09/04/2021
AERI is excited to announce the appointment of Bob Bell as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 September 2021. Prior to joining AERI, Bob managed PG&E’s Transmission Vegetation Management program where he set strategic direction of a program with a $195MM budget and was responsible for managing critical corridors in compliance with state and federal regulatory compliance and in a safe, reliable and environmentally sustainable fashion. Bob’s career at PG&E spanned nearly two decades, and in the last twelve years, he led a professional team and oversaw the operations of approximately 500 contractors in the safe and reliable delivery of bulk electric power.
Bob joined PG&E after a significant career with Public Service Company of New Mexico, where he was charged with responsibility for all aspects of PNM’s Vegetation Management Department.
During his tenure at PNM, the Vegetation Team reduced tree-related outage duration by 90% helping the utility earn the status of most reliable utility in the United States as recognized by the
Edison Electric Institute. And prior to working with PNM, Bob led the vegetation inspection team at City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri.
“Our lengthy search for a CEO led us to a perfect candidate in Bob Bell. In addition to having an academic background in both Forestry and Business, Bob has a proven track record of identifying
opportunities for improvement and effecting positive change to accomplish those objectives. He is the right person to move AERI forward as AERI expands in the utility vegetation management
industry. I am extremely happy to have Bob join and lead our very talented team,” said Akan Ismaili, Chairman of AERI.
Bob’s leadership in the UVM industry is very well known. He recently Chaired the North American Transmission Forum VM Practices Group, is a Past President of the Utility Arborist
Association, a Past President of Think Trees New Mexico, a past officer of the Midwest Chapter of the ISA, Past President of the Missouri Community Forestry Council, Past Board Member of he New Mexico Highlands University Natural Resources Advisory Board and a participant in the Edison Electric Institute’s Vegetation Management Task Force. Bob has been involved in numerous industry-leading public speaking programs and is the author of multiple publications concerning vegetation management. Robert Novembri, President of Novembri Consulting, said:
“I have worked with Bob on both state and national initiatives. Within and throughout the utility industry he has a strong reputation for industry leadership and in building best in class UVM
programs. He will be a great addition to the AERI team.”
Over the years, Bob has taken a lead role in modernizing utilities and their approach to vegetation management. He has consulted with numerous utilities across the country, including Philadelphia
Electric Co., Metropolitan Edison, Dayton Power & Light, Trans-Alta Utilities, Potomac Edison, Wisconsin Utilities Electric Association, New England Electric System, Conrail, Washington Water Power and Indiana Power & Light. Industry leading geospatial technologist Nick Ferguson, founder of GEO-CEO said: “Bob Bell is a well respected thought-leader in the UVM industry and an outspoken advocate for the role of technology as a catalyst for the progressive transformation of T&D vegetation management programs. Data and analytics offer considerable value to the industry and I'm pleased that Bob will continue to lead this charge.”
“I really feel as though my career has led me to this place in this moment,” says Bell. “I am privileged to have spent so much of my career either leading or working alongside some of the
strongest teams and brightest individuals in the industry. I’ve learned volumes from each of them. In the case of my tenure with PG&E, it has literally and figuratively been a trial by fire. Yet
recently, the women and men of the VM Transmission Team just delivered their 12th consecutive year of 100% Federal Compliance and 5th consecutive year of 100% compliance with State UVM
regulations and PG&E performance standards. AERI has the team and the technology in place to achieve equally impressive results for our company and our clients; and I look forward to being a
part of it.”
As a recognized thought leader and advocate for building UVM programs that focus on safety, reliability, efficiency and compliance, Bob’s work history and ethics fit perfectly with AERI’s own stated Vison, Mission, and Values. Bob isn’t shy about pointing out that early in his career, he was the one wielding the chainsaw and dragging brush. “It’s that personal connection to the work performed in the field that gives me the confidence to know that Bob will always stay focused on the health and safety of our crews,” said Akan.
Asomeo Environmental Restoration Industry, “AERI”, founded in 2018, provides utility vegetation management and defensible space services from its headquarters in Sacramento, California.
