Search underway for new Naperville electric utility director

Naperville is seeking a new electric utility director to succeed Brian Groth, who became incapacitated in a non-work-related accident in May.

“Obviously, we miss him,” said City Manager Doug Krieger, who declined to share more details, citing privacy issues. “We’ve got a wonderful team over there … everybody buckled down and continued to provide great service, and the utilities continue to move ahead with our different projects.”

Groth’s absence also comes as the city tries to nail down how it will procure electricity post-2035, when its contract with current electricity provider Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA) ends.

A 20-year employee with the city, Groth began his time with Naperville’s electric utility department as an electrical engineer and worked his way up to director, a role he was promoted to in 2020.

At the time of his accident, the Naperville City Council was in the midst of energy strategy workshops at which council members reviewed various options for procuring electricity. The last workshop led by Groth detailed the process for joining or creating a new joint action agency.

Since then, Krieger has been acting as interim electric utility director, taking over the workshops and helping lead operations. Some staff members also started wearing green ribbons in support of Groth and his family as he recovers from his accident.

“His absence has touched a lot of us, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family,” Krieger said.

Now that the city’s energy strategy workshops are over and there is more than one option under consideration for how the city will procure energy in the future, city officials believed it was time to start the search for a new electric utility director, he said.

“It’s certainly not a judgment about Brian,” Mayor Scott Wehrli said. “It’s about making sure the utility has steady leadership for the long term.”

Search firm Blue Signal has been tapped to help the city. As of Monday, two candidates had been interviewed for the position. There in no set date as to when the position needs to be filled.

When asked if Groth will return to work for the electric utility in any capacity, city officials declined to comment.

“Right now, as we sit, the position is open, and unfortunately, Brian’s injury doesn’t allow him to be here,” city spokesperson Linda LaCloche said. “So we need to move forward with filling the role.”

Naperville’s electric utility is not the only department to see turnover in its leadership this year. Last week, the city announced it had hired Andrea Lamberg as its new finance director, succeeding Ray Munch, who left in July to become the Wheaton city manager.

cstein@chicagotribune.com