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For immediate release
May 14, 2002 at 2:17am
For more information, contact
Patti Bogan, 762-4736

Chugach names new general manager

Chugach Electric Association named Evan J. "Joe" Griffith general manager, effective May 6. The Chugach board of directors announced the selection of Griffith at Chugach's April 25 annual membership meeting. Griffith replaced Gene Bjornstad who retired May 3 after serving as Chugach's general manager since 1994. Griffith was most recently Chugach's executive manager, finance & energy supply.

Griffith has worked at Chugach nearly 13 years and has played a major role in making Chugach a better organization and a successful Alaskan corporation. As the chief financial officer, he headed up the team that completed the recent $180 million bond issuance that was a significant refinancing accomplishment for Chugach. Another major accomplishment was overseeing Chugach's refinancing of its Rural Electrification Administration debt in 1991. Since 1997 he has also headed the power production division at Chugach.

Griffith retired from the Air Force in 1984. He was a fighter pilot, instructed at the USAF Fighter Weapons School, conducted missile operational tests and evaluations, served at the Pentagon as deputy director of operations, and was the 21st tactical fighter wing commander at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Griffith worked for five years for the Anchorage Assembly as the budget and program analyst after leaving the Air Force.

He is involved in the community through Commonwealth North and the Chamber of Commerce. His other community service includes serving on the American Red Cross board of directors, the board of the Armed Services YMCA and the United Way board.

Chugach is the largest electric utility in Alaska, providing power for Alaskans throughout the Railbelt through retail, wholesale and economy energy sales.