Distinguished Engineer Citations

John J. Bick

Distinguished Engineer

2023

Degree

B.S. Construction Engineering Technology, 1989

Citation

At time of Nomination in 2023

John J. Bick serves as the chairman of the board and chief commercial officer of Priority Power Management, Inc., where he leads the strategy and business development of the firm, as well as providing hands-on expertise to large clients.   Priority Power provides comprehensive energy solutions to deliver reliable, economic, and sustainable energy solutions to commercial and industrial customers in North America. With more than 33 years of extensive energy expertise and innovative leadership, Bick is a highly respected industry leader in regulated and deregulated energy markets, energy procurement, risk management and structuring, utility-class energy infrastructure and private networks, integration of thermal and renewable power generation supply, and energy transition strategies, all aligned with customers goals and objectives.

Bick was born into a military family in San Antonio, Texas, and lived in Turkey, Florida and back to San Antonio.  After his father retired from the Air Force, the family moved to Midland, Texas in 1979 during his middle school age.  Midland became Bick's hometown where he played football for Spike Dykes at Midland Lee and developed long lasting friendships that continue to flourish today.  His upbringing from a very early age taught him important life values of embodying high character, respect, discipline, responsibility, and a strong work ethic in everything he does.

In 1984 at the age of 17, Bick enrolled at Texas Tech, initially in computer science, and later switching to construction engineering technology.  Bick would become the president of Tech's student chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, where he held several officer positions.  Bick was a first-generation college student and graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in construction engineering technology.
After graduation, Bick joined Texas Utilities Electric Company (TU Electric), as a customer service representative in Mesquite, Texas.  In 1992, he was transferred to Fort Worth as a senior account manager responsible for AllianceTexas, a 27,000 acre-master-planned industrial, mixed-use and residential Hillwood development anchored by the world's first industrial airport.  He also served as city manager for suburban cities surrounding Fort Worth with responsibility for regulatory and rate filings, relationships with the city council, mayor, city staff, and influential business leaders of the community.

In 1996, Bick transferred to Dallas as a key account executive with TXU Electric.  A year later, he was promoted to manager of strategic accounts with responsibility for the company's largest customers representing $2.2 B in revenue.  Under Bick's leadership, TXU Electric was recognized by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) as the most outstanding National Accounts organization for two consecutive years.  

In 2000, Bick was named director of strategic business development at TXU Energy Services, the unregulated affiliate of the utility, where he directed the origination, development, and closing of long-term comprehensive energy outsourcing agreements with strategic accounts.  

Using his knowledge and experience gained from TXU, Bick developed a business plan to offer customers an outsourced energy services solution.  He went back to his hometown of Midland and pitched the business plan to a former TXU colleague and a group of oil and gas executives that had started an electricity aggregator – Priority Power Management.  A lunch at the Petroleum Club ended with a handshake, and PPM Dallas, Ltd. was formed to be the growth engine behind implementing Bick's business plan with Bick being named managing principal of the firm.

Under Bick's plan and leadership, the combined business began to add other services such as natural gas supply management, utility bill auditing and processing, rates and tariff analysis, regulatory advisement, and energy efficiency services.  In late 2010, Bick and his partner negotiated a management buyout and acquired Priority Power.  

In 2013, Bick recognized the growing need of customers eager to connect to the grid in a timely and cost-effective manner.  As a result, he developed a service offering to engineer, procure and construct privately owned utility-class electrical infrastructure (high voltage transmission, substations, and medium voltage distribution networks), and in some cases owning, operating, maintaining, and leasing the behind-the-meter infrastructure to customers.  

The business grew exponentially and in 2019, Bick led a recapitalization of the company that resulted in a significant investment from Houston-based Ara Partners, an industrial private equity firm that invests in companies with sustainable competitive advantages built upon greater resource efficiency.  Bick continued as managing principal of the firm, leading expanded services targeted at the energy transition theme to reduce scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions through electrification, renewable energy supply, solar and battery energy storage connected to the private networks behind customers utility meter.  

In September 2020, Bick was named chairman of the board and chief commercial officer of Priority Power.  Under Bick's leadership, Priority Power has become a market leading, independent energy services provider offering smart energy solutions and streamlined transitions to carbon neutrality.  In September 2021, the company gained a $250 MM investment from funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and other select institutional investors.  Today, Priority Power employs over 160 employees, serves over 7,000 commercial and industrial customers across North America. 

Bick is actively involved in industry organizations such as The Energy Professionals Association, Permian Basin Petroleum Association, The Texas Blockchain Council, and others.  He has been recognized by the Dallas Business Journal's Who's Who in Dallas Energy and by D Magazine CEO Energy Awards as a finalist.  He is executive sponsor of the Priority Impact Foundation and a trustee of the Priority Power Management Endowment for the benefit of the Texas Tech Rawls College of Business Energy Commerce program.  Together with his wife Paige, he is a trustee of The John & Paige Bick Family Scholarship Foundation for the benefit of the Texas Tech Edward Whitacre College of Engineering, a trustee of The Bick Family Charitable Foundation, and a sponsor of various initiatives for Catholic Charities of Fort Worth that is transforming the narrative around poverty through advocacy and collaboration.   

Bick met his wife Paige Hampton at a Tech Delt fraternity party and have been married for more than 32 years.  They live in Arlington and have three daughters:  Halle Bick (TTU BBA Finance ‘16, UTA MBA ‘18), Haiden Wilhide (TTU BBA Finance with Energy Commerce Certificate ‘17; UTA MPA Accounting '19) and Kenedi Bick (TTU BBA Accounting '21, UTA MPA Accounting '23).