Former Retail Supplier CEO Among Newest ERCOT Board Members

The Public Utility Commission of Texas announced the selection of Zin Smati, Bill Flores, and Elaine Mendoza as directors of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas Board.

The ERCOT Board Selection Committee named the new directors and simultaneously designated Mr. Flores to serve as Vice Chair. They will join Mr. Paul Foster and Dr. Carlos Aguilar in guiding ERCOT affairs alongside the Chairman of the PUCT, the Public Counsel at the Office of Public Utility Counsel, and the CEO of ERCOT.

Zin Smati is a corporate director and former president and CEO with over 35 years of U.S. and international experience in the electricity and renewable energy industries. His experience includes over 10 years of service as President and CEO of GDF Suez NA, based in Houston, Texas. Smati also served as CEO of LifeEnergy. He is currently a member of the board of directors of SNC-Lavalin, a public global engineering and services group, and Boralex, a public energy company.

Bill Flores is an entrepreneur, business leader, and public policy leader. He most recently served as the U.S. Representative for the 17th Congressional District of Texas from 2011 through 2021. Mr. Flores has also served in board governance and senior leadership positions for numerous public and private entities.

Elaine Mendoza is founder, President & CEO of Conceptual MindWorks, Inc., a medical informatics company located in San Antonio. She has been involved in community initiatives revolving around the expansion of educational opportunities, health care, and economic growth both locally and nationally. She is the immediate past Chairman of, and currently serves on the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System. She has previously served on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.