PUB Members

A Commission of Four - PUB Members

Four commissioners are appointed to the Board by the Mayor with the concurrence of the City Council, in accordance with the City Charter. The Alameda City Manager also sits on the Board, as an ex-officio fifth commissioner. The commissioners establish goals, approve major purchases, set direction, and create the framework for local control for the utility.

Gregory Hamm, Ph.D., P.E., President

July 2007 - June 2014

Dr. Gregory Hamm is a Senior Economist and Co-Leader of the Risk Advisory Group at NERA Economic consultants.  He has founded a renewable energy company and a business consulting firm serving the energy industry. He brings over 20 years of experience resolving organizational issues via facilitation, coaching, and modeling. Dr. Hamm’s most recent work has been in the valuation of electric power resources with a special emphasis on renewables. He also has substantial experience in risk management, environmental planning, and research and development planning.

Dr. Hamm has lectured at Stanford, U.C. Berkeley, and C.S.U. East Bay. He holds a B.S. and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford. His thesis was on the modeling of the economic impacts of greenhouse gases and greenhouse gas controls. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in California.

Peter W. Holmes, Vice President

June 2005 - June 2012

Commissioner Holmes was appointed to the Board in June 2005. A local mortgage consultant, Mr. Holmes brings to the Board wide-ranging experience in management, planning, marketing, and sales.

He has served as an expert panelist for the California Association of Mortgage Brokers. Additionally, he is Past President of the Emeryville Chapter of Business Network International and has extensive newspaper experience as a both columnist and correspondent.

Mr. Holmes holds a baccalaureate degree from the University of Arizona and is licensed by the California Department of Real Estate.

John Russo

June 2011 -

Under the City Charter, City Manager John Russo also serves as a Commissioner on the Public Utilities Board. He assumed these duties concurrent with his appointment in June 2011.

John R. McCahan

June 2005 - June 2013

Commissioner McCahan has over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, including in such areas as strategic planning, business development, project management, information technology, sales, and human resources.

Mr. McCahan also chairs the American Red Cross, Alameda Service Center Advisory Board and the Disaster Task Force. He has previous experience as an Assistant Fire Chief in the Alameda County OES Fire Department.

He holds a Masters in Business Administration in Marketing from Golden Gate University and a baccalaureate degree from the University of San Francisco, as well as numerous industrial certifications.