Senior Energy Management Analyst Emma Johnson just celebrated two years at Seattle City Light in December. As a part of the Solutions Design and Management Team in Customer Energy Solutions, Emma manages four commercial and industrial programs: Commercial Retrofit (non-lighting); Industrial Energy Management; Midstream HVAC; and the Internal Conservation program, with a goal of 40 percent in energy savings at City Light facilities by 2025.

Emma grew up in Kent, Wash., and has never lived outside of the Puget Sound because, well, it’s pretty nice here. She now lives in Beacon Hill but has lived in various Seattle neighborhoods throughout her life. “Beacon Hill is a great place to live,” Emma shared. “My neighbors are fantastic people from all over the world. There are also all sorts of neighborhood gems like Breezy Town Pizza/ Clock Out Lounge;  the Cheasty Greenspace; and Jefferson Park.

Get to know Emma in this week’s (spot)Light as she talks about her professional background and love for outdoor activities in the Pacific Northwest.

“My undergraduate degree is in politics, development, and the environment from Huxley College at Western Washington University. I also have a master’s degree in public administration from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. Before joining City Light, I worked at the City of Bellevue for many years as their Resource Conservation Manager.

“I was drawn to City Light because it’s a public utility. My career path has followed the public sector mainly because being in government is a very impactful way to improve the lives of the people and the environment. I wanted the chance to improve the energy efficiency of our city’s commercial buildings because it’s a great way to lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the demand on natural resources, and save customers money!

“Whitewater kayaking is a huge part of my life. One of my favorite rivers is the Ruby Creek that flows into Ross Lake. I’ve skied in the Ruby Mountain area, which has one of the coolest ski-views around! I also spend a lot of time fixing up my older 1941 home:  I’ve installed a ductless heat pump, solar panels and insulation – my home is now nearly net-zero energy, oil-free, and my next car will definitely be electric!

“I’m grateful for the wonderful support of my team, managers, and City Light leadership. There are so many all-around fantastic people working here, and I am so happy to be a part of the team working to make things better!”

Hydro Operator Tim Terrill will celebrate two years at Seattle City Light this January. As part of the Utility Engineering & Operations Business unit, Tim works at Boundary Dam, where he controls and maintains the equipment that creates electricity.  

“I enjoy learning all about the powerhouse and the various systems that go into making the electricity we generate here at the Boundary Hydroelectric Project,” Tim said.   

Tim grew up on the eastern side of Washington state in Colville and has stayed in the “Upper Left, USA” his whole life. He lives in Ione, where he “loves the quiet and rural lifestyle the area offers. I enjoy my free time hiking, hunting, fishing, and working around my property. Any outdoor activity is great in this area.” 

In this week’s (spot)light, Tim talks about his professional background and his hobbies.  

“I studied marine engineering at Seattle Central Community College. I worked in the dredging industry for almost 10 years as an offshore marine engineer. Working at City Light was an easy decision. I work close to home and sleep in my bed every night!  

“As a hydro operator, I operate the machinery and systems that make power at Boundary Powerhouse. We maintain the lake level during spill season by opening and closing spill gates as directed by the power dispatchers,” Tim explained. “I make daily rounds and report any abnormalities to the engineers and trades workers who facilitate repairs. Operators must fully understand all systems and how these systems interact with each other to make electricity. Most of the job is monitoring vitals from a control room and, when things go haywire, taking corrective action as needed to maintain system reliability. We also isolate and manage hazardous energy sources so that equipment is safe for our trades workers. 

“One of the things I most like about working at City Light is that I’m close to home. The utility also provides great resources and benefits. Working here has been an amazing opportunity, and I’m grateful to be part of the team.” 

Landscapes Supervisor Christina Orrino began her Seattle City Light career two and a half years ago. “We maintain approximately 60 locations, including 17 active substations in addition to the North and South Service Centers,” Christina said. “There are diverse landscapes between all of these sites; some require more detailed work due to the broader selection of plants while others need less attention. Several sites like Duwamish, Creston Nelson and Magnolia have had restoration work with a focus on pollinator habitat.” 

A native Washingtonian, Christina was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. “I live just up the hill from Carkeek Park and the ability to know my neighbors and have a community that feels welcoming and accepting makes the area feel special,” Christina shared. “Another wonderful aspect of living so close to the park is we see all kinds of wildlife, including coyotes, barred owls, songbirds, and the usual raccoons and bunnies.” 

In this week’s (spot)Light, Christina talks about her background, her love for horticulture, and her work at the utility.

“Before coming to City Light, I spent 10 years in the Urban Forestry division at SDOT. I worked on some incredible projects with some very talented people and learned a great deal. I was ready to transition and move onto a different chapter in life where I felt I needed new challenges. I knew several people who moved into positions at City Light, so I decided to make the leap. 

“My love of horticulture is a huge part of my life. Working in my own garden and visiting arboretums and botanical gardens are a joy for me. It’s something that keeps me grounded and reduces my stress. I believe it makes me a happier person. I am truly a plant geek! Painting is also something I have a passion for, mostly acrylic, but I’ve been playing with watercolors lately… it is definitely harder than it seems. My half Aussie and Golder Retriever, Dorothy Parker, is another big part of my life and gets a fair amount of my attention. 

“I love to travel. My partner and I snuck in a three-week trip to New Zealand right before the COVID travel restrictions were put in place. I also enjoy spending time on my property in Arivaca, Ariz. It’s completely off the grid and is truly a magical place, but the Northwest is home for me. 

“I enjoy my work at the utility. Aside from all of the wonderful and supportive people, I believe the work that we do is critical. Keeping the interior substations clear for the folks who work there is an essential job, keeping the exterior beautiful attributes to the overall well-being of City Light employees and Seattleites alike. There are many studies that show green spaces contribute to better overall mental health and I truly believe that our contribution is a positive one.” 

David Logsdon joined City Light in January of 2020 as the Director of one of the utility’s newest divisions, Electrification and Strategic Technology. “Our teams focus on Grid Modernization, Electrification, Strategic Technologies, and the Lighting Design Lab,” David explained. “Our mission isn’t modest – we are building the grid of the future by scaling innovations in grid and customer technology but also by moving forward as an organization. We are innovating across the utility and City – with our internal and external partners’ help – around new approaches to serve our customers more efficiently while enhancing the automation, flexibility, functionality, and reliability of the grid itself.”

David’s introductory visit to Washington state was in 2019 for his initial interview at City Light. “I’ve always been intrigued by the West Coast,” he shared. “My wife and I took an anniversary trip to Cannon Beach five years ago, which planted the seed of moving to the Northwest.”

In this week’s (spot)Light, David shares more about his work, the transition to Washington, and what brought him to City Light.

“It has been an interesting and exciting year to launch a new division. I met most of the team in-person when I first started, but there are several people with whom I still haven’t been in a room. Like everyone, we’re doing what we can to stay balanced and connected digitally. Overall, the adjustments we’ve made to the many curveballs of 2020 have shown how adaptable and flexible our organizational culture at City Light is.”

“Ultimately, it was the job at City Light that brought my family to Seattle; it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I had founded, managed, and led many teams focused on Electrification, Grid Modernization, Product and Service Development, and Emerging Technologies at Con Edison in New York City. City Light is facing the right conditions and has the leadership and team in place to truly lead at the national level on all of these transformational initiatives. One of our big achievements in 2020 was receiving unanimous approval from City Council for our Transportation Electrification Strategic Investment Plan. This plan sets priorities, based on community feedback, for our transportation electrification investments over the next four years.”

“My family and I landed in North Seattle. The neighborhood has been an amazing surprise, and we’ve gotten to know many neighbors, at a distance, of course. My daughter started Zoom kindergarten at Loyal Heights Elementary (Go Beavers!) and is thriving. My favorite thing about the neighborhood, particularly through COVID, is that you can head out your front door, walk in any direction, and make discoveries. I love taking evening walks with my family and finding new places to see. My kids and I are learning the names of the flowers and succulents that grow along the sidewalks. We even did a little spring gardening; tomatoes were challenging, but we got an amazing number of cucumbers and raspberries!”

“Most of my hobbies have lined up pretty well with the move to the PNW – hiking, camping, fishing, and the outdoors. Despite COVID, we made a trip to the San Juan Islands, saw bears while hiking on Mount Rainier, and have loved exploring Whidbey Island, Deception Pass, and other areas. I also enjoy games, and it seems my daughter has taken after me. She is really into playing board and card games with the family now, but I have to keep an eye on her as she’s a skilled cheat.”

“City Light has a culture that is open to change and innovation and is not afraid to go big on behalf of our customers. In my short time here, I’ve been fortunate to address challenging problems, develop long-term plans with my team members, and work broadly across the organization on special initiatives. I’m particularly proud of the achievements of Utility Next, a major cross-departmental effort on how City Light can move forward as a next-generation utility while creating jobs that help the region recover from the economic hardships of COVID and bring stimulus funds to accelerate our climate progress. The people at City Light are passionate about climate change, our customers, and equity. I am too, but have found that working with such engaged and passionate employees is pushing me even further, which is a great thing.”

Lindsay Ohab started at Seattle City Light in April 2020. As the utility’s internship coordinator, Lindsay promotes the internship program to local colleges and universities, onboards new interns, and plans professional development programming. “I feel a lot of pride getting to work with our awesome interns – they bring such skill, passion, and dedication to their projects. For instance, Communications Intern Kelsey Hay frequently writes these (spot)Light profiles!”

Originally from Tempe, Arizona, Lindsay went to school in California, receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She continued on to earn her Master of Public Administration at the University of Washington (UW). “Being new to Seattle, graduate school was such a great way to build my personal and professional network.” Lindsay shared. “I made so many life-long friends at UW, including several who are working throughout the City.”

In this week’s (spot)Light, Lindsay shares her experience at City Light, her pre-COVID favorite hobbies, and what she has enjoyed most about her time at the utility.

“Since I began my position during the pandemic, I have only ever known remote work at the City. Although the internship program was suspended in summer 2020, I have been grateful to have some time to plan for the return of the program, meet colleagues at City Light and in the community, and learn more about the utility. It has been fun to connect with those interns who were able to stay on for a couple of extra months, learn about their work, and get their valuable feedback about the program.” 

“After going to college in California and returning to Arizona for a few years, I realized that the heat just wasn’t for me. I moved to Seattle 12 years ago to attend graduate school at UW and have been here ever since. I love to travel and have missed it a lot during COVID times. Regardless of how near or far I am traveling, I love the feeling of packing up my suitcase and heading to the airport. I remember my last time on a plane was the weekend before the shutdown – I went to visit some family in the Bay area, and my interview at City Light was a few days later. It was a pretty memorable week!”

“I was attracted to City Light because of the organization’s values and the positive experiences of those I know who work here. I spent the past eight years working in higher education, and the transition to City Light has allowed me to engage with the students in our region in a new way for me. In my previous role at Seattle University, I worked with students to find internships around the city. Now I have the opportunity to bring great students to City Light. In my role, I have heard so many positive comments from supervisors about their interns’ meaningful contributions. Interns have also shared the growth they’ve experienced at City Light. It’s a good feeling to be a part of a formative time in the academic and professional lives of our interns.”

“There have been so many resources available that have helped me learn during these remote times – from the Get to Know City Light Info Sessions, Cornerstone trainings, working closely with SDHR, and the kindness of my colleagues. It is strange to have not met all of my team in person, but they have made me feel so welcome and provided lots of laughs during these times.”

Kiyomi Morris began her City Light career in 2015 as an intern in the Environmental, Land & Licensing business unit, and she’s been with the utility ever since. “As an intern, you get to know the utility industry and learn from all of the wonderful people working here. I had a great experience, and I get excited every time I run into someone from my cohort!”

Born and raised in Washington, Kiyomi grew up on a small lake in the Maltby area with her mom, sister, and grandparents. “As kids, my sister and I spent a lot of our time outdoors – swimming, fishing, and exploring,” she shared. “My mom eventually found us a place of our own, but my grandma kept my childhood home and finally sold it this year.”

In this week’s (spot)Light, Kiyomi shares more about her work at City Light, her love for frozen sweet treats, and what initially brought her to the utility.

• 

• 

“I went to the University of Washington, where I received an interdisciplinary degree in environmental studies. It’s a great mix of the natural and social sciences, and it pairs perfectly with the work I do here at City Light. Among other things in my role at the utility, I help facilitate the tracking, reporting, and emission reduction of one of City Light’s most potent greenhouse gasses. Right now, I’m in a temporary out of class role overseeing the tracking and reporting of all emissions associated with City Light’s business. This role also includes policy work and maintaining City Light’s greenhouse gas neutral status. The work requires me to interact with different people across the utility, and I learn so much from everyone I get to work with – whether it’s something about them or about the work they do for the utility.”

“I currently live on Beacon Hill in a house that was originally owned by my great grandparents. I love how many memories I have in this house, and I’m grateful it’s still in the family. It has a beautiful backyard that our dog loves to run around in. The backyard also has several trees and plants, so we have peaches, Asian pears, plums, apples, and cherries. When we were young, my sister and I would spend weekdays here in the summer with my great grandparents. My extended family is also very tight knit, we all live in the area. Almost every Sunday, the whole family would gather at the Beacon Hill house for dinner.”

“My favorite activity is eating ice cream! I bought an ice cream machine last year so that I can make it all the time. I love to cook and bake, too – I like to think that I balance out all of the ice cream and food with all the hiking and backpacking we do. My partner Peter and I also like to fish and sail. He also loves to tinker with things, so I find myself helping out on many projects. Over the past year, we restored his grandfather’s old boat fishing boat – we finished just in time to enjoy the summer this year!”

“I was attracted to City Light’s impressive environmental reputation. I also knew I wanted to work in a place that would challenge me – somewhere I would feel like I was learning something new every day. Thankfully, I found that here. I get to work for a place that challenges me and allows me to learn and meet new people. I don’t think there is anything else I could ask for. Everything about this place is interesting to me! City Light holds a never-ending pit of information, and I absolutely love it.”

Brendan Armstrong joined Seattle City Light in January 2019 after working in the private sector for 11 years. “I wanted to be a part of an organization that serves the public, and City Light’s focus on the customer directly aligns with my values,” Brendan shared.

Brendan has lived in Washington state since he was two years old. “I’ve practically lived here all my life, so I still consider myself a native Washingtonian,” said Brendan. He lives in Renton with his wife, Erin, their three children, two dogs, and one cat. “It can get pretty chaotic at home sometimes; well, let’s be honest, all the time, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!”

In this week’s (spot)Light, Brendan talks about his educational background, family life, and utility work.

“I studied at the University of Washington and have a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Psychology with a minor in Law, Societies and Justice. I have always had a strong interest in governance and how decisions that impact the public are made. I’m also interested in the factors that influence the process. It’s that fervor that led me to City Light.”

“With all the fun at home, our hobbies have seemed to revolve around the kids. We enjoy bike rides around the neighborhood and going to the parks to play. I think that’s just the reality of parenting. I try and instill my preferences, like being a huge Sounders fan! I’m winning the kids over to being lifelong soccer fans.”

“As the Physical Security Program Manager at City Light, I am responsible for mitigating security risks to our employees and infrastructure. For me, this comes down to a philosophy of ensuring our employees are safe and feel safe. I am passionate about this work, especially as we continue to move the physical security program in that direction. I love hearing from the people we support, learning what their needs are, and developing solutions to meet those needs. I’m thankful for my amazing team who not only cares deeply about how we can do better every day for our employees and the customers we serve, but who also make it an overall joy to come to work.”