The Marblehead Municipal Light Commission plans to select its next general manager Tuesday from three finalists after deciding not to renew General Manager Joseph Kowalik’s contract, which expires April 7, 2026.
The finalists, interviewed last week, were Salem resident Mary Usovicz, current general manager of Merrimac Municipal Light Department; Gloucester resident Jonathan Blair, a senior managing consultant at Energy and Environmental Economics who previously served as general manager of Ipswich Electric Light Department; and Arlington, Virginia, resident Nathan Mitchell, a professional engineer with more than 30 years of electric utility experience.
More than 90 people applied for the position. A five-member screening subcommittee reviewed applicants and selected the three finalists, who were interviewed in July.
The new general manager will oversee a utility experiencing significant infrastructure improvements. The department recently completed installation of the Village 13 Substation upgrade, which required massive switchgear deliveries and temporary parking restrictions in July. The utility continues exploring potential sites for a five-megawatt battery storage facility to reduce peak demand costs and provide resilience during outages.
Marblehead Municipal Light Department serves about 10,000 customers and operates independently under Chapter 164 of Massachusetts General Laws. In 2024, the department’s power portfolio reached 65% carbon-free electricity, while maintaining some of the lowest residential electric rates in Massachusetts. The utility operates with an annual budget of approximately $20 million.
