John E. Skory Named Penelec Regional President

READING, Pa., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) announced that John E. Skory – currently director of Operations Support for the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company – has been promoted to regional president, Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), headquartered in Erie, Pa.  Penelec serves approximately 590,000 customers within a 17,600-square-mile area of western and central Pennsylvania.  Skory replaces James R. Napier, Jr., who will join the leadership team for the company's Utility Support group in Akron.  In addition, Edward L. Shuttleworth has been promoted to director of Operations Support for The Illuminating Company, replacing Skory.  

"With his wealth of utility experience and his dedication to customer service, John is a great addition to our Pennsylvania team and I have every confidence that the outstanding work being done at Penelec will continue under his leadership," said Charles E. Jones, Jr., senior vice president and president, FirstEnergy Utilities.  "I look forward to working with Jim as he joins our leadership team in Akron.  His experience and perspective will be invaluable to our Utility Support group, particularly as we work on merger integration efforts."

A native of Cleveland, Skory has been with the company for 34 years, most recently serving on the FirstEnergy – Allegheny Energy merger integration team.  He began his career with The Illuminating Company in 1976 as a meter reader and has served in a variety of operations and managerial positions with the company.  In 2000, he was promoted to manager, Workforce Development, Regional Operations, where he was instrumental in helping to establish the company's award-winning Power Systems Institute training program.  In 2002, Skory was promoted to director, Operations Support Services for Ohio Edison and was named director of Operations Support Services for The Illuminating Company in 2003.  

He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from David N. Myers College in Cleveland.  In addition, Skory has completed almost 1,000 hours of additional coursework and training throughout his career, including earning "Strategic Business Leadership" and "Financial Analysis" certificates from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Napier was named regional president for Penelec in March 2008.  He began his career with Ohio Edison in 1980 and has served in a variety of operations and managerial positions with the company.  In 1991, Napier was named district Line supervisor in Alliance, Ohio.  In 1994, he was promoted to Line supervisor in Marion and Mansfield, Ohio.  Napier was named Workforce Development director for FirstEnergy in 1999 and was named Penelec's director of Operations Services in 2001.

Currently on special assignment as part of the FirstEnergy-Allegheny Energy merger integration team, Shuttleworth began his career with the company in 1989 at Penn Power's New Castle Power Plant.  Over the years he has served in a variety of operations and managerial positions, including: supervisor, Meter Department – Penn Power; manager, Regional Dispatch Office – Ohio Edison/Penn Power; manager, Substation Department – Ohio Edison; and general manager, Substation Services – The Illuminating Company.  

Shuttleworth earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering technology from Youngstown State University and an associate's degree from Penn State University.  

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Its subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, as well as energy management and other energy-related services.  Its seven electric utility operating companies comprise the nation's fifth largest investor-owned electric system, based on 4.5 million customers served within a 36,100-square-mile area of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and its generation subsidiaries control more than 14,000 megawatts of capacity.  

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.