Jim Robb

Chief Executive Officer

Jim Robb, Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for strategic direction and oversight of all of WECC’s activities. Jim joined WECC in 2014.

Most recently, Jim was Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning and Environmental Affairs with Northeast Utilities in Hartford, Conn. There, he spearheaded the development of the landmark Northern Pass transmission project, which will add 1,200 MW of HVDC transfer capacity between Quebec and New England.

Jim has more than 25 years of experience in the electric power sector as an engineer, consultant, and senior executive. During his career, he led the West Coast Energy and Natural Resource Practice at McKinsey & Company, working closely with prominent electric power companies in California, Western Canada, the Pacific Northwest, and the Rocky Mountain States, as well as with some of the region’s largest energy consumers.

Jim has a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Penn.; and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in Indiana—both degrees awarded with honors.​

Melanie Frye

Vice President of Reliability Planning and Performance Analysis

Melanie Frye, Vice President of Reliability Planning and Performance Analysis, is responsible for WECC’s technical and analysis functions, including events analysis, situational awareness, reliability planning and assessments, performance assessments, and standards development. This group collaborates closely with WECC’s member forum committees, including the Operations, Planning Coordination, Market Interface, and Transmission Expansion Planning Policy Committees. In addition, Melanie has lead WECC’s response to the September 8, 2011, Pacific Southwest power outage.

Previously, Melanie was WECC’s Vice President of Shared Services, overseeing Human Resources, Accounting and Finance, Information Technology, Project Management, and Administrative Services functions and staff. She joined WECC in 2007 as Director of Human Resources.

Prior to joining WECC, Melanie spent several years with PacifiCorp as a Senior Human Resources Consultant where she was responsible for providing advice and counsel to the leadership team of eight thermal and three natural gas power generation facilities in Utah and Wyoming. She provided support to over 2,500 union and non-union employees located across the company’s six-state service territory.

Before her tenure at PacifiCorp, Melanie was Director of Human Resources at Iomega Corporation, an international high-tech company.​

Melanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.​

David Godfrey

Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

Dave Godfrey, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, is responsible for the Human Resources, Corporate Information Technology, Communications and Administrative functions along with the development of WECC’s strategic plan. In addition, he is responsible for the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (WREGIS), which is an independent, renewable energy tracking system for the region housed by WECC. WREGIS tracks renewable energy generation from units that register in the system using verifiable data, and it creates renewable energy certificates for this generation.

Previously, Dave served as WECC’s Vice President of Operations and Planning, and Director of Standards Development and Planning Services. Dave joined WECC in 2010 as Risk Manager.

Throughout his 30 years of experience in the energy industry, Dave has served in engineering, project management, risk and asset management, human resources and compliance roles. Before joining WECC, Dave was PacifiCorp Energy’s Director of Asset Management and Compliance, where he created strategic asset plans to align the Integrated Resource Plan to the operating plans for the individual units.

Dave holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.​

Steve Goodwill

Vice President and General Counsel, Corporate Secretary

Steve joined the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) in July 2008 as Hearing Officer. In December 2008 he was promoted to Associate General Counsel and became WECC’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in May 2010.  In December 2010 Steve was promoted to Vice President and General Counsel. In this role he is responsible for strategizing, managing, directing and providing comprehensive, analytical, and responsive legal expertise to WECC.  He is also responsible for the preparation and maintenance of all corporate records, as well as supporting the WECC Board of Directors and Board committees.

Prior to joining WECC, Steve spent four years as the administrative law judge at the Public Service Commission of Utah.

He began his legal career with the United States Air Force in 1997, holding positions of increasing responsibility while on active duty at Air Force and North Atlantic Treaty Organization locations throughout the U.S and Europe.  As a member of the Air Force Reserve for the past ten years, he has advised senior military and civilian leaders while assigned as legal counsel to the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Headquarters, United States Air Force, and Air Force Space Command.  He is currently assigned as the Senior Individual Mobilization Assistant to the Staff Judge Advocate, United States Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

Steve earned his JD from the University Of Utah College Of Law, Salt Lake City, Utah, and holds an MA in Political Science and a BS in Computer Engineering from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York.​

Jillian Lessner

Director of Finance and Accounting

Jillian Lessner, Director of Finance and Accounting, is responsible for WECC’s accounting function, budgeting and financial reporting, and investment management. Jillian served as WECC’s Controller from 2008 through 2010 and rejoined WECC in 2012 to serve in her current role.

Prior to rejoining WECC in 2012, Jillian served as Corporate Technical Accounting Manager at Stanley Black and Decker in New Britain, Connecticut.

Jillian began her career in public accounting at a small local firm in New York City and obtained her Certified Public Accountant license in 1994. Jillian has over 20 years of experience in accounting and financial management. Earlier in her career she held accounting management positions at Duke Energy Trading and Marketing in Salt Lake City, Utah and Forrester Research, Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Jillian holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.​​