Santee Cooper Announces Strategic Organization Changes Within Operations Department
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Santee Cooper is strengthening its operations management team with four new appointments to help further the utility’s mission. These include Director of Transmission Operations Mike Johnson; Director of New Generation John Dills; Director of Project Controls Lionel Richardson; and Director of Construction Services Management Will Stevick.
“We are strategically focused on a growing and sustainable future,” said Chief Operations Officer Mike Finissi. “By offering our team members’ new opportunities, we can streamline processes and ensure projects are successfully completed in a timely manner and on budget.”
Johnson will report directly to Finissi, while Dills, Richardson and Stevick will report to General Manager of Projects and Construction Scott Smith.
Mike Johnson has been named the Director of Transmission Operations, a role that encompasses technical and line operations for the transmission system. Johnson has served in various roles in his 15+ years at Santee Cooper, most recently as the Senior Manager of Transmission Line Operations. He also spent time in Construction Services, Area Transmission Engineering and Substation Design. Johnson joined Santee Cooper after serving over five years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A licensed Professional Engineer, Johnson graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2003 with a degree in civil engineering.
John Dills has been named the Director of New Generation and will oversee the addition of new resources to Santee Cooper’s electric system. Dills moves into his new role after serving as the Director of Construction Services Management since 2011. Since coming to Santee Cooper in 1982, Dills has worked as an engineer at Cross Generating Station, Principal Engineer for Station Construction and Capital Projects, and Superintendent of Maintenance at Rainey Generating Station. Dills earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of South Carolina in 1982 and his master’s in business administration from The Citadel in 1993. He is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Lionel Richardson has been named the Director of Project Controls and will be responsible for overseeing capital project schedules and costs. Richardson has been with Santee Cooper since 2006 and most recently served as the Manager of Renewable Generation. Richardson also spent time as a Continuous Improvement Coach and Superintendent of Electrical Maintenance at Winyah. A licensed Professional Engineer, Richardson graduated from Clemson University with a degree in electrical engineering and earned his master’s in business administration from the University of South Carolina.
Will Stevick has been named the Director of Construction Services Management and will be responsible for major construction projects and dams and dikes. Stevick has served as the Superintendent of Capital Projects since 2017. He has also spent time as the Superintendent of Technical Services at Cross Generating Station, Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor at Cross, and Mechanical Engineer for Construction and Engineering Services at Cross since joining the company in 2006. The licensed Professional Engineer earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of South Carolina in 2003, and his master’s in business administration from The Citadel in 2011.
