Hazel O'Leary

Hazel O'Leary is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Blaylock & Partners, L.P., a New York investment-banking firm for which she runs day-to-day operations. Prior to her commitment to B&P, O'Leary served as the seventh U.S. Secretary of Energy. She has practiced law, was a partner in the consulting group at Coopers & Lybrand, formed an energy project development-consulting firm - O'Leary & Associates - with her late husband Jack, and was a senior executive at Northern States Power Company.

From 1993 to 1997, O'Leary served as U.S. Secretary of Energy, overseeing an agency that then employed 160,000 federal employees and contractors, operated 27 laboratories and had an annual budget of $21 billion. During her tenure, the staff was reduced by 27 percent and the 4-year budget was reduced by $10 billion. This saving was achieved and validated by Congressional auditors.

As an executive at Northern State Power, a utility holding company, O'Leary focused on actions to generate clean, reliable, cost-effective energy to enable the company to compete in restructured energy markets in the U.S. and globally. Part of her assignment included establishing the framework for the start-up of NSP's independent power subsidiary, now ranked 6th in the world.

As an advisor to the President and a member of the National Security Council, O'Leary framed the technical debate for reducing global nuclear danger. For her work to end nuclear testing in the United States, O'Leary was the recipient of the prestigious Avrell Harriman Award. In the controversial area of nuclear waste clean up, she was applauded for her ability to bring together contentious groups in more than 15 states to accelerate the removal of waste. Through her leadership, state and local officials, citizens, environmentalists and business people, resolved their conflict over technology, financing and timelines, thereby reducing costs and accelerating the clean up at more than 700 nuclear waste sites.

O'Leary's national and international relationships are cemented by her reputation for respecting customer needs, understanding risks and rewards and identifying mutual needs to accomplish tough tasks.

Additionally, O'Leary serves on the Board of Directors of UAL Corporation, the parent company of United Airlines, AES Corporation, a global energy company, Alchemix Corporation, a waste management and coal technology company and Scottish Annuity & Life Holdings, LTD, an insurance holding company. Her charitable board work includes the World Wildlife Fund, Morehouse College and The Andrew Young Center for International Development.