SPRINGFIELD – After a nationwide search, Springfield Utility Board’s elected Board of Directors voted to select Vanessa Barbarisi as the utility’s next CEO/general manager.
Barbarisi comes to SUB from PG&E in Oakland, California, and will succeed longtime general manager Jeff Nelson, who is retiring after more than 30 years with the SUB.
Over the next few weeks, the Board will work to finalize a contract, after which a formal offer of employment will be extended. More information will be provided as we continue with the process.
“Ms. Barbarisi is a respected leader who is committed to continuing SUB’s mission of providing safe, reliable, cost-effective utility services to our Springfield ratepayers,” said David Willis, SUB’s Board chairman.
Barbarisi brings her experience in strategic planning, financial management, and transformation within the utility operations sector to SUB. Since 2024, she has served as Senior Director, Infrastructure and Operations for PG&E in Oakland, California. She has also 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.
