The Basics
Division: Power Supply
How long have you been at City Light? I started working for Seattle City Light in July 2001. I left in 2010 to work for The Energy Authority (TEA), which provides energy trading and risk management services to public power utilities, and quickly realized it is not always greener on the other side of the fence. I should have known… what place could possibly be greener than Seattle? After a year and a half, I came back to City Light because I realized this is where I belong. Don’t get me wrong, TEA was a great place to work and a really good experience. They were very good to me, learned a lot, and made some friends. However, I was thrilled to be welcomed back to Seattle. Most importantly, it kept me from getting my “Seattle for Life” tattoo removed.
Tell us about your role. What does your job entail? In close collaboration with City Light’s Generation and Transmission Dispatch team, the Real Time team helps keep the lights on in Seattle. We decide how much electricity to “run” or sell from the utility’s hydropower resources in energy markets throughout the day. We are responsible for submitting bids into the California Energy Imbalance Market, which operates a wholesale energy market. We monitor electricity prices and identify the best time to sell surplus power, focusing on higher-priced periods to bring in the most revenue. At the same time, we must follow critical water flow requirements. Another key responsibility is maintaining system reliability. Essentially, my team works behind the scenes to maximize the value of hydropower while keeping electricity dependable and affordable for our customers.
Background
Hometown: Port Jefferson, Long Island, N.Y.
Alma mater: Florida Atlantic University
Discipline/Trade of study: International business/finance
Tell us about your family/pets: David and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary this year. We never had children but had many furry kids over the years. We currently have a stubborn 150-pound, 3-year-old Great Pyrenees named Orbit, and a perfect 13-year-old English Cream Golden Retriever named Kenzie. I also keep a couple saltwater aquariums, which are high maintenance but absolutely stunning!
Just for fun
If you could have any job for only one day, what would it be and why? I would like to be a pro golfer on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour. Since I missed that boat, for now I will concentrate on scoring in the 80s without using my foot wedge or any mulligans. As most golfers know, there is no better therapy than 18 holes. It is a time and place you can forget all your troubles and just think about your game.
What’s something that has made you smile recently? On my time off, I volunteer for Seattle Humane in the Dog Exercise and Socialization group. Besides walking and playing with the dogs, I show them love, patience, compassion, and understanding. I also give them lots of treats! Nothing makes me smile more than hearing a dog was adopted to a loving home after I have been working with them to trust humans again. My (spot)Light profile picture is a shelter pup named Jack. He was adopted the very next day after that photo was taken.
Who do you admire the most? Like Don McLean would say, “The three men I admire most are the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.”