Board of Directors

Business Experience: Chairman of the board of directors of The Andersons, Inc., a diversified public company with interests in the grain, ethanol and plant nutrient sectors of U.S. agriculture, as well as in railcar leasing and repair and turf products production, since 2016. He also served as CEO and chairman of the board of directors from 2009 to 2015 and chief executive officer from 1999 to 2015, of The Andersons, Inc. Director of FirstEnergy since 2007.

Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Anderson received an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management and was a Certified Public Accountant. He participated in the Harvard Advanced Management Program. Anderson was an auditor for Arthur Young & Co. In 1996, he became president and chief operating officer of The Andersons, Inc., and he is currently that company’s chairman. Anderson’s experience in the accounting and executive management areas are invaluable assets for FirstEnergy's Board.

Business Experience: Chief executive officer and vice chairman of Orbital Energy Group (formerly known as CUI Global Inc.,.), a company focused on acquisition and development of innovative companies to create a diversified energy services platform. Principal owner of Forefront Solutions, LLC, which provides consulting services primarily to the energy infrastructure industry, since October 2017. Former president, chief executive officer and director of Quanta Services, Inc., a provider of specialty contracting services to the electric power and oil and gas industries (from 2011 to 2016). Director of FirstEnergy since 2017. 

Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: O’Neil received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Tulane University. His has extensive leadership and senior management experience, including the role of chief executive officer, chief operating officer and senior vice president of operations integration and audit. His extensive executive and board experience has equipped him with leadership skills and the knowledge of board processes and functions. Additionally, O’Neil’s audit, general corporate decision-making and engineering experience makes him a valuable member to the FirstEnergy Board. 

Business Experience: Executive Director of the FirstEnergy Board (from October 2020 to April 1, 2021). Retired in May 2019 from Trinseo S.A., a producer of plastics, latex and rubber, after serving as president and chief executive officer (from 2010 to 2019) and special adviser (2019). He was a director of Trinseo S.A. until his retirement from its board of directors (from 2010 to 2019). He serves as a director of one other public company, Univar Inc. (chairman), a chemical distributor and provider. Director of FirstEnergy since 2011. 

Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Pappas received an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He served in various leadership capacities at NOVA Chemicals Corporation, Dow Chemical, and DuPont Dow Elastomers. His extensive executive experience and extensive board experience over the past 18 with five public companies, have equipped him with leadership skills and the knowledge of board processes and functions. Additionally, Pappas’ general corporate decision-making and senior executive experience with a commodity-based business provides a useful background for understanding the operations of FirstEnergy.

Business Experience: Pianalto retired in May 2014 as president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, a position she held since 2003. Prior to retiring, Pianalto also chaired the Federal Reserve’s Financial Services Policy Committee, which is a committee of senior Federal Reserve Bank officials responsible for overall direction of financial services and related support functions for the Federal Reserve Banks and for leadership in the evolving U.S. payment system. Pianalto is an executive in residence at the University of Akron. She also serves as a director of the following three other public companies: Eaton Corporation plc, Prudential Financial, Inc. and The J.M. Smucker Company. Director of FirstEnergy since February 2018.

Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Pianalto received a master’s degree in economics from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Akron. She is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Pianalto has extensive experience in monetary policy and financial services, and brings wideranging leadership and operating skills through her former roles with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and experience serving as a director of other public companies. Pianalto joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland in 1983 as an economist in the research department and held progressively more responsible leadership roles before being named president and chief executive officer. As president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, she developed expertise in economic research, supervision of financial institutions, and payment services to banks and the U.S. Treasury. In this role, Pianalto also managed approximately 950 employees. Pianalto’s comprehensive experience qualifies her to provide substantial guidance and oversight to the FirstEnergy Board, particularly in overseeing the Company’s finances.

Business Experience: Retired in 2011 as a Regional Administrator (position held since 2008) of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a federal regulatory agency. Director of FirstEnergy since 2013.

Other Attributes, Experience and Skills: Reyes received his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and his Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico. He has extensive experience in the nuclear field and has held senior leadership positions with the NRC, an independent government agency that regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials such as in nuclear medicine. He joined the NRC in 1978 where he held progressively more responsible leadership roles before being named executive director of operations in 2004, where he managed the agency’s day-to-day operations relating to the safe use of radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while protecting people and the environment. He also served as regional administrator for NRC Region II, overseeing all new commercial nuclear power plant construction in the United States as well as safety and operating plant inspections in the southeast United States. His experience in the nuclear field also provides him substantial experience in physical security and cybersecurity. Reyes retired from the NRC in 2011 with 33 years of service. Reyes’ engineering, physical security and cybersecurity, safety, environmental, regulatory and industry experience is essential to the FirstEnergy Board.