The Colorado Springs Utilities (Springs Utilities) Board decided today to launch a national search to recruit a replacement for outgoing Chief Executive Officer Aram Benyamin. The Utilities Board voted unanimously in favor of the recruitment and selection process presented during the Board meeting. The recruitment process is expected to kick-off within a week, with a goal to name the new CEO in the first quarter of 2023. In the interim, current Chief Operations Officer Travas Deal will serve as acting CEO, effective Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022.
“We felt it was important to open the process to both internal and external applicants due to the vital nature of the role as head of our community-owned utility,” said Board Chair Wayne Williams. “The Board and I are committed to a thorough but expeditious search. Further, we are highly confident that programs and progress at Springs Utilities will continue without any interruption with Travas Deal as acting CEO.”
Key initiatives started under Benyamin and continuing under Deal include implementation of a robust Integrated Resource Plan with an eye on intentional and responsible planning for growth; conservation efforts around energy and water; construction of the citywide fiber network; and the continuation of efforts to bridge Colorado Springs into a new era of power generation, to include adding six modular natural gas units at the Martin Drake Power Plant site, readying the city for battery storage and expanding the renewable portfolio.
Deal joined Springs Utilities in 2017 as Field Services manager. In 2018 he transitioned to the Energy Services Division, where he served as general manager and officer, prior to being named COO.