Join Fels Distinguished Fellow Joseph Pierce for an Executive Leadership Dialogue with special guest Melanie McCottry, Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Communications for the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW).
About Melanie McCottry:
Melanie McCottry is the chief of staff and senior vice president, external effairs and communications for the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), the nation’s largest municipally owned natural gas utility, serving over a half a million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the City of Philadelphia.
Ms. McCottry began her energy career with Philadelphia Gas Works in 2009. Her 14 years of service have seen her steadily advance through the ranks of PGW, and in January of 2023, she was promoted to her present position. In her new role, she contributes to all issues related to the company’s daily operations along with leading on community and legislative priorities that communicate PGW’s core objectives of safety, reliability, affordability, and environmental responsibility to its more than 500,000 customers.
Ms. McCottry is a graduate of Temple University with both a degree in political science and a Master of Education in Sports Administration. She also holds an Executive Master of Business and Administration (MBA) from Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia.
She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School which empowers young adults (17–20-year-olds) to develop skills and connect to opportunities by fostering an environment of love, support, and respect for their whole person. Students graduate high school and successfully transition to college and career as critically conscious leaders, committed to positive change for themselves and their communities.
Ms. McCottry resides in the East Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. She is a member of the Leadership Council of the American Gas Association, a 2016 Leadership Philadelphia Fellow, and a 2011 graduate of the Urban League of Philadelphia Leadership Forum. Before relocating to Philadelphia, Melanie was raised in Cleveland, Ohio and remains a committed Cleveland sports fan with Midwestern sensibilities.
About the series: Executive Leadership Dialogue, a lunch series hosted by Fels Distinguished Fellow Joseph Pierce, introduces students to public sector leaders who will share their perspectives on leadership, mentorship, and executive management. The lunches are small by design and include both MPA and Executive MPA students, allowing them to gain insight and learn valuable lessons on public sector leadership.
