Melissa Seixas

Melissa Seixas is Duke Energy's state president in Florida, serving approximately 1.8 million electric retail customers in central Florida, including metropolitan St. Petersburg, Clearwater and the Greater Orlando area. She is responsible for the financial performance of Duke Energy's regulated utility in Florida and for managing state and local regulatory and government relations and community affairs. She also has responsibility for advancing the company's rate and regulatory initiatives related to its electric operations.

Prior to assuming her current position in February 2021, Seixas served as vice president of government and community relations in Florida. She directed efforts to strengthen relationships with local municipal, community and civic organizations, as well as business leaders throughout the company's 35-county service area. Her team worked closely with leaders to help communities achieve their energy, growth and sustainability goals.

In 1986, Seixas joined Florida Power (later to become Progress Energy and then Duke Energy) in distribution engineering. Over her 34-year career with the company, she has served in numerous roles with increasing leadership responsibilities.

Seixas holds a bachelor's degree in American history from Eckerd College and a master's degree in American history from the University of South Florida. Her executive training includes a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) certification from Johns Hopkins University, and programs with the Edison Electric Institute and Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business.

Seixas has a strong tradition of supporting her community. She currently serves on the boards of directors for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Electric Power Coordinating Group Inc., Enterprise Florida, Tampa Bay Partnership Council of Governors and as a member of the Florida Council of 100. She also has a long history of service to the University of South Florida (USF), where she serves as a member of the board of trustees and chair of the USF St. Petersburg Campus Board. In 2019, the university honored Seixas with the USF Regional Chancellor Award for Civic Leadership.

Seixas was named to Tampa Bay Business Journal's 2022 Power 100 and one of Florida Trend's 500 Most Influential Leaders in 2021. She is a recipient of the 2022 Arts Advocate of the Year Award presented by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance. She is also a recipient of the 2021 Winnie Foster Lifetime Achievement Award. 

She and her husband, Greg, have four children and four grandchildren.

Last updated June 6, 2022

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