Orange County Power Authority Continues to Build a Strong Team with Four New Hires

OCPA recruits team members with government, financial and renewable energy experience

IRVINE, Calif. (November 14, 2023) – Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) announced the hiring of four new team members adding to the organization’s experience in local government, financial and sustainability sectors.

“Building our team in core capabilities and expertise is a sign of our stability and strong position for growth,” said Interim CEO Joe Mosca. “Our new team members provide essential functions within the organization that will support our member cities and expand our outreach to key customers and the community.”

Gabe Dima-Smith is the new external affairs manager with a decade of experience building and executing successful relationships within the nonprofit and government sectors. He understands the unique operations of public agencies and regulatory requirements that are important to ensuring efficiency and transparency in the organization’s operations.

Michelle (Lam) Stuart is the newest data analyst to join OCPA, bringing with her a background in the renewable energy industry along with a master’s degree in environmental data science from University of California, Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. Stuart previously worked at Baker Electric Home Energy – a company specializing in residential solar, battery, and heating and air systems.

Joining the accounting team, Leyna Phan assumes a crucial role with OCPA’s FinTech team, concentrating on procure-to-pay and contracting areas to rigorously uphold compliance with the agency’s procurement policies. With a remarkable 15-year background in accounting and financial analysis, Phan brings a wealth of expertise, reinforcing OCPA’s commitment to robust financial practices and efficient procurement processes. 

Gabriele Friedman has joined OCPA as a senior human resources analyst where she will oversee all human resources responsibilities, including retention and recruitment as OCPA’s team continues to grow. She has consulted with public agencies across California on various human resources projects and most recently spent 21 years at the City of Laguna Beach.

Having just reached the one-year anniversary of bringing residential service to Orange County, OCPA is serving more than 200,000 residential customers and 31,000 commercial customers who are actively participating in the community energy movement in the cities of Buena Park, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, and Irvine.

About Orange County Power Authority

The Orange County Power Authority is a not-for-profit public agency that offers clean power at competitive rates, significantly reducing energy-related greenhouse emissions and enabling reinvestment in local energy programs. To learn more, visit www.ocpower.org.