MEA names Izzo new general manager

WASILLA — The Matansuka Electric Association’s board of directors has named Tony Izzo to succeed Joe Griffith as the cooperative’s general manager.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the board said Izzo was a unanimous selection. According to board president Lois Lester, Izzo beat out 21 other applicants for the job to replace Griffith, who is set to retire next month.

Griffith came to Alaska with the Air Force, where he was a decorated pilot, according to his biography page on the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1964 website. Griffith eventually rose to the rank of colonel in the Air Force. He finished his career in Alaska, moving north in 1982 and serving as commander of the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base until his retirement from the service in1984.

After leaving the military, Griffith worked for five years as the Anchorage Assembly’s budget and program analyst. He served as the chief financial officer for Chugach Electric before becoming Chugach CEO, a position he held for three years before retiring in 2005. He then served as a consultant on oil and gas pipeline projects, developing the business plan for the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority, according to the press release announcing his hire as interim MEA general manger in July of 2009.

That’s when Griffith was tabbed by the MEA board to replace Wayne Carmody after the board asked for Carmody’s resignation amidst crumbling relations between the elected board and the cooperative’s general manager. Griffith was hired on to stay in January of 2010.

Izzo’s past experience includes 34 years in utilities, including time spent as CEO of ENSTAR Natural Gas.

“I am fortunate for the progress resulting from Joe Griffith’s leadership and accomplishments over the past few years,” Izzo said.

Izzo has served as MEA’s manager of fuel supply since 2012.

In July of that year, he was aboard a floatplane piloted by Griffith that flipped upon landing in Homer. Izzo and Griffith were able to get out of the plane, as were MEA safety manager Eddie Tanton and Eklutna generation station director Tony Zellers. However, MEA director of human resources and public affairs Cheryl Heinze was killed in the accident.

Through a MEA spokesperson, both men declined to comment about the plane crash on Wednesday.

Griffith said in the press release that he thinks the board made a good decision by naming Izzo general manager.

“I have known and worked with Tony for 15 years and am confident that he will be a complete success,” Griffith said.

With 50,000 members, MEA is Alaska’s oldest and second-largest electric cooperative.

Contact Matt Tunseth at matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.