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News and Updates from Seattle City Light

Seattle City (spot)Light: Sarah Davis

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Seattle City (spot)Light introduces you to the people behind the scenes helping to power Seattle. Meet Sarah Davis, a senior power analyst who works in Regional Affairs and Contracts.

Sarah has been with City Light for five years, and spent the first year and a half as the assistant to the CEO. She currently manages long-term contracts and works on regional power and transmission related issues, and in November she will begin a new role as a strategic advisor. Prior to joining City Light, Sarah practiced family law. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Whitman College in Walla Walla and received her juris doctorate from Lewis & Clark Law School.

sdsl1 Senior Power Analyst Sarah Davis

I decided to take an assistant position as a way to get my foot in the door with City Light. I figured the energy industry would be stable and dynamic, and I knew that I could find something that made me happier than working in family law. Now, I love what I do. It’s a really interesting time be in the energy industry; we’re undergoing a tremendous amount of change. I like that I’m getting to experience it and that in 10 or 20 years, I‘ll be able to look back and know I was part of that history.

I really like my coworkers and enjoy coming to work. I meet two City Light friends every morning to get coffee at City Hall. I’m a creature of habit and no matter the weather, I drink the same thing every day – an iced vanilla latte. I’m always cold, so it doesn’t make sense to consume something that would only add to my chilliness, but I like what I like.

I also like to eat and cook. My husband and his brother recently opened a bakery. He’s more interested in the craft of baking whereas I’m more interested in the eating of said baked goods. Of course, I have a million extremely helpful suggestions for things they should make but, tragically, as brilliant as they are, a lot of my ideas tend to fall on deaf ears. But I really can’t complain about having unlimited access to pastries. While we don’t have any children or pets, we do have what is turning into quite a collection of cacti, succulents, and other interesting plants.

I live about three miles away from work. I really enjoy being active and I’m lucky enough to be able to walk to and from work every day. On my walks I listen to podcasts about bad movies, food, language, science and mysteries. It’s a really nice way to wake up in the morning and a good way to decompress on the way home.

Seattle City (spot)Light: Francis Sammy

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Seattle City Light’s dynamic employees are the foundation upon which we achieve our public service and power goals. Seattle City (spot)Light introduces you to the great people behind the scenes helping to power Seattle. Meet Francis Sammy, electrical power systems engineer.

Francis has been with City Light for five years. He works with line crews to plan and write work orders for major equipment in the field. Every piece of equipment on a power pole has a purpose, and he helps to decide “what goes where, and why.” Prior to joining our team, Francis spent five years working at Tacoma Power. He grew up in New York and earned a degree in electrical engineering from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

francissammyElectrical Power Systems Engineer Francis Sammy

When I moved here from New York, I didn’t know anyone. I was just looking to get experience. This job helped me stay. With public power, the people always seemed really nice. There’s this comradery and friendship and a sense of duty. I was only supposed to be here for a summer but I got a full-time offer. I also fell in love with the Northwest people. And the different-ness. I know that’s not a word, but I’m talking about the juxtaposition of urban living with being surrounded by so many beautiful mountains, lakes and rivers. Growing up in the heart of Brooklyn, there’s not really much of that. Actually, there’s none of it. I remember as a kid I liked it when my dad would drive us in an RV to the Poconos. I also like to stay active. I play basketball downtown. I bike to work, rain or shine. I’d rather grit my teeth through rain than grip my steering wheel in traffic. And at least I’m expending some energy and getting something positive out of my commute.

I think the day goes by way faster when we can all smile. We can stay focused but still joke and have fun from time to time. I can be pretty witty – it’s a small gift. Witty and helpful, when the opportunity allows. I try to be as approachable as possible and I like to know people. I’m not a ‘reinvent the wheel’ type of person. It’s better to talk to people about what they’ve already done and learn from their experience. It’s weird being at this moment in my life and thinking about what shaped me as a person. There’s a lot of introspection. It’s the 1-month countdown until baby girl Sammy arrives. I think about what my parents gave me and how I can mold a similar life for my daughter. I’m looking forward to my next chapter.