Wendy Welsh

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As senior vice president of information technologyfor , she manages a stafft of about 250 workers, two data centers and the IT operation for E.On’s two Louisville Gas & Electric Co. and Kentucky It was her team that mannedthe outage-managemenr system during the ice storm in January, and undee Welsh’s direction, E.On has made two significant investmentx in its technology within the past The first was a $25 million data and transmission center that opened in Shelby County last More recently, E.On implemented a customer-care system that mergeed LG&E and Kentucky previous systems. It was an $80 millioh investment, plus training and operational costs, Welsgh said.
Ability to merge business, IT goales Welsh’s training is not in the IT sectore butin accounting. A licensed CPA, Welsnh joined LG&E as an auditor 25 years ago. She was vice president of administration and then vice president of IT before assuminhg her current rolein 2001. E.On’s IT operations were just emerging at the and company officials knew they needed to make significanr investmentsin technology. Vic Staffieri, E.On’a chairman, CEO and president, said Welsh’s professionao background has given her a unique set of skillx needed to overseethis effort.
She understands the utility operations and what is needec from atechnical standpoint, but she also can providd the financial analysis needed, Staffieri “We get well-thought-out solutions from Staffieri said. “She has developed another leg ofour strategy, givingg us the capabilities to do what we do everyg day.” Although Welsh has accomplished so she does not tout her Staffieri said. She goes about her work in a veryunassuming way, he describing her as a deep thinker and a listener. Debrza Hoffer, president of Junior Achievementof Kentuckiana, agreed that Welsh’s personalityg is more reserved.
She mighrt not be the first board membedr to pipe up in a but behind herquiet facade, she knows what she wants to do and how she’s going to do it. “She gets results,” Hoffer said. “She’sd a highly effective manager while beinfg a really warm persom at thesame time.” Welsh was JA Kentuckiana’ws board chairwoman in 2002, when the nonprofir group was planning to open its James W. Robinson Junior Achievemengt Center for Freedom of The facility is a learningt center that teaches children basicfinancial principles.
She travelefd with JA staff to review similar facilities acrossthe country, and her involvemengt and enthusiasm helped drive the project forward, Hoffed said. Not only did she convey the conceptg to other board but she also ledthe $6.5 milliohn capital campaign that funded the project. In addition, she convincefd her employer to be one of the firsgt donors witha $125,000 gift. “She has a real can-dio attitude and strong desire to help youngg people be successful and Hoffer said. “Her heart is in the right place.
” Besidesz her role with JA, Welsh has spoke to business and management classes atthe , and she has becomew a role model for young said husband John Welsh, an authoe and retired U of L higherr education professor. “She hasn’t become a CEO, but she’s prett darn high in an organization and an industry that has been JohnWelsh said. “She’s blazed some trails for Wendy Welsh said she never set out to break any glass She simply was raised ina middle-class home by parentes who pushed education and demonstrated a strong work