Citizens CEO Named Business Leader of the Year

(photo courtesy of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce)

The president and chief executive officer of Citizens Energy Group in Indianapolis has been named the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year. Jeffrey Harrison will be presented with the honor at the chamber’s annual awards banquet in November.

Chamber President Kevin Brinegar says Harrison has a strong sense of community responsibility.

“His compassion, intelligence and thoughtfulness are hallmarks of his decision-making for Citizens Energy consumers and employees, as well as for the Greater Indianapolis community efforts he and the company support,” said Brinegar.

The chamber notes under Harrison’s watch, Citizens Energy implemented a policy of reconnecting/not turning off the vital water service for nonpayment before any government moratorium was issued.

“If we look at those customers who are struggling, I’ve walked more than my share of a mile in their shoes. … I’ve been on free and reduced lunch – grew up on food stamps and fairly poor. I get firsthand the struggles that take place in some of these households,” Harrison shares.

Harrison began his current roles with Citizens Energy in mid-2015 and has been with the utility since 2003.

Citizens Energy delivers water to an eight county Indianapolis area as well as both natural gas and wastewater services to Marion County. That reach covers more than 800,000 people.

Earlier this month, the chamber named 120 Water CEO Megan Glover the Dynamic Leader of the Year and State Senator Mark Messmer the Government Leader of the Year. In August, Greater Lafayette was named the Community of the year.