THE BASICS
Division: Electrification & Strategic Technology
How long have you been at City Light? I started August 17, 2011, as an Energy Advisor — in what’s now the Customer Energy Solutions Division. I spent a little time in Communications and a little time in Customer Care working on the Utility Discount Program, both in out-of-class positions. I’m a big advocate for out-of-class opportunities! You learn so much more about the utility.
Tell us about your role. I manage the website, newsletter, and other customer-oriented marketing and communications for The Lab at Seattle City Light. Formerly known as the Lighting Design Lab, we provide resources and services that help our architects, engineers, facility managers, contractors and other building professionals make informed decisions about energy-efficient solutions, including lighting, electric building technologies, and building decarbonization. Oh, and I also assist with the educational offerings we’re known for, like webinars and workshops, but that’s not my main role.
BACKGROUND
Hometown/alma mater: I’ve lived in Washington my whole life. Grew up in Lake Stevens (class of ’97!), went to Western Washington University, then Everett Community College, then University of Washington (UW), then Edmonds Community College, then UW Bothell, then UW Seattle again… and all I got was a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy! But, I learned a bunch of other stuff along the way while I changed interests and majors.
Tell us about your family/pets: My husband, a history teacher at Juanita High School and musician, and I have been married 21 years and have the privilege of raising two ridiculously cool kids. Oliver is a senior at Shorecrest High School and starting pitcher for their baseball team; and Flip is a seventh grader at Kellogg Middle School who can figure out almost any song he hears on guitar. We have a crazy dog named Goldfish and an onery old cat named Bob Dylan Panda Bear Kitty.
JUST FOR FUN
What’s the last thing that made you laugh really hard? My husband’s very dumb joke: “Why did the school hire Kam Chancellor as crossing guard? Because he’s very good at safety.” He has, like, five more football/Seahawks-related jokes he thought of that same day. They are all equally cringe/hilarious.
What is the best meal you have ever eaten? The weirdest meal I’ve ever eaten was at an outdoor restaurant in Costa Rica when a raccoon stood next to me, put one paw on my leg, then reached up with the other paw and slapped its weird little raccoon fingers in my pasta, and then stood there and licked its paw.
If you could have any animal as a pet, but it had to be the size of a cat, what would it be? OMG A RED PANDA. Or a giant panda. Or an otter. A cat-sized Highland cow would be pretty cute, too. Or an elephant. I like this question!
When you were younger, what was your dream job? I thought I was going to be a too-much-wine-drinking, temperamental writer in Paris.
What was the last song you listened to? We are a music loving family! Could have been Doechii, Fontaines D.C., Pink Pantheress, Wet Leg, Fugazi, The Smashing Pumpkins, or Lil Uzi Vert, depending on who has aux. But I did just about pass away from old age when my 17-year-old’s playlist started playing Bell Biv DeVoe’s “Poison”!
Important extra note: Go Mariners!