The V.I. Water and Power Authority announced selections to two leadership positions following votes taken during a special meeting of the authority’s governing board on Thursday.
Lemuel Lavinier was appointed to serve as chief operating officer of electric systems following the resignation of Ashley Bryan, whose last day with the utility was scheduled to be Nov. 29. According to a WAPA press release, Lavinier has more than 22 years of expertise in power system operations, construction and sustainable energy management.
Lavinier previously worked as the superintendent of electric power for the Public Utilities Department in Orangeburg, S.C. and currently sits on the board of Dominica Electricity Services.
The board also approved the appointment of Lorraine Kelly to the role of chief financial officer. Kelly has been the utility’s interim CFO since December 2023. In Friday’s press release, the authority credited Kelly with playing “a pivotal role in enhancing WAPA’s financial transparency and stability during her interim tenure.”
“These two leaders bring a wealth of experience and a shared dedication to operational and financial excellence,” Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Karl Knight said in a statement. “They will serve critical roles on WAPA’s leadership team. We are confident that their expertise will accelerate the Authority’s goals to enhance service delivery and achieve long-term sustainability.”
The utility’s leadership team has undergone several changes since Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. declared a local state of emergency in response to the territory’s struggling electric infrastructure.
Knight assumed leadership of the utility in late July, a month after former CEO Andrew Smith opted not to renew his contract. On Nov. 21, the authority announced the hiring of former Property and Procurement Commissioner Anthony Thomas to the role of chief administrative officer.
