In 2019, John Mencias took the helm as Chief Executive Officer of Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) at a critical juncture for the national utility. At that time, the company was grappling with two major interconnected challenges: decades-old, deteriorating infrastructure that struggled to keep up with rapidly growing consumer and commercial energy demand across the small Central American nation.
Seven years into his tenure, as Mencias prepares to step down from his leadership role, he leaves an organization that has been fundamentally remade from the inside out, positioning BEL to support Belize’s ongoing national development for decades to come. Under his strategic guidance, BEL prioritized large-scale infrastructure modernization, pouring resources into updating outdated generation and distribution systems to strengthen the entire national power grid. This massive overhaul has translated to tangible improvements for end users, with far more consistent energy reliability across every region of Belize, even as overall energy demand has continued to climb.
Beyond physical infrastructure, Mencias spearheaded a cultural and operational shift to center customer experience, a departure from the utility’s more traditional service model. He led the rollout of a suite of new digital self-service tools and comprehensive service upgrades that cut wait times, streamlined common customer interactions, and made accessing BEL support faster and more convenient than ever before.
Internally, Mencias centered his leadership on BEL’s most valuable asset: its people. He implemented initiatives to foster a culture of innovation across all levels of the organization, made targeted investments in ongoing talent development and upskilling for employees, and built a more inclusive, collaborative workplace culture that aligned with the company’s modernization goals.
The cumulative impact of these changes is a utility that is far more closely aligned with the needs of its customers, the priorities of its workforce, and the broader economic development goals of Belize. As Mencias departs, he leaves with gratitude for his time at the organization and confidence in the path BEL has forged. Stepping in to provide continuity for the ongoing transformation is Ambassador Lynn Young, who returns to the role of Executive Chairman, bringing decades of deep institutional experience and a steady hand to guide the utility through its next chapter of growth.