Adelphi University First John J. Phelan, Jr. Fellow to Speak on Energy Independence and Sustainability

Robert B. Catell ’99 (Hon.)

Adelphi University’s Hagedorn Lecture on Corporate Social Responsibility will feature the first John J. Phelan, Jr. Fellow of the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, Robert B. Catell ’99 (Hon.), retired KeySpan chairman and CEO. Mr. Catell will answer questions from Adelphi President Robert A. Scott on the topics of “Energy Independence and Sustainability” as part of the Hagedorn Lecture on Corporate Social Responsibility on Wednesday, February 26, at 6:00 p.m. The event, part of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Willumstad School of Business, is free and open to the public and will be held in the Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom in the Ruth S. Harley University Center, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY. The Robert B. Willumstad School of Business will mark the 50-year anniversary of being chartered, during its 1964–1965 academic year, by the State of New York as a degree-granting school, with a series of events and profiles of its alumni.

As a Phelan fellow, Mr. Catell will share his expertise and insights with students, faculty, and the broader community, enriching the overall educational experience. The fellow program was established in 2013 in memory of one of Adelphi’s distinguished alumni, John J. Phelan, Jr. ’70, ’87 (Hon.), to honor his lifetime of service and generous support for his alma mater. Mr. Phelan was the former chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Mr. Catell has more than 50 years of experience in the energy utility industry. Currently, he serves as chairman of the Board of JJT Energy, an energy services company providing natural gas on Long Island and New York City to the residential, commercial and industrial markets. He is the former KeySpan chairman and CEO, chairman of National Grid US, and deputy chairman of National Grid plc. Mr. Catell serves on the Board of many organizations: a director of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), chairman of the Board of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) at Stony Brook University, New York State Smart Grid Consortium, KEYERA Energy Management Ltd., and the New York Energy Policy Institute’s Advisory Council (NYEPI).

Additionally, he is the former Chairman of the American Gas Association, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Long Island Association, Partnership for New York City, Inc., U.S. Energy Association (USEA), Business Council of NYS, the Advisory Board of the City College of New York’s School of Engineering and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. He received both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering from City College of New York.

Since its inception in 2003, Adelphi’s annual lectureship series on Corporate Social Responsibility has enabled the University to invite prominent speakers to address pressing issues of the day. The series was made possible through a generous contribution from Horace Hagedorn ’01 (Hon.) and wife Amy Hagedorn ’05 (Hon.), and fits in with the University’s overall goal of creating a culture of conscience among students, faculty, staff, administrators, and local community members.

To learn more about the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, visit https://business.adelphi.edu/.