Hugh Grunden, president and CEO of Easton Utilities in Easton, Maryland, received the Alex Radin Distinguished Service Award during the American Public Power Association’s National Conference in Orlando, Florida. The award is the highest award granted by APPA. It recognizes exceptional leadership and dedication to public power.
Hugh Grunden has been at the utility since 1983 and held various positions before becoming president and CEO in 1994. He provides the strategic direction for a multi division municipal utility, responsible for the overall operations to serve more than 10,500 customers. In addition to being involved with APPA during his tenure, he has been on several committees, including the Awards Committee in 2018, and served on the Board of Directors for numerous years. Within the local community, Hugh has positioned his utility as a top-notch organization focused on enhancing the quality of life through developing dedicated employees who portray integrity, commitment, and excellence in every way. Under his guidance, Easton Utilities earned diamond-level RP3 designations for 2016-2018 and 2020-2023 along with several Safety Awards of Excellence.
The Easton community has also recognized Hugh for his contribution to public power and honored him with the Community Impact Award in 2018 from the Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism to recognize a significant impact in the community and on the economy. Not only does Hugh actively participate in public power, he also encourages the rest of Easton Utilities’ management team to share their knowledge and expertise with others.
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The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. We represent public power before the federal government to protect the interests of the more than 49 million people that public power utilities serve, and the 93,000 people they employ. Our association advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations. Our members strengthen their communities by providing superior service, engaging citizens, and instilling pride in community-owned power.