FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2021
CONTACT: Eric Barendsen, mediarelations@wapa.gov, 303-704-0765
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Kerry Whitford has been selected as Western Area Power Administration’s chief strategy officer by Administrator and CEO Tracey A. LeBeau. Whitford will assume the role on November 21.
“Kerry brings decades of diverse experience in strategic planning and performance measurement, internal controls, enterprise risk management and stakeholder relations to WAPA,” LeBeau said. “With so many factors influencing our industry, such as drought, wildfire and the new infrastructure bill, Kerry will bring new insights to bear in WAPA’s upcoming strategic plan refresh, ensuring focused and proper resourcing into the future.”
In this role based in Lakewood, Colorado, Whitford will lead WAPA’s Strategy Office, which provides direction and accountability in the formulation, alignment and execution of WAPA’s strategic goals and metrics. As chief strategy officer, Whitford will champion employee engagement, build and maintain relationships with customers, industry leaders and Department of Energy representatives and lead the advancement of performance measurement, continuous process improvement and change management initiatives.
“I’m excited to join WAPA’s tremendous team at a time when strategic planning and enhancing organizational culture are critically important,” Whitford said. “I am honored to be selected as the chief strategy officer and ready to apply the culmination of my experience and understanding of western water and hydropower issues to refine the strategic roadmap to meet WAPA’s mission and emerging challenges.”
Whitford most recently served in the Bureau of Reclamation as Supervisor, Quality, Control, and Standards Office where she implemented enterprise risk management practices agencywide. In November 2020, she was selected to act as Reclamation’s chief of staff to facilitate a smooth transition during the change in administrations.
Whitford joined Reclamation in 1999, serving as strategic planner, where she developed organizational goals and priorities in collaboration with senior-level management and external stakeholders. She spearheaded numerous special projects and innovative change management initiatives, including the Managing for Excellence initiative and prize competitions.
Whitford began her career in 1991 at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, in Denver, Colorado, where she managed environmental grant programs with the State of Colorado and Tribal Nations. While at EPA, she also collaborated with stakeholders in the development and approval of partnership agreements, represented Region 8 in performance partnership councils and facilitated focus groups with industry leaders on EPA’s reinvention efforts.
Whitford received her bachelor’s degree in environmental conservation from the University of Colorado Boulder and a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University.
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About WAPA: Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 25,000 gigawatt-hours of clean, renewable power from 57 federal hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and International Boundary and Water Commission in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy. Follow us on Twitter @WesternAreaPowr or visit the website at www.wapa.gov.
Last modified on September 12th, 2023