Pat Kusek has been named the next chairperson of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority board.
Previously the board’s vice chairwoman, Kusek swaps seats with previous chairman Jim Quinn, who was named vice chairman at Wednesday’s regular meeting.
Quinn, who served as chairman the past three years—the maximum allowed under the board’s rules—said the leadership change was recommended by a nomination committee consisting of himself, Woody White and fellow board member Jim Brumit.
Brumit will remain as the board’s secretary, while board member Mike Brown will serve another year as treasurer.
“That ends my tenure, and I’m out of here,” Quinn said, “and I’ll trade seats with Madame Chairman Kusek.”
“You’ve done good, Jim,” board member Charlie Rivenbark said. Added White: “Thanks for your steady hand in leadership.”
“I’ve enjoyed it,” Quinn said.
Kusek, who said she has “big shoes to fill,” thanked the board for its “vote of confidence” and clarified how she was willing to be addressed. When Brumit addressed her as “madame chairperson,” Kusek replied, laughing: “‘Hey you’ works just fine.”
The founder of Kusek Financial Group, a financial consulting services firm, Kusek was jointly appointed to the board by the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County in 2011. Prior to starting her firm, Kusek served in a variety of leadership roles in account and community relations management for Duke Energy, according to a release from the CFPUA.
“It has been a pleasure to serve on this board for the past three years, to get to know the business of the authority and the fine team of people who make sure our water and sewer systems are top notch for our customers,” Kusek said in the release. “I am excited to step into this leadership position and to serve our customers and employees well. We have a hard-working board that is dedicated to helping our employees succeed in their jobs while keeping our services safe and reliable.
“CFPUA plays an essential role in our community. The authority’s work is directly tied to our overall quality of life,” Kusek said. “My goal is to help the organization move to the next level through comprehensive, long-range planning for the future.”
The release also includes comments from Quinn, who said of Kusek: “Pat is a natural leader. She came to the authority as a joint city-county appointee, and it’s no small feat to gain the confidence of both governments. She’s an excellent choice to help the authority continue to move forward for our customers.”
Kusek’s term as chairwoman is for one year, with the option of reappointment the following two years.
Jonathan Spiers is a reporter for Port City Daily. He can be reached at (910) 772-6313 or [email protected]. On Twitter: @jrspiers
