Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

Employee Recognition

The devoted staff of the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) is made up of nearly 70 professionals including accountants, attorneys, communicators, educators, economists, engineers, investigators and support staff. These professionals work tirelessly in a combined effort to ensure that the voice of Ohio’s 4.5 million residential utility consumer households is heard. Employees at the OCC are committed to lending a helping hand to fellow co-workers, as well as the community by participating in the Combined Charitable Campaign, Operation Feed and various other charitable events throughout the year.

The OCC greatly values the dedication and hard work of its staff. In 2008, the OCC management along with some staff members took the initiative and designed a program to recognize exceptional employees on a monthly basis. The OCC launched this new program during fiscal year 2008.

Mary Seltzer

Mary Seltzer joined the OCC in January 2008 as an administrative assistant in the Operations Department. In her role with the office, Mary assists the director of operations, fiscal officer and human resources administrator. She also processes all job applicants, sets up interviews, serves as the contracts coordinator and records travel and training for all personnel.

Before joining the OCC, Mary worked for 20 years in the telecommunications industry as a technical writer, public relations/communications manager and project manager.

She received a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in marketing and communications from Franklin University.

Larry Sauer

Larry Sauer joined the OCC in March 2003 as an assistant consumers’ counsel. Larry has handled complex electric and natural gas issues, including distribution rate cases.

Prior to joining the OCC, Larry worked for 24 years as an accountant, analyst and attorney for American Electric Power (AEP) and handled a variety of issues including contract reviews and negotiations, regulatory matters, corporate compliance, property and easement disputes and workers’ compensation.

Larry received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana University and earned his law degree from Capital University.

Beth Hixon

Beth Hixon worked as a utility rate analyst supervisor with the OCC from 1982-1987, returned to the agency in May 1998 and is now the assistant director of analytical services and leader of the OCC’s electric team. In this capacity, Beth manages staff members and provides oversight and coordination of the OCC’s activities on energy issues. In addition, she contributes policy and financial analysis, conducts studies and investigations on utility issues and presents testimony on behalf of the OCC in legal filings before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

Before joining the OCC, Beth worked as a field audit examiner for the Ohio Rehabilitation Service Commission. From 1988-1998 she worked for Berkshire Consulting Services, providing analysis on rate issues to utility consumer advocates.

Beth received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ohio University. In addition to participating in projects with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, she is involved in various professional and community activities serving as past president of Chillicothe Business and Professional Women and currently as a board member for Scioto Valley Habitat for Humanity.

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