BES Expands Executive Consulting Team with Utility Industry Leaders
Bent Ear Solutions (BES), a leader in helping organizations optimize their existing technology to achieve comprehensive situational awareness for critical decision support, is proud to announce the addition of two distinguished professionals to its Executive Consulting Team. These new members bring decades of experience and proven leadership in utility operations, further strengthening BES’s ability to provide expert, mission-driven consulting support to utility clients.
The BES Executive Consulting Team was established in 2023 when Craig Fugate, former FEMA administrator, joined the BES team, reflecting a shared passion for enhancing resilience, preparedness, and response. Mike King, Ret. Police Chief, joined shortly after, emphasizing the need for modernization and technological advancement in threat analysis, law enforcement, and emergency communications. Additionally, Jim Featherstone, who has served as an advisor to BES since its founding in 2017, has transitioned to an Executive Consultant position after completing his return to serve the city of LA during the devastating wildfires in January. Jim brings a wealth of experience as the former Chief of the LA Fire Department and the former Managing Director of the city’s Emergency Management Department. The Executive Consulting Team provides clients with access to operationally tested experience and expertise in their respective industries. Comprised of industry leaders in emergency management, utilities, and law enforcement.
“Our executive consultants don’t just advise, they’ve lived the roles our clients are in. They understand their mission because they’ve led it,” said CEO Chris McIntosh. “This expansion of our team reflects our commitment to putting real-world operational excellence at the center of every engagement with our valued clients.”
Alan Bradshaw Joins BES as an Executive Consultant – Utilities
Alan Bradshaw joins BES as an Executive Consultant with over four decades of leadership experience in the energy sector, including a 42-year tenure at Dominion Energy. During his tenure, he oversaw operations centers, storm response coordination, and mutual aid efforts, culminating in his appointment as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. Alan has also led restoration efforts post-retirement at Holland Power Services as Vice President of Utility Relations. Additionally, Alan has served on key industry committees, including EEI’s Mutual Assistance & Emergency Preparedness Executive Committee and AEIC’s Operations Committee.
“Throughout my decades of experience in utility operations and storm response, one truth has always remained: success in high-stakes environments relies on trusted partnerships and clear situational awareness. Joining the BES team allows me to continue my mission of helping organizations strengthen both and to be prepared for the next challenge that arises.”
Beth Bartholomew is Welcomed by BES as an Executive Consultant – Utilities
Beth Bartholomew brings over 30 years of leadership experience to BES, where she will be serving as an Executive Consultant. She has worked with investor-owned and municipal utilities across North America to advance emergency management capabilities, create new regulatory frameworks, and gain step-change improvements in operational effectiveness. Her passion lies in aligning technology, governance, and teams to deliver sustained results across complex, mission-critical environments.
“A persistent challenge for utilities is how to derive intelligence from the continuous barrage of data they manage every day – to improve situational awareness, drive resource efficiency, and strengthen reliability and safety. I am excited to bring BES’ deep expertise in data management and analytics, along with the team’s practical know-how gained from decades of leading large-scale incident response, to help clients optimize their information systems and assets, better serving their customers.”
Driving Results Through Experience
From national disaster response to complex utility and infrastructure challenges, the BES Executive Consulting Team has been there. Now, they stand ready to support our clients, aligning strategic vision with grounded, real-world implementation that improves performance, efficiency, and resilience.
Contact us to discover how our Executive Consulting Team can assist your agency or organization.
