Industry veteran Steven Taylor starts Aug. 1
The Okanogan County Public Utility District (PUD) is finalizing negotiations with Steven Taylor to become its new general manager.
Taylor, who has a 26-year background in electrical technology, engineering and management, has been general manager of the Mason County PUD in Shelton, Washington, since 2007.
In written responses to questions from the PUD commissioners, Taylor said he emphasizes communications, transparency and being available to staff and ratepayers. He started the section under “Leadership Focus” on his résumé with one word in red: “Safety!”
There were 47 applicants from all over the country and Canada, with a wide range of backgrounds, said PUD Commissioner Bill Colyar. The commissioners narrowed down the pool to about 10 and had in-person or phone interviews with six semifinalists.
The three finalists — Taylor; Allen Allie, the Okanogan PUD’s construction design manager; and Julie “Jules” Pyper, asset management and operations budget manager at Grant County PUD — each spent a full day with PUD staff and commissioners.
The PUD also held three separate public meetings so that the commissioners could observe the candidates’ speaking skills, how they ran a meeting, and how they interacted with the public, said Colyar. “All three were really talented and each had their own strong points, but Steven had the experience and academic background and was extremely good with people,” he said.
PUD commissioners fired former General Manager John Grubich last September after concerns about improper bonding and contracting procedures and a profanity-laced altercation Grubich had with the Okanogan County emergency manager.
As a result of Grubich’s “adverse impact” on the PUD, the commissioners wanted to involve employees and the general public in the selection process. “We want people to know why we’re doing things,” said Colyar. “The process worked better than we had hoped.”
“Quite frankly, the general manager position in any public utility — or any business — is not a technical position, but a leadership position,” said Colyar. “The key to success is the individual’s leadership and managerial skills.”
Board’s questions
The PUD board asked each finalist seven written questions, including, “Please tell us why you are interested … and why it is a good time in your career to come to Okanogan PUD” and “Describe your leadership style with the public, District leadership team and employees.”
Taylor likes staff to have the flexibility to make decisions. “My staff knows I ‘have their back’ but they also know that I will hold them accountable,” he wrote. “I like to outline what is needed and then allow employees to work towards accomplishing the task. … A good leader is trusting and trustworthy.”
Taylor said he would “encourage open-mindedness and flexibility,” “encourage the commissioners to ask probing, penetrating questions on … strategic decisions and policies,” and “help all parties be comfortable with having their ideas rigorously challenged.”
Part of Taylor’s management philosophy is to make himself available to the public by chatting informally with people about the utility in local coffee shops or their yards to build a trusting relationship, he wrote.
In in-person interviews, the commissioners asked each candidate how he or she would handle specific situations, including Enloe Dam and infrastructure improvements. With regard to Enloe, Taylor said he would sit down with staff to get up-to-speed on the issues and on dealings with the contractor, said Colyar.
Before joining the Mason County PUD, Taylor worked for two utilities in Wyoming and as a field engineer at a utility in Pasco. He and his wife grew up in Moses Lake, so they look forward to returning to this part of the state, he said.
PUD staff are finalizing a five-year contract with Taylor, with a $185,000 annual salary. Taylor will start at the PUD on Aug. 1.
