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News and Updates from Seattle City Light

Seattle City (spot)Light: Ronda Strauch

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Ronda Strauch joined City Light in July 2018 as part of the Environment, Land and Licensing business unit. As a climate scientist, she works on climate change research and adaption. “My goal is to better understand climate change, how it affects City Light’s business, and what strategic things can we do to reduce impacts and prepare for it,” Ronda explained.

Originally from San Diego, Ronda received a bachelor’s degree in environmental management from UC Davis. She also earned her master’s degree in forest ecology and a Ph.D. in civil environmental engineering from the University of Washington. “In grad school, I looked at climate change impacts on high elevation forests,” Ronda shared. “I focused on what happens after a wildfire because, when you think of it, you’re kind of starting with a clean slate. It was a hot topic at the time. The IPCC had just formed and I knew we needed to learn more about how change could impact our forests.” She continued studying climate change focusing on landslides in the North Cascades during her doctorate.

Learn more about Ronda and her adventurous hobbies (including building her own sea kayak) in this week’s (spot)Light. 

Ronda with the 17 ft kayak that she built with her husband

“I love getting outdoors to kayak.  I’ll kayak on the Snoqualmie River, but last Labor Day my husband and I went to Broken Group Islands on the outskirts of Vancouver Island. I have a smaller kayak for rivers and lakes and the 17-foot sea kayak that we built! It took about five months to make. It’s a kit from Pygmy Boats out of Port Townsend and it’s made from an Okoume plywood that’s thin and resistant to fungal attack. I named her Cuttlefish.”

“I’m also a mountain climber. I’ve done Rainier twice, Mount Adams several times, and Mount Olympus once. Mount Baker and Mount Hood are on my list. I tried Glacier Peak, but we got foiled by whiteout conditions. I’d like to try that again. Right now, I’m training for an ultra-marathon trail run which is crazy, but it keeps me active! It’ll be at Bryce Canyon in May.”

“Gardening is another favorite hobby of mine. I have this goal of getting every tree species in Washington to grow in my yard. I have most, actually! I live on the outskirts of Woodinville. It’s a nice forested area with a little over an acre. So, we tend to get lots of animals. Last year we had two black bears. We’ve also had bobcats – we live with wildlife!”

“In my career, I’ve also looked at climate change and how it affects transportation. I did that at King County Department of Transportation and as part of my graduate work. I focused on climate change wherever I went, in whatever job I’ve held. I get to carry on that work at City Light. My work entails keeping up on the science, advancing research that supports our data needs, and communicating that information such that climate change considerations are integrated into our everyday decisions.  I really enjoy meeting and interacting with City Light employees and appreciate how they embrace the duty of keeping the lights on – even when the snow comes or doesn’t come, wind blows, fire strikes, and the heat is on!”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Erin Lowery

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Erin Lowery will celebrate five years at City Light this June. Erin is a fisheries biologist who works in the utility’s Environment, Land, and Licensing Business Unit. “We have various settlement agreements through our Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license (FERC),” Erin explained. “These agreements are designed to reduce our effects on various resource areas. My job is to manage our fisheries program as defined by our Fisheries Settlement Agreement.”

A Seattle native, Erin grew up in a turn of the century farm house in Ballard. He attended the University of Washington where he pursued his undergraduate and graduate studies at the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. “My master’s focused on the feeding behavior of bull trout in the Skagit River,” Erin shared. “That work was funded by the Science Policy Unit here at City Light. I worked with Ed Connor and Dave Pflug throughout my graduate program and am proud to be one of the scientists in that group.”

In this week’s (spot)Light, Erin talks about his hobbies and his work at City Light.

Erin with his family

“Spending time with my family is my priority. We live in Haller Lake in North Seattle. I love that my girls have become friends with a ton of kids in our neighborhood. My wife and I have also befriended many of our neighbors. And our neighborhood has sidewalks! I’m also introducing a few of my hobbies to my daughters. I like working on classic and modern cars. I have a ’74 MGB roadster, ’67 Series 2a Land Rover 88”, and a ’95 Land Rover Range Rover Classic. I’m also into junk yards, brewing beer, woodworking and metal working. I like to hunt big game (deer, elk, and bear) and upland bird hunting. Living in the Northwest, I also enjoy hiking, camping, overlanding, boating, and various types of fishing.”

“I work on two research programs that focus on Chinook salmon and steelhead. There is also a habitat construction and maintenance program for chum salmon and a small resident trout stocking program for the reservoirs. I help manage the flow plan on the Skagit which dictates how we operate the Gorge Dam in support of salmon and steelhead spawning, incubation, and fry migration. The model that was used to develop the flow program could not provide 100% protection of salmon redds (nests), so there’s a clause in our license that allows us to modify our flows based on the results of on-the-ground monitoring. Because of this, I’m out on the river once a week from March-June and again in August-January to monitor spawning activity. I use the data collected to work with natural resource agencies, tribes and City Light’s Power Management to achieve 100% redd protection.”

“City Light has a reputation of being a good steward of the environment. It’s also an organization that puts science first. Working with Ed and Dave left a big impression on me; it was a great experience.  When I was a researcher at UW I maintained professional relationships with the biologists on the Skagit. So, naturally, I was excited to apply to the utility when a position became available. I like the nature of the work and my colleagues. It also nice to know that I’m a valued part of the organization and that my work is important.”



Seattle City (spot)Light: Sara Lien

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Sara Lien will celebrate five years at City Light in April. Originally from Taiwan, she moved around to different cities before settling in Vancouver, British Columbia. She attended Simon Fraser University and received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting. After college, she articled with KPMG, a public accounting firm, to obtain her Chartered Accountant license (or CPA equivalent) and did mostly financial audits and corporate tax planning. “I decided that my experience at KPMG provided me with good background. I wanted to learn more on the operational side of businesses, so I left the public accounting practice and switched industries, focusing on internal and process auditing,” she explained.

Sara moved to Seattle when she began her career at City Light as an Internal Auditor in Finance, but recently switched roles to be a Strategic Advisor for the Continuous Improvement team in Customer Care. “I’m working with different business groups to initiate the new Business Process Improvement Strategic Plan,” she shared. Longer term, she hopes to help City Light cultivate a continuous improvement culture, which engages people at all levels of the organization.

In this week’s (spot)Light, find out about her love for Seattle, travel, and work.

Sara, her husband and their chocolate lab, Maddy

“My husband (Darren) and I live in Queen Anne with our chocolate Labrador, Maddy. We love exploring Seattle and the surrounding area because we’re both relatively new to the city. We enjoy all the different local parks. My favorite is Discovery Park. It reminds me of Stanley Park in Vancouver. Discovery Park has many different trails that lead to majestic view of Mt. Rainer, the Olympic mountains, and the Puget Sound. It is my go-to spot for reflections and a quick getaway from life’s business.”

“As a couple, we love traveling. We usually plan one major trip each year. We travelled to Taiwan last November, so I could share with Darren the country I grew up in, my culture, and favorite Taiwanese dishes. Since I left Taiwan at young age, I wasn’t very familiar with its history. Darren and I visited some key landmarks and museums, and we were able to learn the country’s history, political climate and appreciate even more of our experiences there. This year, we are looking forward to taking the infamous coastal drive from San Jose to Big Sur in California. “

“One of the great things about working for City Light is what the utility stands for: being green and serving its customers. Those are the great things you want to be part of. I like the fact that the utility industry is very broad. It covers everything from operations, customer services, wholesale and retail energy, to conservation. The learning never ends. Finally, I am grateful for the various City Light programs that help me to develop professionally, such as the Emerging Leader and Tuition Reimbursement. Because of these programs, I am applying what I learned to my daily work and pursuing a Master’s in Organizational Leadership at Gonzaga University!“

Seattle City (spot)Light: Meghan Pinch

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Meghan Pinch has been at City Light for seven years. She’s part of Customer Energy Solutions (CES) where she works as a Business Transformation Strategic Advisor. “I’m helping reposition CES to be more nimble, agile and responsive to emerging energy efficiency technologies and evolving customer needs,” Meghan explained. “I’m also leading the CES culture change initiative – a multi-year effort that will enable us to fulfill our division’s Mission Vision and Values.”

Meghan grew up in Spokane and came to Seattle to pursue her undergrad in Jewish Studies at the University of Washington (UW). After college, she lived in the Bay Area, Whitefish and Jackson Hole before returning to UW to receive a master’s degree in Urban Planning. She lives in Rainier Beach with her husband and two children – her daughter Addie (four-years) and son Oren (18-months).

In this week’s (spot)Light, Meghan talks about life in Rainer Beach, her interests and what she enjoys about City Light.

Meghan with her family

“I love Rainier Beach – its history, sense of community, diversity and plentiful open space! We live next to the Chief Sealth Trail, a beautiful pathway (under City Light power lines!) with great views of Mt. Rainier and downtown. We take family walks along the trail; it’s a great way for my kids to explore! Before I had children, I helped launch the Rainier Beach Urban Farm, and now Addie attends pre-school next door. They often go on exploratory adventures to the farm. There is also a horse farm behind us, and we see people riding horses on the trail. Oren loves airplane spotting at Boeing Field just over the hill.”

“I love to ski and ride bikes. Before I had children, I did cyclocross and mountain bike racing as a member of a local cycling team. These days I’m busy teaching my kids to ski. I also sneak in knitting and quilting when I can. In warmer months, we do a lot of outdoor activities like camping and fishing. I also love to garden but am figuring out how to fit it in with the general chaos of our kids and pets!”

“My CES colleagues are fantastic and are a favorite part of my job. In the past two years, we’ve better aligned our programs with our strategic goals. We’ve also designed and implemented a new framework to govern program development, portfolio decisions and resource allocation. We spent the last year developing a Blueprint for Culture Change and held training practice to create a more respectful workplace. This year, we’re implementing the Blueprint. So far, we’ve engaged our leadership team with training in conflict management, inclusive leadership and have put a strong focus on effective performance reviews. Looking ahead, we plan to conduct training and practice in conflict management.”

“There is so much I value working at City Light. I appreciate the family friendly culture. I also love the people. I’m continually amazed by my colleagues, their commitment and how we work together to do new, innovative things. City Light has been a great place for career growth. I’m not sure I would have seen myself in my current role 7 years ago; it wasn’t really on my radar. However, I’ve really enjoyed this job and have been given a great opportunity to develop the skills required to do this work.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Robert Mahoney

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Robert Mahoney started his City Light career in 2013. From consultant role to temporary position, he’s now a full-time employee in the Power Supply business unit. “I’m the Operational Technology Program Manager for the Power Systems Automation Group,” Robert explained. “I manage the scope, schedule and budget – for most of the projects that come out of our group.  Right now, we’re implementing the Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) and working on new trading and risk management systems, business processes and training employees on the new tools. We’re currently   focused mostly on software.”

Rob grew up in the Boston area where he pursued his education at local institutions. He graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering and later earned an MBA on organizational behavior from Suffolk University in Boston.

Rob lives in Bothell with his wife Erica and their two daughters, Emily (five years old) and Makenna (two years old). In this week’s (spot)Light, Rob talks about his hometown, hobbies and life in the Northwest.

Rob with his family

“I interned at my local utility during my sophomore year of college and it just kind of stuck. I enjoy knowing how much work goes into something simple as turning the lights on. At utilities we figure out how to generate, transmit and distribute electricity especially around certain constraints and congestion. It’s a fun, complex problem to solve.”

“I grew up in Rockland, Massachusetts which is halfway between Boston and Cape Cod. I lived there for 27 years and met my wife in Boston. At the time I was working at National Grid during the day and the door at comedy club at night. She grew up near Portland but went to school in upstate New York. She always wanted to move back to the Northwest.  We’ve been here for about 8 years but enjoy traveling back east as often as we can.

“I enjoy the Northwest. The views here are amazing. The mountains, the trees, the ability not to have snow, but have the option to experience it in the winter whenever you want. That’s something I don’t miss about New England – the frigid cold temps. The weather here is great. I don’t think there is a better place to be than Seattle in the summertime. But even though I live here, I still root for my Boston teams. I’m a total Red Sox, Bruins and Patriots fan.”

“We have two kids and do a lot of hiking and exploring different parks. I think that’s another thing that’s unique to the Northwest. Our kids keep us busy; there is always gymnastics, soccer or some activity going on. Something that most people don’t know about me is that I love musicals, if I’m working with my headphones it is it probably Wicked or Hamilton. I also enjoy archery, it’s something I tried it as a team building activity when I was consultant and I really liked it! I’ve been doing it for nearly four years. It’s fun, precise and incredibly calming to me. I never thought it would be something that I do in life, but I’ve completely taken to it. My oldest daughter also enjoys it, so we do that together in our backyard.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Brynne Taylor

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Brynne Taylor will celebrate one year at City Light on Feb. 26. As part of the Transmission & Distribution Operations unit, Brynne manages electronic equipment for our field workers. “I work in the radio shop and maintain all the radios and accessories for the big trucks at our North and South Service Center,” Brynne explained. “I also perform manual labor, work on fiber optics and troubleshoot issues – anything that has to do with monitoring equipment and transporting it back to the System Operations Center (SOC).”

Brynne was born and raised in Georgia. She ended up in Washington after serving six years in the U.S. Navy as an electronic technician. “I always tell people that this is where the ship dropped me off,” she said with a laugh. She lives in Bothell where she’s resided more than 20 years.

In this week’s (spot)Light, Brynne talks about her hobbies and what sparked her interest in this field.

Brynne sportin’ her scooter collection

“I’ve always been kind of a tomboy and have liked electronics. I was the one who took the radio or TV apart to see what was inside. I wanted to know how things worked. It was interesting to pull things apart and see how these devices talk to each other from miles away. I wouldn’t want to do anything else and I’m not sure anything else would interest me as much. I would miss it. Even when I leave work, I go home and tinker with electronic things around the house. I love it.”

“Most people at the shop know this, but I’m big into scooters. I own five. I get a little bummed when the winter comes, and it rains because I have to ride in a car! It’s just a love of scooters. People tell me that I could buy a motorcycle with what I’ve spent on scooters and that’s just missing the point. It’s not a matter of being on two wheels – it’s the scooter itself. I’ve always been in love with the old British movies and watching people zip around – especially with a guy and a girl off on some great adventure. I always thought it was romantic. I’m not into big motorbikes and things that are tough. It’s just the cuteness of scooters.”

“Growing up in Atlanta, I was a Falcons fan, but I also loved the Seahawks. I think it was the colors and the helmets! I decided that my favorite vacation would be to take a train to Seattle and watch the Seahawks play. Little did I know that I would be living here 20 years later, cheering them on. Maybe it was fate and somehow, I knew that I was going to end up here. This is my home now. I love Seattle.”

“I pinch myself every day. This is a job of a lifetime for me and I’ve never been happier. I love City Light; especially the camaraderie we have in the shop. We all pull together as a team. Some of my favorite moments are when we’re fiber slicing in the back of the truck and we’re joking with one another, having fun on-the-job. As the only woman in the group, they’ve all accepted me and that’s important. To have those guys take me in and embrace me the way they have, has just been incredible.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Cintia Luna-Villasana

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Cintia Luna-Villasana will celebrate four-years at Seattle City Light in March. She started on the Talent and Acquisition team, but after three years, transitioned to Power Supply as the Administrative Specialist for Officer Mike Haynes. “I’m better known as Mike’s conscience,” Cintia joked. “I also support Generation Operations and Engineering Director Faz Kasraie. I handle travel requests, training contracts, budget information, HR processes – a variety of things.”

Cintia was born in Wenatchee where she lived until she was about eight years old. “My parents had a business and decided to move to western Washington,” Cintia shared. “They have a Mexican restaurant in Everett, El Pollo Rico. I still help out with bookkeeping on the weekends.” Cintia attended Western Washington University on a full-ride scholarship and received a degree in business administration with a focus in human resources.

In this week’s (spot)Light, Cintia talks about public service and the family vacations that sparked her interest in utilities.

Cintia at Bonneville Powerhouse

“Growing up, my parents took me to Rocky Reach Dam every Easter because it had an egg hunt and real bunnies! I also went there on a school field trip. I remember visiting the fish ladder and viewing area and thinking that it was the greatest place. Ever since then, I’ve always liked generation and developed an interest in utilities.”

“Visiting dams and learning about power is something I enjoy. It was part of my childhood. Whenever people visited, we took them to Rocky Reach. It has a cool visitor’s center and was something neat to see. So, in a way, I grew up with dams. And I’ve kept it up! In 2008, I went to Grand Coulee Dam. That was something since it’s the mightiest hydroelectric plant in the United States. I’ve visited Chief Joseph Dam, Bonneville Dam and on a recent trip to Palm Springs, I toured the windmill farm. It was super interesting and gave me a greater appreciation for hydro. This June, I plan to check out the Hoover Dam. I’ve been to our dams in Boundary, Skagit, Lucky Peak as well as Masonry Dam in Cedar Falls. I’m hoping that one day I can visit BC Hydro – I just need access. If you know someone, let me know!”

“I like to go on road trips – even if it’s just for a day. I’m the person who won’t have anything planned and will spontaneously say ‘Let’s go!’ Depending on the weather, it could be Portland or Vancouver, BC., but honestly, my favorite getaway is Skagit. It’s so close and just beautiful. I also like summer road trips to eastern Washington, particularly Wenatchee because it’s home. I like being away from the city. I’m a country girl at heart.”

“I got into public service because both my brothers are Marines. It’s my way of giving back; we’re all public servants, in a way. One of my brothers is deployed and on his second term, and the other is about to finish his term. I love my parents and am very close to them. I have so much to be thankful for. When my family arrived in the United States, they were apple pickers in Wenatchee and saved money to make their dreams come true. My siblings and I are living our American dream and it’s great for my parents to see.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: David Wyland

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David Wyland has been at City Light for more than four years. As part of the Asset Data Services group, David works within the Technology & Engineering Innovation business unit. “People don’t realize that data is an asset that needs to be managed to support sound decision-making practices at the utility,” David explained. “If the data is weak, decisions based on the data aren’t as strong as they should be. We provide relevant and timely asset information to the right people at the right time. It’s a coordinated effort with many work areas – across various business units – but it’s rewarding when the best decisions are made.”

David is originally from Spokane, but thanks to his father’s service in the Air Force, he’s lived in Japan, Nevada and Oklahoma. He attended school at Gonzaga University where he graduated with a degree in Finance and Economics. He lives in Seattle with his partner of 19 years and together they care for David’s 96-year-old-mother. “My dad passed away nine years ago, but my mom lives with us,” David shared. “She took care of me for 20 years; now it’s my turn!”

In this week’s (spot)Light, David talks about his career path, including his time at City Light.

David with his partner Marc

“The economy wasn’t very strong when I graduated from college. So, I decided to continue my education and pursue an MBA. I was one semester short of completing the program when I received a full-time job offer in Portland. The job was a bill collector for Sears – dialing for dollars. It was a strange choice to make, but it also gave me the opportunity to leave Spokane and experience life in a bigger city. It set me up well for my move to Seattle.”

“I ended up spending 27 years in banking. The stress of climbing the corporate ladder – with all the political infighting – was taking its toll on me. I didn’t like what I was becoming. I left to work for Keiro NW, a non-profit that provides services for elderly Japanese and Asian-Pacific Islanders. I was there for a year and it helped me become grounded again. Since my mother is Japanese it gave me a great chance to see and understand more of my heritage through interactions with the Japanese community. Of course, non-profit work doesn’t pay well, but it allowed for a smooth transition into City Light because as a public utility we are held accountable to the ratepayers in providing a service to the community.”

“I have a weak spot for helping to make our community stronger. Being part of a public utility allows me to officially do so, and it also exposes me to other community-minded coworkers. We recently did a team-building exercise at Mary’s Place, and it was an incredible experience for all of us. We also have our annual ‘I Swear…It’s for the Children’ campaign which benefits Treehouse for Kids. This year, we blew past our $1,000 goal and were able to raise $1,700! Being with coworkers who share a passion for the community is incredibly satisfying and one of the main reasons I enjoy working at City Light.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Jeanie Ahn

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Jeanie Ahn has been at City Light for two and a half years. She began in financial planning but now works as a Budget Analyst in the budget office where she sets budgets and helps keep groups on track. “I’ve always been a numbers nerd and enjoy numbers and their relationships,” Jeanie said.

True to her word, the Kansas native majored in economics at the University of Washington. While in college, she got a part-time job at Nordstrom and worked there for 19 years, most recently in the company’s budget office.  “I decided to switch over to City Light and take the public route because I was looking for a change and wanted to do something for the community,” Jeanie explained.

In this week’s (spot)Light, read about Jeanie’s love for Taekwondo, teaching and empowering women.

Jeanie in a jumping back kick

“I’ve been doing Taekwondo for about 24 years. When I was a teenager, one of my friends got into trouble and her punishment was to do Taekwondo. I watched her practice and thought it looked cool. I told my parents I wanted to try it and my dad said ‘Absolutely not.’ He saw it as a male sport, so that cemented the fact that I had to do it. We fought about it for three months until he finally caved. The first week was so hard I wanted to quit. I now teach Taekwondo and self-defense classes at my studio in South Seattle. I also practice and teach yoga which is a nice complement to martial arts.”

“My friend looked at my resume years ago and she said, ‘Oh, you’re a teacher!’ I taught piano lessons when I was younger. At Nordstrom, I was the person that trained other people and worked new-store openings. I think, in general, I like teaching. That appeals to me. While numbers are very black and white and methodical, teaching lets me be creative. I can explore my creative side and design a class based on an individual’s skills, needs and focus.”

“Teaching self-defense is really important to me because it empowers other women. Not to say it’s only for women! Men have taken it as well and women do come in with their partners. Our self-defense class was created for a novice person coming in off the street; someone who wants to learn some moves. It’s a two-hour workshop where people learn how to get out of certain grabs, but also, maybe speaking more to the female side, how to attack. I feel that it doesn’t come natural for women to strike. So, we talk about, demonstrate, and practice different ways to attack if you had to defend yourself.”

“One of my favorite parts of this class is how we end it – every person breaks a board! I never tell them that, though. It happens at the end of class, so I wait until the right moment to bring it up it. And everyone does it! I’ve never had anyone who couldn’t do it. Women really underestimate themselves and how strong they are. It’s important to leave on a positive note because it’s kind of a sour reason we’re there to begin with. Women are targeted more. It’s a downer, so it’s important to finish high.”

Seattle City (spot)Light: Cindy Reside Hensel

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Cindy Reside Hensel celebrated 20 years with City Light in November 2018. Her work as a Student Engineer and Energy Management Analyst led to her current role as an Electrical Service Engineer in the Customer Construction Services division. “I love being part of the Electrical Service Engineering group because I get to work with large key and industrial customers on the largest construction projects in Seattle,” Cindy said.

Cindy grew up in Bremerton and attended Olympic High School where she played in the band. “I’ve been playing the flute and piano since elementary school,” Cindy shared. “I enjoyed being in wind ensemble and jazz band”. In fact, in high school, I was in the jazz band with Ben Gibbard, the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie!” She went to college at the University of Washington and graduated with a degree in material science and engineering. She lives in Richmond Beach with her husband and three children (ages five, eight and ten).

In this week’s (spot)Light, Cindy talks about her career path, hobbies and shares her engineering inspiration.

Cindy with her family at Grand Canyon National Park

“I’m a long-distance runner. I ran the Honolulu and Big Sur marathons. I’ve also ran six half-marathons. Running is not just exercise for me; it’s a way of life. It clears my mind and really gives me that runner’s high. When I was a kid, I would see a group of young students run in my neighborhood. I always wondered who they were and why they ran. They motivated me.  So, when I was in junior high school, I decided to sign up for cross country. I’ve been running ever since! I’m not fast, but I’m steady. When training for marathons, I give myself a mileage goal to hit. I always tell myself just one more mile!”

“I love math. That kind of spurred my interest in engineering. My dad also inspired me. He was a mechanical engineer. He used to bring home his drawings and I would watch him create his designs.  High school was another source of inspiration. That’s where I was introduced to new programs like AutoCad and programming. I ended up taking additional classes which inspired me to go into this field. I was planning to have a career in failure analysis with Boeing, but somewhere along the way, I got pulled into the electrical world and have loved it ever since.”

“My kids love math and chess! Our oldest is in fourth grade at Syre Elementary. I’m co-chairing the Math Olympiad program and am a Chess Club volunteer at his school. It looks like the love of math is continuing in our family!”

“I’ve been lucky to work with such talented people at City Light. It’s been a rewarding experience to work with a diverse array of unique and technical projects while providing the best customer service to our customers. During my time here, I’ve always felt the support of management during transitions in my life—from being a student to getting married and having kids.  I’m very thankful I was able to take a one-year sabbatical. Even though they don’t work here anymore, I especially want to acknowledge John Nierenberg and Fred Ojima. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have applied for the Electrical Service Engineer position. It opened many doors for me and I’m so grateful to them for that opportunity.”