SUB CEO/General Manager Finalists Announced

April 3, 2026

Springfield Utility Board (SUB) has identified four finalists in its search for the utility’s next CEO/General Manager. The selected candidate will succeed current General Manager Jeff Nelson, who will retire this summer after 14 years in the role and more than 30 years of service to SUB.

SUB engaged with an executive recruitment firm specializing in leadership searches for local governments and public utilities, to assist with the nationwide recruitment process. The Board reviewed a highly competitive pool of 40 municipal utility professionals representing 14 states and three countries.

The following finalists will participate in the next stage of the process:

John Brady is a seasoned municipal utility executive with more than 30 years of experience leading water, wastewater, and multi-service public utilities. He currently serves as a Water Utility Specialist for the Asian Development Bank in the North Pacific Region, based in Mandaluyong, Philippines, a role he has held since September 2024. Prior to this, Brady spent 17 years as Deputy Director of Engineering & Operations for the Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA) in Buellton, California. He holds a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering and a bachelor’s degree in cell physiology and cell biology and is a licensed Professional Engineer in California.

Michael De Bortoli is a utility executive with more than 30 years of progressive leadership experience in power operations and generation, including two decades in a variety of roles with the Northern California Power Agency in Roseville, California. Most recently, he has served as Assistant General Manager – Generation since 2022. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of California.

Vanessa Barbarisi is a proven leader in strategic planning, financial management, and transformation within the utility operations sector. Since 2024, she has served as Senior Director, Infrastructure and Operations for PG&E in Oakland, California. Before this, she served in various positions with AES Corporation in Boulder, Colorado, including Director, Utility Transformation Strategy and Global Director, Digital Strategy and PMO. Barbarisi was the Principal Strategy Integrator with Portland General Electric in Portland, Oregon, and Senior Managing Consultant for Illume Advising in Boulder, Colorado. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Distributive Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

William (Bill) Bullock has more than 25 years of leadership experience in electric utility operations, power supply, infrastructure development, and organizational management. Since 2024, he has served as Director of Power Resources at Rochester Public Utilities in Rochester, Minnesota. Prior to this role, he held several leadership positions in Massachusetts, including Director of Integrated Resources at the Reading Municipal Light Department, Sustainability Policy and Energy Program Manager at the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company, and Manager of Energy Efficiency Implementation at Eversource Energy. He holds a master’s degree in business administration and engineering, as well as a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

The finalists will participate in a two-day onsite interview process April 7–8. The visit will include tours of SUB facilities and the Springfield community, meetings with SUB leadership and employees, and formal interviews with the Board of Directors. SUB’s Board expects to make a final selection following completion of the interview process.

About Springfield Utility Board
Founded in 1950, Springfield Utility Board is a community-owned utility dedicated to providing safe, reliable, cost-effective water and electric services to the residents and businesses of Springfield. SUB is a not-for-profit entity, chartered under the City of Springfield and guided by a five-member, independently elected Board of Directors. As a public utility, SUB is focused on providing excellent customer service and quality work at competitive rates.