Doug Erwin has been at City Light for nearly five and a half years. He’s part of the Utility Operations & Engineering business unit where he works as a Senior Automotive Engineer. “I’m a solitary person in this class,” Doug explained. “My network includes other automotive engineers and City departments. We collaborate on designs and work with the Green Fleets team on their initiatives to meet the Mayor’s mandates of fleet reductions, electrification and greenhouse gas reductions.”
Doug lives in Port Orchard with his wife Karen and their family. He holds a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Management with a focus in Project Management from Ashford University, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the same program also from Ashford and an associate degree from Central Texas College. Doug is also a Certified Automotive Fleet Manager designated by the NAFA Fleet Management Association.
In this week’s (spot)Light, Doug talks about the Navy, work in Fleets and his hobbies.
“Karen and I are from the High Sierras in California. We both grew up near Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Our parents worked in the National Forest and made their livings there. We originally transferred to Washington with the Navy and have been residents since, though my Navy career took us to Japan, Guam and back to California. I’ve always felt a strong connection to Washington. “
“I’m an avid outdoorsman. I teach hunter education and own a firearms training business. I enjoy working with people who have a desire to learn. I also volunteer for the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. I feel I’m making a good and positive impact on younger people about firearms and being responsible when handling them. I’ve recently rekindled my love for archery and spend time honing that skill. We also like to travel the country and see historical locations.”
“I spent 22 years in the Navy which gave me a strong desire to be a part of a large organization with a public focus. City Light has helped my appreciation for vehicles and equipment evolve. Our Fleets team works hard to meet our customer needs while remaining within the guiding regulations. We must know the governing regulations of vehicles and equipment to correctly write the specifications for our vendors to provide accurate quotes. I prepare purchasing documents, work with vendors and contractors to either build the vehicle or mate a body to a chassis and install the equipment to provide a complete service-ready vehicle. I currently have 43 capital (new build) projects for 2019 with about six refit projects where I modify equipment already in service. These are challenging due to the equipment being needed for work daily and the vendor needs time to complete the work.
“I’ve
interacted with just about every group at the utility. I enjoy the
relationships I’ve nurtured and have fun connecting people to network and get
things done. City Light is always changing; I see myself as a constant of
knowing who’s who and getting people the help they need. I also enjoy
working on the Incident Management Team (IMT). I’ve held several
positions on what the Navy calls the IMT and I still enjoy doing it after all
these years.”