News

New leadership for the Northeast Utilities Foundation
July 17, 2007

BERLIN, Connecticut, July 17, 2007 – The Board of Directors of the Northeast Utilities (NU) Foundation is pleased to announce the election of NU Vice President and Secretary Kerry J. Kuhlman as the Foundation’s new president and executive director. She succeeds Ian Wilson, who has accepted a new position outside the Foundation and NU.

"Kerry Kuhlman’s proven leadership and skills will enable the NU Foundation to grow and be an agent of positive change for the benefit of our communities," said Charles W. Shivery, chairman of the NU Foundation and NU’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.

As president, Kuhlman will oversee a Foundation invigorated by:

• a $25 million endowment from NU
• a new strategy of targeted, substantial investments collaboratively developed to effectively address key community challenges
• a refreshed focus on the regional economy, education and environmental leadership and stewardship

Since the January announcement of its endowment, the Foundation’s community investments have been coordinated with those of NU’s operating companies. During this period the Foundation has launched a multi-state "Listening Tour" to engage community leaders to identify and address local, state and regional challenges within its areas of focus. Thus far in 2007, the Foundation has distributed $800,000 in grants and it has completed a five-year, $1 million grant to the Connecticut Science Center.

"Empowered by an endowment that sustains its mission, the NU Foundation is demonstrating its commitment to making thoughtful, strategic investments that positively impact our communities," said Nancy Roberts, president of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy.

Kuhlman began her career with NU in 1981 as a law clerk. She served as a senior legal counsel and as a general manager for NU subsidiary Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) before being promoted to the position of vice president at CL&P in 1994. In 1998, she was named vice president of Western Massachusetts Electric Company and served as president of the company from 1999 until 2004, when she was promoted to vice president of Shared Services for NU with oversight of the corporate functions shared by NU’s regulated operating companies. In 2005, she took on the additional responsibilities of chief compliance officer and corporate secretary of NU.

Kuhlman was born in San Diego, California, and raised in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Connecticut, a law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law and a master’s degree in public policy from Trinity College.

"Kerry Kuhlman understands the vital role of corporate involvement in the economy of a community," said Allan Blair, chief executive officer and president of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, where Kuhlman previously served on the Board of Directors. "She is a brilliant choice to lead the NU Foundation, and we look forward to working with her."

The Northeast Utilities Foundation, established in 1998, has proudly supported charitable partners in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire with total donations of more than $10 million.

Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU), a Fortune 500 energy company based in Connecticut, operates New England’s largest energy delivery system. NU is committed to safety, reliability, environmental leadership and stewardship, and expanding energy options for its more than 2 million electricity and natural gas customers. For more information on Northeast Utilities and our subsidiaries, visit the NU family of Web sites at www.nu.com.

Past News

Science Center gets $1 million grant from NU Foundation
January 18, 2007

Science Center receives $1 million grant from NU Foundation To celebrate the endowment of the NU Foundation by NU, the Foundation announced the largest gift in its history this morning -- a $1 million grant to the Connecticut Science Center, currently under construction in Hartford. The grant will fund a planned physical science gallery and its “Forces in Motion” exhibit. The Science Center will open in 2008 with over 200 interactive exhibits covering 10 different areas of science. “Our goal is to excite visitors about the sciences and engineering and to influence the workforce of the future,” said Dr. Theodore Sergi, president and chief operating officer of the Science Center. Students from the nearby Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in East Hartford tried out prototypes of two exhibits that are planned for the Science Center.

Click here to view the gallery of the event.

Click here to view the video of the event.

Back to Top