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Last updated on Wednesday, November 1, 2017
(GREENE CO.) - The Utilities District of Western Indiana REMC has named Douglas Childs as its new Chief Executive Officer. The UDWI REMC Board of Directors released Child’s name after a national search process to fill the CEO position.
Childs starts in the position Nov. 20. He will be responsible for overseeing the day to day management of the rural electric co-op and advising the board on budgets, contracts and strategies.
He takes over the position of former UDWI CEO Brian Sparks. The board fired Sparks in June amid allegations of money mismanagement and an active FBI investigation.
"My immediate focus is to ensure that we are providing the best service and making the best operational decisions for UDWI," Childs says. "I look forward to becoming part of this community and beginning a new chapter with the cooperative."
Childs brings to UDWI REMC more than 32 years of experience including over 22 years working with municipal utilities for the City of Hamilton, Ohio's Department of Public Utilities. His experience includes utility financial management, power supply planning, operations and safety, capital budgeting, rate planning and personnel management.
In his current position as Energy Management Administrator for the City of Hamilton, Childs plans and manages the City's power and natural gas supply as well as the area's largest renewable electric generation portfolio. He also manages all bond financing, debt compliance and regulatory compliance. Previously, he served as the Director of Public Utilities for Hamilton, managing 235 employees and an Operations & Maintenance and Capital budget in excess of $300,000,000.
Childs was named to the American Municipal Power Board of Directors in 2013 and holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Prior to moving to the utility industry in Hamilton, he was named administrator of the year during his time as a Financial and Investment Analyst for the University of Northern Kentucky. He is a native of Hamilton, Ohio and received his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Finance from Miami University.
UDWI president Ron Thompson said he was excited to work with Childs to move the utility forward.
"His solid energy background and expertise in finance and planning will serve our members, the employees, and the Board well," Thompson said.
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