NERC announced Tuesday that the Board of Trustees has promoted Sonia Mendonca to senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary following a nationwide search.
Mendonca, who joined NERC in 2011, had been serving in an interim capacity since the retirement of former General Counsel Charles Berardesco in September.
Before Berardesco’s departure, Mendonca was vice president, deputy general counsel and director of enforcement, responsible for corporate governance, legal compliance, regulatory activities and oversight of the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program for the ERO Enterprise.
She also served as NERC’s acting general counsel from November 2017 to April 2018, when Berardesco filled in as acting CEO after the resignation of Gerry Cauley and before the appointment of Jim Robb.
In her new role, she will be chief legal adviser to Robb, the board, staff and stakeholders.
“During her eight years at NERC, she has been instrumental in streamlining our enforcement process to make it more effective and efficient, among countless other initiatives,” Robb said in a statement. “Sonia’s dedication to the mission of the ERO Enterprise over the years made her a top candidate for this important job. I know she will continue to excel.”
Mendonca is a graduate of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Law School and the American University Washington College of Law.
— Rich Heidorn Jr.
