Southwest Power Pool names energy, technology execs to board
by January 25, 2022 1:26 pm 983 views
Little Rock-based regional grid operator Southwest Power Pool (SPP) elected John Cupparo and Ben Trowbridge to its independent board of directors on Tuesday (Jan. 25). SPP’s membership voted to elect both directors to three-year terms.
“On behalf of SPP’s board, members and staff, I’m very pleased to welcome John and Ben,” said Barbara Sugg, president and CEO of Southwest Power Pool. “Together, they bring a wealth of experience and valuable perspectives in matters related to transmission planning, cyber security, finance and other topics that are particularly relevant to our organization right now.”
Cupparo’s experience in the electric utility industry ranges from finance to regional planning and competitive transmission services. Most recently, Cupparo served as senior executive at Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
“It is an honor to join SPP’s board,” said Cupparo. “As the energy needs of the country become more complex, SPP will play a vital role in achieving its collective membership’s objectives. My focus will be on leveraging my industry experience to contribute to SPP delivering its mission.”
Cupparo also was president and CEO of BHE U.S. Transmission and in leadership roles at PacifiCorp, Koch Industries and Texaco. He served on the board of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council and Northern Tier Transmission Group, a regional planning entity covering multiple western states. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Colorado State University.
Trowbridge served many cyber security and large companies in various industries as a board member, founder CEO and consultant. He serves on the board of directors of Arctic Security, Working Solutions and Beyond Capital Fund and the board of advisers for Abacode Managed Cybersecurity and Compliance.
“I am grateful to Southwest Power Pool members for electing me as a board member,” Trowbridge said. “The SPP mission of overseeing the bulk electric grid and wholesale power market in the central United States is essential for the growth of our economy and is of strategic significance to our way of life.”
Trowbridge also was the global leader of Ernst and Young’s cyber security as a service practice, founded the technology advisory firm Alsbridge and was a direct admit partner to Ernst and Young where he co-founded its Global Operate Co. He was named 2019 Innovator of the Year by D CEO Magazine, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. Consulting Magazine named the consulting firm he founded, Alsbridge, a Top 10 firm. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Northwestern (La.) State University and is a former U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer.