_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ JEA
As electricity demand continues to surge amid pressures to decarbonize and an evergrowing population, we speak with Juli Crawford, VP of Financial Services and Jenny McCollum, Director of Procurement and Supply Chain Services. Together, they share how JEA is launching innovative infrastructure projects and introducing new sustainability initiatives while supporting its employees and the wider community.
“ Our mission is to deliver reliable and sustainable utilities that provide value to the communities we serve, guided by a vision of being a trusted partner committed to excellence and innovative utility solutions,” Juli opens.“ Core values of safety, respect, integrity, accountability, and service shape our daily operations, while our strategic direction is defined by three key focus areas: delivering business excellence, earning customer loyalty, and developing an unbeatable team.”
Best in class
JEA’ s culture is grounded in its‘ best in class’ strategy; a holistic, cross-functional approach that ensures coordination across departments, stakeholders, and customers.“ Our planning process is intentionally designed to balance reliability, affordability, and long-term sustainability,” Juli states.“ This requires close collaboration among teams to evaluate system performance, emerging needs, and community expectations, maintaining strong financial and operational metrics, including keeping customer rates consistently below median levels within the state.”
This commitment to disciplined planning and transparent financial stewardship recently earned JEA its first Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for the FY24 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.“ This is an important milestone that reflects both organizational rigor and our dedication to public accountability,” Juli reflects.“ By engaging stakeholders across the enterprise and prioritizing the needs of our customers, JEA continues to advance toward becoming a truly best-in-class utility.”
A key driver of JEA’ s culture is its people, and in return, the company is an employer of choice, investing in the growth and development of its workforce.“ Our learning and development team offers programs like Leadership Essentials on Demand, which provides employees with flexible opportunities to strengthen both personal and professional leadership skills,” Jenny explains.“ We celebrate technical excellence and teamwork through participation in statewide and national skills competitions, including lineman rodeos and water and wastewater events.
“ Recognition and inclusion are equally important components of our culture, supported through internal programs and events such as Veterans Day celebrations and Black History Month observances that honor the diverse contributions of our employees. Also, our comprehensive wellness initiatives further reinforce our peoplefirst approach, highlighted by receiving the Gold Award as one of the First Coast Worksite Wellness Council’ s 2025 Healthiest Companies. Together, these efforts help create an environment where employees feel valued, motivated, and empowered to deliver exceptional service to our community.”
Community outreach is equally important, and JEA focuses on three specific areas: supporting customers, strengthening neighborhoods, and ensuring residents have equitable access to essential resources. During the late 2025 federal shutdown, for instance, JEA waived late fees and eased requirements for short-term payment extensions to help families navigate financial uncertainty.
“ We offer a community-centered approach that prioritizes accessibility, education, and meaningful engagement across the region,” Jenny confirms.“ This includes free in-home energy and irrigation assessments, Senior
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