John Janney named new CFO at Grant PUD

EPHRATA — John Janney, former general manager of the Chelan County PUD, was hired as the chief financial officer of the Grant County PUD.

Current CFO Kevin Nordt made the announcement at the regular meeting of the Grant County PUD commissioners Tuesday. Utility district officials didn't advertise the position, said Chuck Allen, PUD public relations specialist, but had a list of potential candidates. Janney "was at the top of that list," Allen said.

Janney's first day will be March 7. Starting salary will be $225,000, which is consistent with what other employees at the assistant general manager level, Allen said.

Nordt has accepted the position of Grant PUD general manager, starting June 3. He replaces Tony Webb, who will take over as assistant general manager, replacing Chuck Berrie, who has announced his retirement, effective June 3.

Janney was Chelan County PUD general manager from 2010 to 2013. He said he's known Nordt from his days at the Chelan County PUD and the Grant PUD job "seemed like a really good fit for my skills." The chief financial officer's job is to oversee the district's finances, he said, the district's accounting and forecasting, bond financing and managing wholesale electrical sales. "Really, providing strategic leadership in those areas," he said.

He's been in the electrical power industry since 1997, he said, and was chief financial officer and risk manager at Chelan County PUD before becoming general manager. He worked as a consultant and for the Klickitat County PUD after leaving Chelan County PUD.