Michael Huwar, president of the Peoples division of Essential Utilities, has been named co-chair of the Pittsburgh Works Together business-labor alliance.
Huwar succeeds Morgan O’Brien, who will remain on the Pittsburgh Works board after two years as co-chair. Huwar, from Franklin Park, joined Peoples after more than 34 years with Columbia Gas, where he served in numerous director and vice-presidential roles, becoming Columbia’s president and chief operating officer for Pennsylvania and Maryland. Huwar currently serves on the boards of the Marcellus Shale Coalition and the Energy Association of Pennsylvania.
“You have labor and business all working together for the same goals: a robust economy, jobs for everyone, a higher standard of living, a focus on vulnerable neighborhoods, and low-cost energy and all the benefits that implies,” Huwar said.
Huwar will join Tom Melcher, business manager of the Pittsburgh Regional Building and Construction Trades Council, as co-chair of Pittsburgh Works. Melcher welcomed Huwar and praised OʻBrien for his service.
“Morgan laid a solid foundation on which to build, and Mike’s appreciation for the work of organized labor marks him as a leader ready to bridge the gap and make sure that business and labor recognize the crucial bond they share in building a stronger economy in our region,” Melcher said.
The board also announced that Donald Smith, president of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) of Southwestern Pennsylvania, has been named to the Pittsburgh Works Together board.
“Don has played a leading role in strategic economic development efforts in the region,” said Jeff Nobers, executive director of Pittsburgh Works