James C. Welsh, retiring President, General Manager and Chief Executive of Kissimmee Utility Authority was presented with a Proclamation in his honor during the City of Kissimmee Board of Commissioners Meeting on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. Welsh has served as head of the electric utility since 1982, guiding it through the most significant period of growth in its 117-year history.
Welsh has overseen the expansion of the utility from 85 employees and 18,000 customers to nearly 300 employees and 74,000 customers, becoming the sixth-largest municipal electric utility in Florida. Customer service, reliability, workplace safety, training, financial reporting, system improvement, storm restoration efforts, community outreach, employee development, and communications, as well as environmental stewardship, have all been recognized and honored through KUA under Welsh’s leadership.
Welsh also lead the effort to relocate KUA Administration Building from West Broadway to its current location on 1701 W Carrol Street, which improved significantly the foundation to provide services to our growing community. During devastating hurricanes, including the worst natural disaster KUA has ever seen, Hurricane Charlie, Welsh lead his team to restore power as quickly and safely as possible to the affected community. With some of the biggest growth, Osceola County has seen over the years, Welsh has helped implement positive change for the way the Kissimmee will be managing electricity with the soon to be 100 percent solar energy being used throughout City of Kissimmee’s facilities beginning in 2020.
“I’m not proud, I’m just completely tickled to death and honored to have been able to serve this community and that you’ve allowed me to serve this community. Thank you to all of you, it has made my life wonderful!” – James C. Welsh
Welsh served on the Florida Municipal Power Agency board of directors from 1982-2014, the American Public Power Association board of directors from 1997 to 2003, and as president of the statewide Florida Municipal Electric Association in 1995-1996.
He is a past recipient of APPA’s James D. Donovan Individual Achievement Award. His leadership also led the utility to earn the utility industry’s highest national honor in 2016: APPA’s E.F. Scattergood System Achievement Award.
Positively Osceola would like to thank James C. Welsh for his 36 years of dedication to the Kissimmee Utility Authority and for making a positive difference in Osceola County.
Congratulations on your retirement Mr. Welsh!
