PP&L, Inc. Tuesday (9/29) announced a number of executive appointments and the retirement of one vice president.

William F. Hecht, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said the appointments further strengthen PP&L, Inc.'s management team as the company continues to transform itself for the rapidly evolving competitive electricity marketplace.

The appointments are:

John F. Cotter has been named to the new position of senior vice president-Marketing for PP&L EnergyPlus Co., the company's newly formed electricity sales subsidiary.

John F. Sipics has been named vice president-Delivery Services & Economic Development, replacing Raymond Suhocki, who has elected to retire.

Joanne H. Raphael has been named to the newly created position of vice president-External Affairs.

"With the dramatic changes in our business, it is absolutely essential that we provide people within our organization the opportunity to develop new skills and to bring fresh insights to the organization in new roles," said Hecht. "The appointments we are announcing today provide just such opportunities."

All of the appointments are effective Oct. 1.

John F. Cotter

In his new role as senior vice president-Marketing, Cotter will direct all the marketing activities of PP&L EnergyPlus, which became a separate company from PP&L, Inc. in mid-September. PP&L EnergyPlus sells energy and energy services throughout Pennsylvania and will expand to other states as energy markets are deregulated. He will report to Frank Long, president of PP&L EnergyPlus.

Since February of this year, Cotter served as vice president-Business Markets for PP&L, Inc., and he continued in that position for PP&L EnergyPlus following its formation last month. In that role, he has led PP&L EnergyPlus' sales functions for business and industrial customers. Cotter came to PP&L, Inc. in 1997 as manager of Energy Marketing and Gas Trading. The Chester, Pa., native worked for PECO Energy as a power trader and fuel supply manager prior to joining PP&L, Inc. He also has experience in the oil industry.

Cotter earned an accounting degree from Widener University.

John F. Sipics

In his new position, Sipics will be responsible for the company's electricity delivery services, including the customer contact center, oversight of the tariffs that govern the services that are regulated by the state Public Utility Commission and the company's community and economic development activities. Sipics will report to Frank Long, who also serves as PP&L,Inc.'s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

A 28-year veteran of PP&L, Inc., Sipics most recently has served as vice president-Market Planning in PP&L EnergyPlus. He began his careeras an engineer in the company's System Planning Department. He later served as manager-Resource Planning and manager-System Operation before being promoted to general manager-Power Systems Support. The Lehigh Valley native earned bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Lehigh University.

Joanne H. Raphael

Raphael currently is serving as deputy general counsel for the company. In her new role, she will be responsible for the company's communications and governmental relations. She will continue to report to Robert J. Grey, PP&L, Inc.'s senior vice president and general counsel. Reporting to her will be the company's Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Federal Affairs departments.

A graduate of Wellesley College and Stanford Law School, Raphael has served in PP&L, Inc.'s office of general counsel for 10 years. She began her career at PP&L, Inc. in 1981 as a graduate assistant and worked in a number of positions before leaving to attend law school. She worked for the firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in Philadelphia before returning to PP&L, Inc. as an attorney. Raphael is a native of Sellersville, Pa.

Raymond F. Suhocki

Suhocki is retiring after 25 years with the company. "Ray has served the company very well in a wide variety of positions over the years. We thank him for the important role that he has played in the success of PP&L, Inc. and we wish him well in retirement," said Long.

A Luzerne County native, Suhocki began his PP&L, Inc. career as an engineer in the company's System Planning Department. He also worked in positions in operations and marketing before being named vice president of the company's former Susquehanna Division in 1990. He also served as vice president-System Power before being named to his present position in 1994.

Suhocki earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the Polytechnic Institute, New York.