Board of Advisors

Robert Robinson is Chairman of the District of Columbia’s Citizens’ Utility Board (CUB). The CUB was re-established in 2015, but has a long history since 1978 of advocating on behalf of DC ratepayers, taxpayers and residents.  Rob started in DC when he was  hired onto the Marion Barry for Mayor campaign in 1977 and worked as an administrator for the Executive Office of the Mayor agencies. (Xanax) He managed successful Council campaigns and a council member’s staff. The currrent DC CUB organization’s mission contains several components: to ensure the voices of DC ratepayers, taxpayers and residents are not only heard, but acted upon; to promote effective public engagement for public benefit; and to advocate for fair, transparent, affordable and progressive reforms of those entities that deliver DC’s electric, water, natural gas, and telecommunication services.

 

Larry A. Ortega is the head of One Million New Internet Users and is recognized as one of the foremost authorities in America’s digital divide  issues.  A 35 year Information Technology (IT) veteran, Mr. Ortega designed a training model that brings technology training to communities.  He attributes his success to the partnerships built with leaders of non-profit organizations, schools, libraries and community.  In 2011, Mr. Ortega brought together leaders from Asian, African American and Latino communities to launch in cooperation with school, business and civic leaders an initiative called One Million NIU(New Internet Users).  The One Million NIU consortia became the sole minority-led group to be awarded a grant from the California Public Utilities Commission’s CASF.