Electric utilities
10 utility wildfire mitigation experts
These ten professionals have held wildfire mitigation and wildfire safety roles at electric utilities. A reader can learn how electric utilities plan and carry out wildfire mitigation programs.
Professionals to explore
01—10Andrew Abranches
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Wildfire Mitigation · Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Vice President, Wildfire Mitigation at Pacific Gas and Electric Company since 2025; the profile headline describes leading wildfire risk reduction for 16 million Californians. Former Sr. Director - Wildfire Preparedness and Operations (2020–2025) and Sr Director - Electric Operations - Electric Business Operations (2019–2020) at Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
Chris Vetromile
LinkedInExperience: Wildfire Mitigation Manager · Austin Energy
Former Wildfire Mitigation Manager at Austin Energy (2023–2026), where the profile says the person led wildfire mitigation activities for Austin Energy. Director, Wildfire Mitigation & Response at American Electric Power since 2026. The profile also lists Assistant Program Manager and sUAS Drone Pilot at Austin Fire Department Robotic Emergency Deployment (RED) Team (2022–2023).
Jay Leyno
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director, Wildfire Mitigation · Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Sr. Director, Wildfire Mitigation at Pacific Gas and Electric Company since 2025 and Director, Wildfire Mitigation PMO there since 2021. The profile describes leading the Wildfire Mitigation PMO team for PG&E and lists developing the Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) among the role's duties. Former Manager, Compliance and Patrols at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (2019–2021).
John Garrett
LinkedInExperience: Wildfire Mitigation Program Manager · PacifiCorp
Wildfire Mitigation Program Manager at PacifiCorp since 2026, a role the profile places in project management at manager level. Former Sr. Business Specialist- Wildfire Mitigation Planning at PacifiCorp (2025–2026) and Energy Utility Analyst Expert Witness at The Oregon Citizens' Utility Board (2023–2025).
Michael Haydon
LinkedInExperience: Director Wildfire Mitigation · Xcel Energy
Former Director Wildfire Mitigation at Xcel Energy (2023–2025) and Director Wildfire Mitigation Situational Awareness at Xcel Energy since 2025, a role the profile describes as building and operating a wildfire situational awareness program that leverages the combined output of utility wildfire programs, with wildfire and PSPS response coordination. Former Regional Fire Management Coordinator at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (2014–2023).
Michelle Boll, PMP
LinkedInExperience: Wildfire Mitigation Sr. Program Manager · Puget Sound Energy
Wildfire Mitigation Sr. Program Manager at Puget Sound Energy since 2022; the profile headline describes the person as a wildfire mitigation manager for utility infrastructure. Former Program Manager for Electrical Ops Emergency Response Training at Puget Sound Energy (2020–2022).
Raymond Fugere
LinkedInExperience: Director Wildfire Safety · Southern California Edison (SCE)
Former Director Wildfire Safety at Southern California Edison (SCE) (2023–2024), a role the profile describes as developing, enhancing, implementing and monitoring the performance of wildfire mitigation strategies for Southern California Edison. Former Principal Manager Wildfires Mitigation Strategies at Southern California Edison (SCE) (2021–2023), and Director of Grid Operations there since 2025.
Ryan Patzer
LinkedInExperience: Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Lead · FortisAlberta
Wildfire Mitigation Implementation Lead at FortisAlberta since 2024, described in the profile as the business lead supporting the development and execution of the Wildfire Mitigation Program for FortisAlberta. Former Supervisor Asset Management - Strategic Innovation (2023–2024) and Supervisor Asset Management (2019–2023) at FortisAlberta.
Stephanie Kreshel
LinkedInExperience: Manager Wildfire Program Management · Puget Sound Energy
Former Manager Wildfire Program Management at Puget Sound Energy (2023–2025), where the profile says the person formed a new team that led the implementation of wildfire risk reduction measures, which the profile calls the company's second highest priority. Former Manager Infrastructure Program Management at Puget Sound Energy (2017–2023).
Tom Chou PE
LinkedInExperience: Utility Engineer and Wildfire mitigation Manager · Bear Valley Electric Service, Inc.
Utility Engineer and Wildfire mitigation Manager at Bear Valley Electric Service, Inc. since 2025. Former Utility Engineer & Wildfire Mitigation Supervisor (2021–2025), Regulatory Compliance Project Engineer (2015–2021) and Electrical Engineer Aid (2013–2015) at Bear Valley Electric Service, Inc.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's utility and region to yours, since wildfire programs in California run under different rules and scale than those in the Pacific Northwest, Texas, Colorado or Canada. Also consider whether you need someone focused on planning and strategy or on program delivery and field operations.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you prioritize wildfire mitigation work such as hardening, vegetation management and situational awareness across your service territory?
- 02How did you build and defend your wildfire mitigation plan with regulators and other stakeholders?
- 03How did you measure whether your wildfire mitigation program was actually reducing risk?
Reaching utility wildfire mitigation experts
How can I contact one of these utility wildfire mitigation experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 8 companies, including Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Austin Energy and PacifiCorp, based on profile data retrieved on October 3, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach utility wildfire mitigation experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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