Newsroom
September 10th, 2020
MUB hires Michael McNulty to replace Tim Ball as general manager
Will assume responsibilities upon Ball’s retirement
At the September 9th board of directors meeting of the Morgantown Utility Board, Michael McNulty was selected as the organization’s new general manager. McNulty will begin as deputy general manager until January 5th, 2021 when current General Manager Tim Ball retires.
This hire is an important milestone in the history of the Morgantown Utility Board in that it marks the first time a general manager has been hired from outside the organization.
“This hiring represents a change in the manner in which hiring has previously occurred. In the past, MUB always had an assistant general manager prepared to take over as GM. But given that our previous assistant GM retired in February, we found ourselves in a novel situation,” said MUB Board Chairman JT Straface.
To assist with locating highly qualified candidates, MUB contracted with The Giddings Group to conduct a nationwide search. MUB’s priorities in the search included technical and professional proficiencies as well as certain management traits. These traits involved characteristics such as a dedication to public service, an eye for accountability, success within the industry, a commitment to staff safety, success in building teams, and demonstrated leadership under diverse circumstances.
“We were not only looking for someone with very specific engineering and management skills, which were obviously extremely important in our decision, we were also looking for someone that could readily fit within the MUB’s culture of success,” Straface said. “I believe we’ve accomplished all of these things.”
McNulty will begin his role as deputy general manager mid to late October. He will work with current General Manager Ball until Ball’s retirement on January 5, 2021. At that time, McNulty will take over as general manager.
“The few months we’ll have to work together provide terrific means for knowledge transfer. I’m extremely comfortable with this process and very much pleased with Mike’s hire. I have no doubt that great things await MUB under Mike’s leadership,” Ball said.
McNulty, who currently serves as general manager of the Putnam Public Service District, has extensive experience in the industry and in leadership capacities across the state. He holds a Master of Science in Public Administration from Marshall University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia Institute of Technology. Throughout his 31 year professional career, he has served as assistant general manager of Logan County Public Service District, technical analyst for the WV Public Service Commission, and Executive Director of the WV Rural Water Association. He also currently serves as the President of the WV Rural Water Association.