2023 System Operator Conference #2

Speaker Biographies

Jason Blake - SERC Mr. Blake is President and CEO for SERC and serves on its Board of Directors. As President and CEO, Mr. Blake leads SERC in its essential mission to reduce risks and ensure a reliable and secure electric grid across 16 southeastern and central states. This area covers approximately 630,000 square miles, a growing population in excess of 91 million, and a broad and diverse range of more than 275 electric utilities and power companies. Mr. Blake leads SE RC’s essential mission with a commitment to operational excellence, innovation, inclusivity, and deploying resources in a manner that makes a positive difference. Before being named President and CEO in 2018, Mr. Blake spent almost nine years serving as the Vice President and General Counse l for SERC’s northern neighbor and sister region, ReliabilityFirst Corporation. During that time, he helped lead RF through its start-up phase and into a sustainable risk-based organization focused on ensuring a reliable and secure electric grid across the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions of the U.S. Prior to this, Mr. Blake developed broad business and regulatory experience through his private practice with large, corporate law firms located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and then in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Blake is a graduate of the Ohio State University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association for the Cleveland Metropolitan Area. He also enjoys the outdoors, a wide variety of music, and spending time with his wife, son, and daughter.

John Taylor – Georgia Power Company John started his service with Georgia Power in Power Generation as a Utilityman in 1985. He then moved into a Switchman position in Coal Handling before leaving Power Generation to start his service in the Distribution Line Department as a helper in 1986. John progressed to the position of Lineman in 1994 and later to Lead Lineman before accepting the role to serve as a Methods & Training Specialist as an instructor in the Lineman Development program in 2005. John transitioned to serve as a Distribution Safety & Health Specialist in 2008 and then moved to Work Force Development as the Training Coordinator for the Supervisor Pipeline program in 2014. John became a Distribution Safety Supervisor in 2015 serving for 5 years before moving into the Safety & Health Coordinator position in 2020. In that role, he served as the HP facilitator for safety-related learning opportunities. John accepted the role to serve as the Human Performance Manager for Power Delivery in June of 2022.

John has been employed with Georgia Power for 38 years and is a Certified Utility Safety Professional. He has been married to his wife Sandra for 38 years and has three daughters, three sons-in-law, three grandchildren, and another on the way. He enjoys being outdoors fishing, hunting, hiking, and spending time with his family.

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