates and Regulatory Planning, Rate Design and Pricing Solutions since 2020. In that role, she led rate design, customer renewable offers, pricing strategy and execution for the company’s service territory in the Carolinas. She joined Duke Energy in 2008 as a Senior Auditor and held diverse positions in supply chain, compliance and customer solutions & strategy. She began her career at Railinc Corporation, where she progressed through a series of financial roles, ultimately becoming the company’s controller.

Teresa earned a Bachelor of Art in government from California State University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law. She is a licensed attorney and certified public accountant in North Carolina. Teresa is also a member of the Tenth Judicial District Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association and the American Institute of CPAs.

Jeremy Hay’s Background

Hay joined FirstEnergy in 2005 as a Senior Generation Specialist and progressed through several leadership positions including Manager, Substation Services; Manager, Transmission Portfolio Management; General Manager, Portfolio Development; and Director, Transmission and Substation Design. He was named to his current position in June 2023.

Jeremy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering technology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and he is a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania. He is also a supporting member of the FirstEnergy Ambassador Network and is a leader in his local Cub Scouts.