PUC Names Seth A. Mendelsohn New Executive Director

On May 23, the Public Utility Commission announced the appointment of Seth A. Mendelsohn of Harrisburg, a senior government leader, business and leadership professor, and former corporate vice president, as Executive Director, effective May 28.

Mendelsohn replaces Jan H. Freeman, who is stepping down from the position effective May 28 and will serve as an adviser to Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille, before leaving the Commission on June 28. Freeman served as Executive Director for nearly eight years.

With more than 20 years of management experience in insurance, government and public utilities, Mendelsohn is concluding his current service as Executive Deputy Insurance Commissioner, the chief operating officer of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.

In this position, Mendelsohn established employee retention and recruitment programs, and an employee mentorship program, the first of its kind for a Commonwealth agency under the Governor’s jurisdiction.

Mendelsohn also brings to the PUC his public utility experience as a Vice President and Corporate Counsel for American Water Works Company, with responsibilities in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland. While there, Mendelsohn was particularly recognized for solving problems with troubled water companies in Pennsylvania.

He also previously served as a Senior Deputy Attorney General/Attorney-in-Charge for the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

He serves as an adjunct instructor of business law, ethical leadership and corporate governance for the Master of Business Administration program at Lebanon Valley College. Mendelsohn also teaches a course on leadership in a multicultural global environment as an adjunct associate professor in the Master of Business Administration program at the University of Maryland University College.

He previously served as an appointee of the Governor on the Citizens Advisory Council of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Mendelsohn received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, his law degree from The Dickinson School of Law and his Master of Business Administration degree from Lebanon Valley College.

As Executive Director of the PUC, Mendelsohn will plan, organize and direct day-to-day operations of the Commission.