Newberry’s Mike New FMEA Member of The Year

NEWBERRY ‒ Newberry City Manager Mike New has been recognized as the 2023 Member of the Year by the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA). The award was presented to New during FMEA's annual conference in St. Petersburg.

The Member of the Year award is given to an individual or group within an FMEA member utility who exemplifies extraordinary service and dedication to the association and Florida's public power industry.

“Mike has consistently gone above and beyond to advance the value that public power provides to Florida's communities,” said FMEA Executive Director Amy Zubaly. “His unwavering commitment to supporting public power in Newberry and throughout Florida has made numerous contributions to FMEA.”

New has served as Newberry's City Manager since 2014. In his role, he is responsible for ensuring reliable power delivery to the city's public power customers, orderly execution of emergency response measures and providing the city's line workers with the training and resources they need to do their jobs.

New served as FMEA's president from 2015 to 2016 and remains one of the longest-serving executive committee members. His numerous accomplishments include receiving the American Public Power Association's Larry Hobart Seven Hats Award in 2017, which recognizes utility managers who serve in the nation's smaller public power communities and whose variety of management responsibilities extends well beyond those of a manager at a larger utility with a larger staff.

New admitted that he was caught off guard by the award. “FMEA and its members have provided me with much more benefit than I could reciprocate,” said New. “Their sole mission is providing affordable, reliable power to their rate payers. It’s quite an honor to be recognized by your peers, and I am forever grateful.”

“We are incredibly proud of Mike for this well-deserved recognition," said Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe. "Mike's leadership, vision and dedication to public service align perfectly with the city's core values. This award is a testament to his unwavering commitment to our community and public power."

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