Leadership

Dick Peffley, who joined the BWL in 1976, was named General Manger by the BWL Board of Commissioners on September 22, 2015. He previously served as Interim General Manager in 2006-2007 and January to September 2015. Peffley also serves as a board member for the Michigan Municipal Electric Association (MMEA).

Peffley’s leadership over the BWL, Michigan’s largest publicly owned utility with approximately 100,000 electric customers and 58,000 water customers, is paving the way to a coal-free cleaner energy future with commitments to an expanded renewable energy portfolio and carbon neutrality.

Peffley’s experience at the BWL is extensive, having served in many capacities in the electric and water utilities. In January 2022, he oversaw contract negotiations between General Motors and Ultium for BWL to provide power for a new battery cell manufacturing plant, a transformational $2.6 billion investment that will support electric vehicle production in Lansing for the next generation. He oversaw the development and construction of the $500 million natural gas-fired Delta Energy Park, and in 2021, successfully renegotiated a coal contract which resulted in $52 million of savings over two years.

Peffley was the project manager for the $182 million natural gas-fired REO Cogeneration Plant and Headquarters which came in on time and on budget in 2013. He was the project manager for the $23 million repair and refurbishment of the Wise Road Water Conditioning Plant following a chemical accident.

Peffley oversaw the completion to remove all lead water service lines in 2016, the second utility in the country to do so, and led the Water Department’s efforts that distributed a record-breaking 1 billion gallons of water in a single month to customers during the heat wave in July 2013. Peffley was also the project manager for the $20 million Chilled Water Plant, which came in on time and on budget, named after his father, BWL retiree Roy E. Peffley.

He previously served as Executive Director of Operations and was Plant Manager at the Erickson Power Station and Eckert Power Station.

Heather Shawa has been with the Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) since 2015 and currently serves as the utility’s Assistant General Manager. Before being appointed to the Assistant General Manager, she served as the utility's Chief Financial Officer (CFO). She is responsible for overseeing the company’s supply chain, information technology, customer operations, business development, public relations, accounting, finance, and planning functions. Shawa oversaw the bond offering for the $500 million Delta Energy Park that replaced BWL’s coal-fired power station and served as executive sponsor for the $70M BSmart corporate technology program which added advanced metering, customer information system, GIS, and advanced distribution/outage management system.

She serves as the BWL corporate sponsor for ATHENA WIN and Advancing Women in Energy (AWE) memberships that provide women with mentorship and professional development opportunities. She also serves as the Board Vice President of Peckham Inc., a non-profit vocational rehabilitation organization that provides job training opportunities for people with significant disabilities and other barriers to employment. She previously served as a member of the City of Lansing’s Mayor’s Financial Health Team, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Board, the Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region Board of Directors, and is an active member of the Lansing Regional Chamber Political Action Committee.

Before joining BWL, Shawa served as the CFO and Vice President of Operations for Demmer Corporation, a privately held manufacturing company that served defense, automotive and aerospace industries. She was also part of the executive management of Demmer Investments, INC., which handled the acquisitions and portfolio for the Demmer family, which is still in operation today. 

Shawa received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Northwood University and a Master’s of Science degree in business from Central Michigan University. She is a proud graduate of Waverly High School. In 2023, Shawa was recognized by Crain's Detroit as a Notable Leader for her work in the energy industry.

Flowers joined BWL in 2008 and is the utility’s Executive Director of Human Resources, overseeing labor relations & employment activities, health & wellness, benefits, payroll, organizational change management, training & development, safety, security and emergency management. Flowers previously worked in human resources for both Accident Fund Insurance Company of America and Sparrow Health System, as well as taught human resources at Lansing Community College. Flowers also serves in a number of community capacities, including as trustee on the Ingham Intermediate School District Board of Education, President of Peckham Industries Board of Directors, advisory board member for the Wharton Center of Performing Arts. He previously served on the boards for Capital Region Community Foundation, Lansing Community College Foundation and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan. Flowers has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northwood University and a Master’s degree in Labor Relations & Human Resources from Michigan State University.

Rob Hodge joined the Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) in 2008 and serves as the utility’s Chief Operations Officer. Before being appointed to the Chief Operations Officer, Hodge served as the Director of Electric, Steam, and Chilled Water Production. He was also the Project Director for Delta Energy Park, a role in which he was responsible for commissioning and operations of the $500 million Delta Energy Park that replaced BWL’s coal-fired power station. 

He serves as a commissioner on the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA), an action agency aiding municipal-owned utilities in the planning, development, and management of energy assets. 

Hodge received his Bachelor of Business in Administration from Northwood University.

Matus joined the BWL in 2011 and serves as the utility’s General Counsel. His background with the BWL includes serving as the Manager of Environmental Services, as well as Director of Technical Services. Before joining the BWL, he spent 25 years as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Grand Valley State College and his Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University. His current community service includes serving as a board member for Habitat for Humanity Capital Region and formerly for Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region.