Chesapeake Utilities Appoints Chief Transformation Officer & Chief Accounting Officer


Dover, Del. (April 1, 2026) — Chesapeake Utilities Corporation announced two leadership appointments that reinforce the company’s commitment to operational excellence and long-term growth. Effective April 1, senior vice president and chief accounting officer Michael Galtman will assume the role of Chesapeake Utilities’ chief transformation officer to oversee the company’s enterprise resource plan implementation in addition to managing financial planning, corporate development, tax and treasury operations.
In conjunction with this transition, Melissa Barnes, who joined the company on March 30, has been appointed vice president and chief accounting officer, and will be responsible for the company’s accounting and financial reporting functions.
“These appointments reflect our focus on transformative growth and our long-term succession planning efforts. Mike’s deep understanding of our business and strategic financial expertise will be key to the implementation of technology systems that will support efficient and affordable operations, while Melissa’s experience will ensure continued strength in financial controls, risk management and reporting,” said Jeff Sylvester, senior vice president and incoming chief financial officer. “I look forward to working closely with both leaders as I step into my new role and execute on our long-term growth strategy.”
Galtman brings more than two decades of financial leadership across multiple publicly traded, regulated environments within the energy industry. Since joining Chesapeake Utilities in 2019, he has guided the company through complex accounting, regulatory and governance matters, including multiple corporate transactions such as the Florida City Gas acquisition in late 2023. Prior to Chesapeake Utilities, Galtman served as chief accounting officer and vice president at Sunoco Logistics and MBNA, where he integrated nearly $3 billion in acquisitions, led an SAP implementation and managed financial reporting. Galtman began his career in public accounting; he holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Rutgers University and is a certified public accountant.
Barnes is an accomplished accounting and finance leader with more than 20 years of experience in technical accounting, external reporting, large-scale finance transformations and internal controls. She most recently served as assistant controller at a global, publicly traded company, where she led accounting operations, including financial reporting, and provided oversight of audit committee communications. In prior roles, Barnes gained deep expertise in partnering with the business to execute complex transactions. Barnes holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and has completed executive education at the Yale School of Management. Barnes is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
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