Gregory DeStasi, former engineer at Sterling Municipal Light Department, has taken the position of general manager of Paxton Municipal Light Department. He replaces Diane Dillman who had held the position since 1998 and retired at the end of October.
DeStasi joined Sterling six and half years ago directly out of UMASS/Lowell where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. During his last weeks at Sterling, the general manager position became vacant and he served as interim general manager. In the end, however, he decided to take the position in Paxton.
"I think Paxton is a much better fit for me at this point in my career," he said. "It’s a better size and I am comfortable with the challenges it presents." Until now, DeStasi’s background has been in operations and engineering, and he is looking forward to learning the administrative end of running an electrical utility. Dillman, although officially retired, has been helping in the office to fill the void of an employee out on sick leave and helping DeStasi make the transition.
"Diane is fantastic," said DeStasi. "I really appreciate her help and also the help of the area’s other public power managers. If I have a question, I pick up the phone and they’re always willing to help."
DeStasi is married with two small children and lives in Athol.
Diane Dillman started her career in public power in June of 1978 handwriting the bills part time under the direction of former manager Harold Smith. She started doing some of the accounting and then went to managing the office overall. She became general manager in 1998 when Smith retired.
When she finishes up at the light department, she plans to spend more time with family and friends, work in her garden and enjoy her two dogs recently adopted through an internet placement service. She does volunteer work in town recycling.
Dillman says she won’t miss the ice storms or some of the other challenges she had to face, but she will miss the public power community.
"My job was so much easier than I thought it would be when I started because of the other public power managers in the area who were so supportive," she said. "And I never felt I was treated any differently because I was a woman in a traditional male job. I will miss being a part of this industry."