Lawrenceburg Utility Director On National Board

Press release from American Public Power Association

(Washington, D.C.) - Charles “Mel” Davis, utility director of Lawrenceburg Municipal Utilities in Indiana, was installed as vice chair of the American Public Power Association board of directors at the association’s National Conference in Nashville, Tenn. He will serve a one-year term under Gary Stauffer, executive director of NMPP Energy in Lincoln, Neb., who was installed as chair.

In 2002, Davis was named utility director for Lawrenceburg Municipal Utilities, a municipally owned and operated utility that has served its community for several decades, with its electric department established in 1901 and the city’s purchase of a privately-owned water and wastewater company later in 1931. Lawrenceburg's electric provision is in the category of a full-service distribution company. He was first elected to a three-year term on the APPA board in 2007, and elected for another three-year term in 2011. He serves on the APPA Legislative and Resolutions Committee and APPA’s Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) program panel as a small systems representative. He also serves on the boards of the Indiana Municipal Power Agency and Indiana Municipal Electric Association.

“Mel has been a strong asset for the association,” said APPA President and CEO Mark Crisson. “His continued involvement with APPA, including the Engineering and Operations section and the RP3 program, makes him well suited to serve in such a leadership capacity on our board.”

Davis — who has worked for more than 25 years in public power — began his career in 1965 working in electrical power construction before joining the U.S. Marine Corps. in 1966 where he attained the rank of staff sergeant. In 1988, he was named superintendent of the municipal electric utility system of the city of Galion, Ohio, and utility director of the Shelby, Ohio, Division of Electricity and Telecommunications in 1992. He then worked as field superintendent/safety program assistant, technical services field supervisor, technical services marketer and finally advancing to director of member services for the American Municipal Power. Inc. (AMP) in Columbus, Ohio. With each position increasing responsibilities, he examined AMP-member circuits, poles, transformers and substations, determining whether they were in good operating condition, and if not; recommending improvements to enhance safety and reliability for their systems.

Davis has served as chair of APPA’s Transmission and Distribution section during 1998-1999 and chair of the Engineering and Operations section during 2003-2004. He also served on the board of APPA’s Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments (DEED) program during 2002-2004. He has also served on the association’s Utility Awards, Bylaws and Nominations and Awards Committees. He received APPA’s Harold Kramer-John Preston Personal Service Award, recognizing service to APPA through substantial contributions toward association goals, in 2007.