The Johnson City Power Board will consider six candidates for the position of president and CEO of the utility.

The Power Board’s board of directors met Thursday morning to narrow down its list from 10 candidates to the final six, who will be brought to the utility for an interview.

The list of candidates was pared down from 49 original applicants by the Power Board’s search committee, which conducted a blind search following the resignation of Homer G’Fellers, who served with the utility for 38 years.

Brent Kitzmiller, the utility’s chief financial officer, has been serving as interim president and CEO since July 1.

The finalists are:

- Ernest Bowles, who serves as assistant general manager of the Clinton Utilities board in Clinton.

- Jeff Dykes, who serves as general manager of Newport Utilities in Newport.

- Mark Eades, the JCPB’s chief operations officer.

- Brian Solsbee, who serves as general manager of Etowah Utilities in Etowah.

- Jack Suggs, who serves as electrical director of the city of Oak Ridge Electric Department in Oak Ridge.

- Robert White, the JCPB’s chief public relations officer.

Bowles has served as general manager of Clinton Utilities since 1999. He has been with the utility since 1986, and has served in a number of capacities, including engineer and director of engineering and operations.

A licensed professional engineer, Bowles received his bachelor of science in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Dykes has served as general manager of Newport Utilities since 2011, following a career at Trigen Kansas City Energy/Veolia Energy North America and a short stint as general manager of Elizabethton Electric System.

Dykes received a bachelor of arts degree from Milligan College.

Eades has been with the Power Board since 1987. He has served as manager of engineering, assistant manager of engineering and planning and operations engineer.

Prior to serving with the Power Board, Eades, a certified power executive, served with CRS Sirrine in Kingsport and Burlington Industries in Clarksville, Va.

Eades received his bachelor of science in electrical engineering degree from Tennessee Tech University.

Solsbee has served as general manager of Etowah Utilities since 2006. Prior experience includes serving as project manager for Knoxville Utilities board, project manager for Johnson Controls Inc., and training officer with the Air Force.

A professional engineer, Solsbee received his bachelor of science in civil engineering degree from the Air Force Academy and a master of science in civil engineering degree from the University of Tennessee.

Suggs as served with the city of Oak Ridge since 1989. He also worked for the city of Wichita Falls Public Works Department in Texas.

Suggs received a bachelor of science in engineering technology degree from Texas Tech University and a master of science in civil engineering degree from Texas A&M University.

White has served with the Power Board since 1984.

Before serving as chief public relations officer, White served in a number of roles at the utility, including meter reader, assistant stockkeeper and manager of maintenance, purchasing and transportation department.

White received a bachelor of business administration in operations management degree from East Tennessee State University and a master of business administration degree from Milligan College.

The board is expected to begin conducting interviews by the end of October.