Craig Jackson joined Citizens Energy Group in mid-September as Senior Vice President, Special Projects. He will assume the Chief Financial Officer position upon John Brehm’s retirement at the end of March 2022. Learn more about our newest senior leader in this month’s Q&A.
1. What are you looking forward to about your new role at Citizens Energy Group?I am looking forward to working with and learning from the employees here at Citizens as we continue to fulfill the promise of the Trust.
2. What attracted you to Citizens or to this position?There were several aspects, but if I had to narrow it down to three, it would be the culture, unique Trust structure, and the company’s external reputation.
3. Where did you work before coming to Citizens?Most recently I worked at MasTec Inc., a multinational infrastructure engineering and construction company, as Group Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that I worked for AES Corporation, Dayton Power & Light Company, and PPL Corporation. My roles included Chief Financial Officer of AES’s U.S. Strategic Business Unit and President & CEO of AES U.S. Utilities.
4. What is your educational background?I have a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Wright State University.
5. You moved here from Dayton. What are you enjoying about Indianapolis so far?Right now, we are downtown until we decide which suburb we want to live in. However, I do like the downtown vibe, so who knows, maybe we’ll stay downtown.
6. You served in the U.S. Air Force. Any particular experiences from your military service you’d like to share?My very first assignment was at Goodfellow Air Force Base located in the small town of San Angelo, Texas. As a young airman, I was fortunate to be paired with an honest and candid mentor. My experience was very informative and influential as I learned about (and developed) discipline, teamwork, and camaraderie – all qualities I have tried to carry throughout my career.
I am an avid sports fan, particularly football and basketball. Having grown up in Pennsylvania, my loyalties still lie with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia 76ers, though the Colts and Pacers have grown on me over the past several years. Outside of sports, my family and I enjoy traveling.
8. Tell us about your family.My wife, Sue, and I are approaching our 25th wedding anniversary. We have two daughters: Nora (19) is a sophomore at the University of Dayton, and Kylie (16) is a junior in high school.
9. Any fun facts or anything else you’d like to share?After graduating from Bloomsburg University, I wanted to be stockbroker on Wall Street. My first job out of college was with Stratton Oakmont on Long Island, New York. If the company sounds familiar, it may be because it was portrayed in the movie The Wolf of Wall Street. (Leonardo DiCaprio had the lead role.) I didn’t last long because I didn't think the company was operating in an ethical manner. And fortunately, I’m not in the movie credits.
