The Basics
How long have you been at City Light? It will be eight years this July. I was hired as a senior project manager working on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Program in 2015.
Division: I am a part of the newly formed Project Delivery division.
Tell us about your role. What does your job entail? I am currently an interim manager of the Generation Project Management Program. In this role, I lead a team of project managers who focus on maintaining and modernizing our facilities and equipment at our hydroelectric dams and powerhouses through a variety of mechanical, electrical, civil, and structural projects. This position is also responsible for balancing the budget for the project portfolio.
Background
Hometown: Fox Lake, Illinois
Alma Mater: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Discipline/Trade of study: My degrees are in history and education. I went to school to be a secondary education teacher for social sciences and language arts. In 2009, I switched careers to project management in the utility space and have been quite happy since! I received my project management professional credential in 2013 and have maintained its status as well.
Tell us about your family: I have been married to my wife, Elizabeth, since 2017. We have a toddler, Hank, who turned 3 in April. Our family also includes our dog, Zoey, and our cat, Lila.
Just for Fun
What’s the best piece of advice you have received? Take the time to truly understand and love yourself. This will bring you clarity, purpose, and meaning.
What do you like most about your role? I enjoy the fluidity and impact of my current role. No two days feel the same, and I feel like everything I am working on has a positive, meaningful impact on the utility.
What’s your favorite local activity? I am a huge sports fan so any local sporting event will do. But my favorite routine activity would be spending time outside near Lake Washington with myself or my family.
What is the one item you can’t live without that needs electricity to operate? I am a hobbyist and painter so I can most definitely say the various lights and lamps I use in this work! They help me to keep focused and preserve my eyesight.
Who do you admire the most? For me, admiration is less about the individual and more about characteristics. I most admire and respect those who have a combination of looking at the world with an empathetic understanding, having a continuous desire to improve oneself and others, and are willing and open to think of things in a different way than their own to reach a better outcome.