Strategic Planning’s Angela Bertrand talks triathlons, baking, and books, oh my!
Management Systems Analyst Angela Bertrand joined City Light in 2018 as part of the Continuous Improvement Team and has since moved to Strategic Planning and Performance.
“We’re part of the General Manager’s Office under the chief of staff. We work on City Light’s six-year strategic plan and help teams align internal reporting with utility values and priorities,” Angela explained. “Take our Customers First value as an example. I might ask groups what that looks like for them and how that translates into their work. A general answer may be reporting on reliability or closing customer inquires on time. I’m also working on an internal report for the executive team on our five City Light values: Customers First, Environmental Stewardship, Operational & Financial Excellence, Community Connections, and Safe & Engaged Employees.”
Angela was born and raised in Washington and grew up in the Puyallup area. “I went to college in Pennslyvania. I wanted to try a new place to see if I liked it better than the Northwest,” Angela said. “It just wasn’t for me, and I moved back as soon as I graduated. I missed the mountains, trees, and water!”
In this week’s (spot)Light, Angela talks about her hobbies, education, and work at the utility.
“I studied globalization with minors in peace & justice and sociology at Gettysburg College. Much of my focus was on migration and identity, particularly during my semester abroad in Copenhagen. I also just started going back to school for my master’s in public administration at Seattle University this summer!
“I live in Ballard with my partner Mike and our dog, Whisper. We’ve been in this neighborhood for about eight years and absolutely love it! My favorite part is how walkable it is; neither of us loves driving, so being able to get around, especially with so many delicious restaurants nearby, is just perfect for us.
“Before the pandemic, I competed in triathlons. I’ve done eight so far, including two Olympic distance: a one-mile swim, a 24-mile bike, and a three-mile run. Unlike most triathletes, my favorite part is the swim. I really enjoy open water swimming and have swum from Vashon to Point Defiance and from I-90 to 520. I also try to read 52 books a year. Octavia Butler is my favorite author, and speculative fiction is my go-to genre. I’ve been staying home a bit more with the pandemic and have traded in triathlons for baking. I’ve made macarons, cream puffs, scones, donuts, and MANY loaves of sourdough.
“I was initially drawn to the Continuous Improvement Team because of their mission to listen to employees and find ways to improve their work processes. I try to involve folks in decisions that will impact them, and I learned a lot on that team. In many ways, it was a great introduction to the world of utilities. I got to collaborate with different groups and hear about their work. Now, in my current role, I get to see all that work come together while meeting all the wonderful folks who make it happen!”