Ohio Edison’s newest regional president is coming home to the utility where he started.
Randy Frame, a Brimfield Township native, joined the company in 1982 as an engineering assistant. He eventually received his undergraduate degree while going to school at night and joined the engineering group, which plans the work that linemen do.
Beginning May 13, he will take over as regional president for Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp.’s largest operating utility.
Frame, 52, replaces David J. Karafa, who was promoted to president of Pennsylvania operations.
Frame is currently the regional president of Toledo Edison. His replacement will be Linda L. Moss, director of operations support for Potomac Edison.
Their moves are part of a domino effect of promotions by the electric utility with the retirement of Don Lynch, president of Jersey Central Power & Light and Douglas S. Elliott, whose position is being filled by Karafa. The changes are effective from April 29 through June 3.
Among the changes in senior management are several with Ohio Edison and Akron-area connections. They include:
• Elliott, who has held positions throughout the company, including senior vice president at FirstEnergy Solutions.
• Craig Hotchkiss, who has been named director of operation services for Ohio Edison, succeeding Howard Call, who recently retired after nearly 40 years. Hotchkiss is currently director of operations services for Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L). Hotchkiss is a graduate of Malone College and started as an Ohio Edison lineman.
• James V. Fakult, currently president of Maryland operations, has been named president of JCP&L. Fakult joined Ohio Edison in 1987 and has held many positions, including general manager of regional operations support for Ohio Edison.
• James A. Sears, currently director of operations services for Mon Power, has been promoted to president of Maryland operations. Sears also began his career with Ohio Edison and held many positions, including director of regional operations support for Ohio Edison.
For Frame, his return to lead Ohio Edison and its one million customers in 36 counties is an opportunity to come home. He has moved around the FirstEnergy territory, with a few stops in Akron, he said. The graduate of Field High School and the University of Akron still has parents in the area, as does his wife, the former Pam Ryland, a graduate of Lake High School. The couple has two grown children.
Frame said his first focus will be getting reacquainted with the many people he’s known. He will oversee about 1,300 employees.
“We have a lot of talented people and I want to do the best I can to grow and use their talents. My primary focus will be ensuring each and every day employees get to go home safely. In our business, safety is one of the most important things,” said Frame.
Ohio Edison will also be spending $275 million this year to enhance its electric system and reliability. Those projects include completing three new substations, enhancing circuits and substations, inspecting and replacing utility poles, and ongoing vegetation management programs.
In naming Frame, Charles E. Jones, senior vice president and president of FirstEnergy Utilities said, “Randy has been an important member of our utility management team for years and will bring his proven track record of enhancing customer satisfaction and service reliability to Ohio Edison.”
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/blinfisher and see all her stories at www.ohio.com/betty