Academic Credentials
  • M.B.A., Business Administration, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2008
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer, Ontario, #100161408
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
Professional Honors
  • PG&E Recognition of Achievement – 2021 Wildfire Hardening PMO Program Performance
  • PG&E Recognition of Achievement – 2019 Wildfire Hardening PMO Program Development and Execution
  • PG&E Recognition of Achievement – 2017 General Rate Case Forecast Submission for Gas Distribution
  • OPG Business Excellence Achievement Award
  • Hatch Energy - Consulting Engineers of Ontario “Award of Excellence”
  • Hatch Global - Roy Curtis Project Excellence Award

Mr. Tekeste is a Principal with Exponent's Construction Consulting Practice where he applies his experience and expertise in managing programs for gas and electric utilities. Mr. Tekeste has extensive experience in program management, project engineering, and finance for major utilities. He has a proven track record of success in leading cross-functional teams, managing large-scale projects, and driving operational excellence. Mr. Tekeste has worked for leading companies such as PG&E, where he was a Program Manager for the Electric Transmission Maintenance Program. In this role, he managed $310M 5-yr cross-functional program to re-coat approximately 6,000 lead-based transmission structures and mitigate environmental risks. He established contract management and order controls governance processes, negotiated unit price contracts, and led yearly and long-term financial planning cycles. Mr. Tekeste also led the development of a custom, stand-alone, and comprehensive Scheduling/Project Management Tool.

Mr. Tekeste also worked as a manager for the Gas Distribution Capital Program Management at PG&E, where he was responsible for $700 million of Gas Distribution Capital portfolio of projects. He led the preparation and reporting to the Gas Distribution Executive Steering Committee and initiated and led recovery plans for Legacy Cross Bore and Copper Services programs. 

Mr. Tekeste holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geological Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and a Certificate of Leadership and Management from the University of California, Berkeley. He has also completed the Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies Certificate at Stanford University and is currently pursuing a Construction Management Certificate at Columbia University. John is a certified Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional.