Business

HBCU Grad Named President Of Peoples Energy

Published

11 years ago

July 28, 2015

Oakland Post

Charles Matthews, the new president of Peoples Energy (Courtesy Photo)

By Charles Matthews
Special to the NNPA from The Florida Sentinel

Wisconsin Energy’s (WE) purchase of Integrys was approved and has moved the power company beyond the state’s border. The deal expanded Wisconsin Energy’s footprint, adding a natural gas utility business that serves greater Chicago and parts of Michigan and Minnesota. Wisconsin Energy Corp.’s $9.1 billion deal, created a four-state utility with 4.3 million customers.

Charles Matthews has been named the president of Peoples Energy and a member of the board of directors for its subsidiaries, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas.

As president, Matthews will oversee the daily operational and administrative activities of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas – regulated natural gas utilities serving residential, commercial and industrial customers in Chicago and many of its northern suburbs. Peoples Gas has 1,300 employees and serves approximately 828,000 customers in the city of Chicago. North Shore Gas has 170 employees and serves approximately 160,000 customers in 54 communities within the northern suburbs of Chicago.

Previously, Matthews served as senior vice president – wholesale energy and fuels, customer solutions for We Energies, the largest electric and natural gas utility in Wisconsin. Appointed to that position in January 2012, Matthews led the development and implementation of market resource strategies to minimize the net cost of serving the energy needs of We Energies customers.

In support of We Energies’ electric generation business, Matthews managed interactions with the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), an integrated regional nonprofit entity that operates the bulk power transmission system and associated energy market. He also oversaw the annual purchase and delivery of more than 12 million tons of coal, 35 million dekatherms of natural gas (A dekatherm is equivalent to 10 terms or a million British thermal units) and other related commodities for plant operations.

In support of We Energies’ natural gas business, Matthews oversaw the purchase of an additional 120 million dekatherms of natural gas annually. He also was responsible for developing generation expansion plans, long-term wholesale marketing activities, and maintaining relationships with the company’s largest commercial and industrial customers.

Matthews joined the company in 2006 as vice president – wholesale energy and fuels. He had been president and chief executive officer of Jamaica Public Service Co. Limited, a subsidiary of Mirant Corp., since 2001. During his 30-plus year career in the energy and utility businesses, Matthews also has been associated with Exxon, Georgia Power Co. and Southern Co. At Exxon, he managed and negotiated service contracts for production operations in the Gulf of Mexico. At Georgia Power, he held a variety of positions in regulatory affairs and finance. At Southern Co., he was director – contract administration and financial services, and also served in external affairs and wholesale energy.

A native of Macon, Ga., Matthews earned his bachelor’s degree in economics in 1978 from Talladega College in Alabama, and a master’s degree in finance from Atlanta University School of Business. He also completed the Executive Program in Utility Finance at the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Matthews previously served as a director on the boards of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee; the Next Door Foundation; Black Arts Think Tank (BATT); Three Harbors Council, Boy Scouts of America; and the American Coal Council, where he also served as board chair. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and The Boule. He and his wife, Brunetta are parents of two adult sons.

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

3 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC