In today's blog we would like to share three spotlights from co-op students here at Liberty. Take a look at what they have to say below!
My expierence at Liberty has been nothing but super amazing so far! I work as a Service Desk Analyst and I get to meet new people everyday and help them with their issues. The workload is manageable and the support you get from your peers and manager is huge. The highlight on my term was being paired with the Chief Human Resource Officer of our Company Kirsten Olsen in a reverse mentorship program. It has been an amazing expirience so far with her and we've been having a great time.
Shivang Shingala, Service Desk Analyst Co-op
It has been an incredible journey thus far! I will admit that I have never felt so comfortable in an interview. It was the first sign that Liberty was where I wanted to complete my Co-op. Now working with the EHS Renewable team has been nothing short of amazing! I am pleased to be a part of team that fosters a work environment that has been positive, accommodating, collaborative and provides room for personal growth. Meeting and engaging with the EHS team from various regions during this year's annual EHS Team Meeting in Niagara stands out as one of my most memorable moments.
Zodie Ann Donaldson, EHS Coordinator Co-op
It’s been a great experience working for Liberty as a a Corporate Accounting intern. Colleagues are super nice here and help out whenever they can. I have never felt like I am alone, it feels like I am part of a team here where we tackle issues together. As an intern I am truly learning a lot which I know will be super beneficial for my career. The company culture is amazing! I can easily communicate with people in higher positions like my manager and director without any hesitation. Overall, I would recommend Liberty to every student looking for a co-op experience!
Siddhant Bajaj, Corporate Accounting Analyst Co-op
In the spirit of National Safety Month, this week we are spotlighting Ester Di Giovanni, a Director in Environmental Health & Safety here at Liberty. Take a look at what at what she has to say about tips about personal resilience below!
“Personal resilience goes hand in hand with personal safety and safety at work. Building resilience and improving your overall balance, well-being and mental health helps you be your best self and foster a welcoming, calm, safe and productive work environment. No matter your role with Liberty, we are all affected with managing stress, coping through challenging times and successfully adapting to difficult or fluctuating circumstances. It’s important to acknowledge everyone reacts to life’s setbacks in different ways, however we all have the capacity to adapt well in the face of hard times.
Resilience is the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties – it’s often compared to elasticity or our ability to spring back and emerge even stronger than before. Here are some tips that might be helpful:
In today’s blog we would like to spotlight Adam Brockmiller, a Director in Substation Operations here at Liberty. Take a look at what he has to say below!
Tell us a little bit about you.
I like spending time with my wife and two kids. Fishing, ballgames and hiking are some of my hobbies. A fun fact, is that I’ve had a double lung transplant in 2010, and am a avid transplant and cystic fibrosis advocate.
How did your journey start with Liberty?
I started with Liberty in December of 2007, I did two 8 month internships prior while studying at Missouri University of Science and Technology. I have a BS Electrical Engineering. The internships allowed me to see a large part of the company through my involvement with the System Planning and Protection group. I saw how Engineering was applied and my inherit nature to solve challenges on the system. I was fortunate enough for the company to invest in me and allow me to hire on quickly after graduation. The unique ability to help keeps light on, and help design the system to provide better quality of service really keeps the drive in me to serve our customers, both internally and externally. During the internship I met a lot of different groups, which allowed me to work closely with others groups, Business and Community Development, Engineering, Generation, Line and Substation Operations, Reliability, OMS mapping, contact Center FP&A, all of which play critical roles in customer service, allowing me to grow outside of just my technical educational background.
What is your favorite part of working at Liberty?
My favorite part of working with Liberty is how family like our groups operate and help each other out. We take our challenges seriously and come up with efficient, effective way to deliver power. We always take care of each other from a family perspective.
What are you most proud of in your career so far?
I am most proud of working on several different teams, especially Operation Toughen Up, in which we drove our reliability numbers to ensure we were driving to the best numbers in our industry.
What are your goals for the next few months/years?
In the next few months, and years, I plan to help our teams drive towards even customer service and responses to outages to build the best team we can in future years.
Everyday is a growing opportunity and we are fortunate that Liberty allows us to work so closely with other internal groups to achieve life long career goals.
In today’s blog we would like to spotlight Aroona Aftab, an Environmental Analyst II here at Liberty. Take a look at what she has to say below!
Tell us a little bit about you.
I joined the Environmental Compliance team little over a year ago. I have a BES in Environment and Business and am passionate about operationalizing Sustainability in industry. I believe we all have a role to be responsible environmental citizens and feel lucky to play mine in the work I do at Liberty. My favorite hobby is cooking for my friends and family.
How did your journey start with Liberty & how did you learn about Liberty?
Algonquin Power is a recognized company name in Canada and when a former colleague reached out to me- telling me about how great the culture at Liberty is and that there is an opportunity on his team- I was very interested. I was referred by Steven Bridle, Senior Manager, Environment.
Where are you now with Liberty?
I’ve been with Liberty for one year and started in the Analyst, Environmental role. Now Analyst II.
What do you like most about your current position at Liberty?
I enjoy the challenges that come with working for a complex and fast-growing business. I’m continually learning about our businesses and there is never a dull day!
In today’s blog we would like to spotlight Ryan Thompson, a Rates and Regulatory Affairs Analyst here at Liberty. Take a look at what he has to say below!
Tell us a little bit about you.
I am from the Joplin/Carl Junction, MO area. I have been married to my wife Nikki for 13 years. We have 3 children. Owen 11, Graham 8, Lillian 5. I have a small farmette attached to additional family land (as well as leased land) where I have several registered shorthorn cattle intermixed with my Dad’s commercial cattle. The kids and I enjoy checking cows and naming the new babies. Usually Disney character names. Nikki and I keep busy running kids to extra-curricular activities, sports, dance, church, etc.
Fun Fact: I went to the University of Hawaii for my first semester of college (architecture major).
Favorite Hobby: Going to sporting events at the University of Arkansas. It doesn’t really matter what sport. My kids love to go and call the Hogs. Football on The Hill in Fayetteville is always a good time. Being in attendance when the Hogs beat Texas in 2021 was super crazy.
Education: I attended several schools and changed majors a couple of times from Architecture and Civil Engineering to settling on a Finance Degree with Real Estate Concentration and a Minor in Marketing from the University of Arkansas.
I’ve been with Liberty Utilities since June of 2020 or 10 months.
How did your journey start with Liberty & how did you learn about Liberty?
Due to stage of life changes, I was open to doing something else if the right opportunity presented itself. Jeremiah Brunner is a friend of mine that works at Liberty and has for several years. Jeremiah has always said very good things about Liberty and the people he works with. I reached out to Jeremiah to ask him about the hiring process and different jobs at Liberty. We talked about a couple of the jobs that were posted at the time and he set up a lunch with one of the CPs, Tyler Lipscomb, to just talk about the company and different positions. I did not get the initial job I applied for. After some time, I was turned down. Very soon after getting rejected for that job, Talent Acquisitions reached out to gauge my interest in a position in Regulatory. I again reached out to Jeremiah for his advice and input. After talking with him, Talent Acquisitions, and my wife Nikki I agreed to pursue the Regulatory position.
Where are you now with Liberty?
I am a Rates and Regulatory Affairs Analyst and have been for all 10 months I’ve been with the company.
What do you like most about your current position at Liberty?
My current position is unique in that every day is different. Some days that’s good, and some days that’s more of a challenge. I do enjoy a good challenge; I always have. I say those things to preface what I like most about my current position. What I like most about my current position is a boss that gives both guidance and space to develop and learn with each challenge. I’ve learned a tremendous amount since coming to Liberty and I appreciate the opportunity to do so in an informal structure.
This week we are spotlighting Eleonora Gagliardi, an Environmental Planner here at Liberty. Take a look at what she has to say below!
A little bit about you.
I spend my past time volunteering an animal rescue.
How did your journey start with Liberty?
I started my journey here as an environmental planning co-op
Where are you now with Liberty?
I am currently an Environmental Planner, I
What do you like most about your current position at Liberty?
That I get to work with an incredible team, who is always willing to teach me and help me refine my skills.
What did you learn through your journey?
I have learned that everything is a process. Just like many other things learning takes time. As long as you keep working at something you will slowly start building up your set of skills.
What advice do you have for students in their journey to finding work?
Don’t give up. Keep trying and keep looking for ways to refine your skills.
This week we are spotlighting Kaitlyn Nash, a Communications Coordinator within the Corporate Communications team here at Liberty. Take a look at what she has to say below!
A little bit about you.
I completed eight months of co-op with Liberty and then returned full-time after I graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2021. A fun fact about me is that I love to work on Lego projects and puzzles. I also enjoy going on hikes with my dog. (I included photos of a few of my Lego projects and Tucker.)
How did your journey start with Liberty?
I started in January 2020 as a Communications Coordinator Co-op within Corporate Communications for four months. I then moved over to the Environment Team as an Environmental Coordinator Co-op until August 2020.
Where are you now with Liberty?
I’m currently a Communications Coordinator within Corporate Communications.
How did you end up where you are now?
I have a lot of wonderful people around me that have supported and encouraged me throughout my University experience and continue to do so while I’m early on in my career. I wouldn’t be where I am without them and do appreciate those connections. You should always surround yourself with people that empower you and encourage you to do better.
What do you like most about your current position at Liberty?
I love that my job gives me the opportunity to work collaboratively with colleagues from different departments and backgrounds.
What did you learn through your journey?
I have learned many lessons, every lesson molding me into the person I am today. The most important lesson I've learned by far is to be adaptable and open to change. We all experienced change during COVID-19, and during that time, I had to be very open to new opportunities while trying to finish a degree online and then join a virtual workforce. This time was scary and unpredictable, but being adaptable made this experience easier.
What advice do you have for students in their journey to finding work?
It is a bit of a cliché, but you need to truly believe in yourself for others to do the same. Take on opportunities even if you think you don’t meet every single criterion. You never know if you don’t try, and you can always put 100% effort into everything you do to prove to yourself and others that you’re more than capable.
Did you know that April was named National Internship Awareness Month as a way to recognize the advantages internships offer as well as acknowledge the amazing working professionals who arise from these opportunities?
Throughout this month we will be recognizing the amazing professionals at Liberty who started their journeys with us as interns. This week we are spotlighting Leo Guin, an accountant in Fredericton. Take a look at his story below!
Tell us a little bit about you.
• Fun fact: My home is overrun with animals. I have 3 cats named Whiskey, Vodka and Jäger. I also have a dog called Morgan. And no, I’m not a drinker.
• Hobby: I have a home gym and lift heavy weight. I also like landscaping and hauling heavy materials.
• Education: I graduated from University of New Brunswick in 2017 with a BBA in Finance. I received my CPA Designation in November 2022.
• I have been working at Gas New Brunswick since January 2015. The business unit was owned by Enbridge until Liberty acquisition in 2019.
How did your journey start with Liberty?
I started as a co-op student in 2015, under a one-year contract to cover a coworker’s maternity leave. I was able to work part-time from 2015-2017 while I was completing my BBA. After graduation, I was offered a full-time position. GNB also supported me through the CPA program. I am so grateful for the generosity and support that I received throughout my time here.
I have always been with Gas New Brunswick unit. I started in the Regulatory team as a business analyst. Then I moved to Financial Reporting team in an accounting analyst position. Then I moved back to Regulatory team in an accountant position.
Where are you now with Liberty?
I am working in the Regulatory team at Gas New Brunswick as a senior accountant (Accountant III).
How did you end up where you are now?
I would say I never stopped learning and always trust the NB team that they are taking good care of me.
What do you like most about your current position at Liberty?
I feel that my people leaders truly care about my career needs and always willing to enable me to perform at my best capacity. I have awesome bosses: Dave Lavigne and Gilles Volpé.
Not only the leaders, but my peers at the NB team are also extremely kind and supportive to one another.
What did you learn through your journey?
Good people make good work. I learned that when people care deeply and support one another, the workplace becomes a good team. And a good team naturally does good work.
Be reliable and rely on your team. In a high-stress and deadline-oriented work environment, it helps tremendously to know that someone always got your back.
What advice do you have for students in their journey to finding work?
Never stop learning. I have been on this job for a couple years now and I still learn new things every day. There are always new knowledge and ways to improve the work that you do.
Asking for help. The point of working in a big company (like Liberty) is that you can access resources from others. If you have a problem, then there might be others who have the same problem. If they have not resolved it, then at least you have someone to work on it together. You are not in this alone, and you shouldn’t be.
In today’s blog we would like to spotlight Caroline Wojtyla, a Liberty employee in the Engineering department. Take a look at what she has to say below!
Tell us a little bit about you.
My background is in Civil Engineering and I have worked with Liberty for almost 2 years now. My favourite way to enjoy Canadian winters is to go snowboarding.
How did your journey start with Liberty?
Liberty found me! After a Liberty representative reached out to me, I began my research. Everyone that I spoke with enjoyed working at Liberty because of their kind and enthusiastic colleagues and the abundance of opportunities Liberty has to offer.
What is your favorite part of working at Liberty?
It's never a dull moment working at Liberty. My day to day always presents new challenges and opportunities for growth. My leaders and peers are extremely supportive and are always there to collaborate. They also encourage me to continue striving for improvement.
What are you most proud of in your career so far?
My proudest moment is attaining my professional engineering certification. I also am proud to have been able to pivot my career into the renewable energy sector.
What are your goals for the next few months/years?
My goals are to:
• Earn my Project Management Professional certification (PMP)
• Support the organization of a quarterly touch point for the Women in Business Development at Liberty
• Be elected to the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers Board of Directors
We want to take a moment to celebrate the many achievements of women across the globe including the trailblazers within Liberty. This is a special day to support and celebrate women's social, economic, cultural and political accomplishments. This month we also acknowledge Women's History Month and honor the women who came before us and fought for equality.
At Liberty, we believe a diverse workforce and inclusive culture are key ingredients for innovation, operational excellence, and organizational efficacy.
Our Women of Liberty Employee Resource Group empowers our female-identifying employees to be their best selves by providing a supportive environment to grow and connect with their peers. This group also offers local Circles, where women at Liberty meet to discuss opportunities related to their career aspirations and personal goals and access learning and development through mentorship and networking. Through these local Circle meetings, we, as an organization, work to identify new opportunities, fill gaps and create safe spaces for ideas and experiences to be shared.
International Women's Day is everyone's day, so take the time this month to listen, share, and learn about the experiences of the women in your life, whether they are your family, friends, or even coworkers.
Let's acknowledge the challenges women face, celebrate women's achievements, and raise awareness for women's equality! As feminist Gloria Steinham once said: "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights."
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This month has been a month of learning, sharing, and understanding different perspectives.
In today’s blog we would like to continue the moments of learning, sharing, and understanding perspectives by sharing some history and importance of cultural wealth and economics from a different perspective.
As of 2019, there were 134,567 registered Black-owned employer businesses (businesses with more than one employee) in all sectors of the U.S. economy. Black communities have a rich history of becoming entrepreneurs to provide goods and services that were not always readily available to us in mainstream sectors. We used our innate skills and talents to sell products and services within our communities. We all know the mechanic down the street that is not a registered “business” but certainly can feed his family using his abilities and skill sets. We know of our neighborhood elders that could bring a “country” remedy to soothe ailments and heal to supplement income. Or consider the seamstress, the laundress, the hair care maven and of course the builders. The list goes on and on. They may not have office space or “hang a shingle” outside of their door, but it worked, and black communities thrived. As more and more Black Businesses prospered, a need arose to catalog these resources, and ensure sustainability even in the early 1900s. Word of mouth was the primary advertisement until… Black Enterprise Magazine. This publication was unchartered territory and became a beacon of light for greater advertisement, exposure to larger audiences and provided resources to assist in growth and development of black business structure. As a Black Business, you knew you “made it” if you reached that level of recognition.
Black businesses were and still remain diligent to their crafts, humble in their delivery of products and services, expect no less than the opportunity to compete to provide products and services, and lastly expect to be equitably paid for products and services rendered. Black Entrepreneurship eventually did make it into some of the mainstream sectors. Generations of black business are still successful today based on family tradition, entrepreneurial values, good work ethics and most importantly faith! Please see below for some interesting and generational companies that have withstood the test of time and thrive today.
Read and learn about:
Black Wallstreet: Former byname of the Greenwood neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where in the early 20th century African Americans had created a self-sufficient prosperous business district. - What is 'Black Wall Street'? History of the community and its massacre (cnbc.com)
5 Oldest Black Owned Businesses - Black Excellence For Generations: 5 Of The Oldest Black-Owned Businesses | The Michigan Chronicle
McKissack & McKissack (Founded in 1905) – Architecture, Nashville Tennessee
W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home (Founded in 1894), Mississippi.
The Philadelphia Tribune (Founded in 1884) – News Publication, Philadelphia.
NC Mutual (Founded in 1898) – Insurance, Raleigh North Carolina
E.E. Ward Moving and Storage (Founded in 1881) – Logistics, Columbus, OH
Happy National Engineers Week!
This week is to celebrate the achievements and contributions made by engineers in society and around the world. All of the diligent and driven engineers are the ones who impact our everyday living significantly.
In today’s blog, we would like to share two employee spotlights, both who are in the engineering department.
"I have been serving the renewable energy industry since I graduated from University of Waterloo. I spent most of my time in operations & maintenance aspect of solar energy business but since 2018, I was looking to experience the project management side of renewable industry and make a bigger impact by managing capital projects. Luckily, I had the privilege to step into project management of renewable energy sector in 2021 through Liberty as Project Engineer and began to put my expertise for the sustainability & improvement of our key assets especially for Wind & Solar portfolio. At Liberty, I love to be among very diversified and professional people who are always looking to make the things better for providing safe, reliable and sustainable energy for communities.”
Furqan Najmi, Project Engineer, Electrical
“I decided to join Liberty because my professional goals align with the company goals. Not only Liberty is in the renewables industry, but I am confident that working here will provide me with the opportunity to do meaningful work, develop my skills, make a positive impact, to grow and progress within the company. I started at Liberty as a Project Engineer in October 2021 and despite having experience in other types of renewables (Wind, Solar and Energy Storage), I was given RNG projects to manage (Renewable Natural Gas). It made me one of the early RNG pioneers in the company and introduced me to a new technology, which I loved. One year later, in October 2022 I was promoted to Project Manager.
What I like most about working at Liberty are the people and the company's culture, then comes the learning opportunities and the company’s industry (renewables).
The thing that I am most proud of in my career is the fact that I've always worked with renewable energies throughout my professional career, contributing to making the world a better place.
Regarding my goals for the next few months/years, I would say they are to learn more, to show what I am capable of and to grow in the company.
A Fun fact about me is that I like cooking so much that when I decided to move to Canada in 2016, I considered leaving my career in renewables to try a career in cooking and to try and become a chef.”
Saulo Maranhao, Project Manager, Business Development
As we continue to celebrate Black History Month here at Liberty, we are sharing and learning about history, achievements, recognition, and personal perspectives.
Literature, arts, and media are all ways in which information and material can be communicated. Through literature, arts, and media, we are able to understand information and material from a personal perspective.
Reading books by Black writers is important in helping us better understand the world around us as well as what it means to be Black. We learn by understanding the richness of human experience and by exposing ourselves to new perspectives. Stories that help break down barriers of inequality, stereotypes, and bias. Black Authors are well known for historical depictions and commentary through the use of poems, prose, and to inform, educate and share aspects of Black culture.
Below are a few influential Black writers who have written and created a number of significant works that are worth exploring:
Toni Morrison - She is best known for her numerous novels, which include Beloved (Alfred A. Knopf, 1987), winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, and Song of Solomon (Alfred A. Knopf 1977), winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 1993, Morrison received the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Maya Angelou - One of the most influential women of our time. She published autobiographies, essays, and wrote many books of poetry. One of her most notable poems is Phenomenal Woman. This poem shows how even though someone is not beautiful on the outside compared to society's standards, there is an inner beauty that makes a woman even more beautiful.
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (b. 1957; years active 1977-present) - An American filmmaker and actor. Lee's work has continually explored race relations, issues within the black community, the role of media in contemporary life, urban crime and poverty, and other political issues.
Tyler Perry (b. 1969; years Active 1992-present) - An American filmmaker, actor, playwright, author, songwriter, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the creator and performer of the Madea character, a tough elderly woman. Perry's films vary in style from orthodox filmmaking techniques to filmed productions of live stage plays.
These are only a few of the many notable Black writers that we’d like to highlight. Be sure to use this month to read up on works from new perspectives, educate, and celebrate Black History.
This month, we proudly celebrate Black History. This month is an opportunity to educate ourselves of the rich history of Liberty and the world’s African diaspora, honor the past, and share excitement for the future.
It is important to recognize the history, achievements, and personal perspectives of African diaspora, including literature, art and media, wealth and economics, cuisine, celebrity, and music.
Music is a highly impactful influence on us. Not only can it lighten your mood, ease anxiety and stress, and increase productivity, it can provide you with an opportunity to learn about culture.
For centuries, Black Music has and continues to shape and share the lives, accomplishments and struggles of Black People the world over. The roots and impact of Black Music are much deeper than catchy songs and popular artists. Black culture touches, engages and influences every genre of music: gospel, rock and roll, funk, jazz, rap, blues, hip hop and rhythm and blues.
In Black communities, music finds alignment as a messenger, an outlet and a space for freedom. Take a listen to the richness of Black Music enjoyed by your friends, family, peers, and coworkers. Use this as an opportunity to share knowledge and spark some interesting conversation!
The Negro National Anthem is a poem and song written about the hope and resilience of Black people transcending the enslavement and discrimination of the past and celebrating freedom. This song is also known as “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and many have performed it to celebrate bring people together.
Lift Every Voice and Sing, performed by Alicia Keys
This song and performance touches on the various parts of life and entertainment that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion permeates through our communities and brings us together.
Lift Every Voice and Sing, performed by P.S. Elijah Stroud Elementary School
You can never be too young to share and teach!
A Love Supreme by John Coltrane
John William Coltrane is one of the most influential jazz musicians to ever play, and today remains even more relevant than during his life. A saxophonist, he was initially drawn to the popular jazz formats of bebop and hard bop, before eventually becoming one of the guiding forces behind free jazz.
These are only a couple of the many notable songs and pieces created and performed by Black artists that we’d like to highlight. Be sure to use this month to listen to more pieces from new perspectives, educate, and celebrate Black History.
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Here at Liberty, we understand the value and importance of generational learning and getting fresh perspectives. With the month of January being National Mentorship Month, we want to shine a spotlight on our Reverse Mentorship Program. Unlike a traditional mentorship program, Reverse Mentorship pairs junior employees who take on the “mentor” role and senior leaders who take on the “mentee” role. This program provides junior employees with the opportunity to share their ideas and engage in valuable conversation with senior leaders.
Take a look at some of the co-ops who participated in the Reverse Mentorship Program below and their key takeaways!
My experience with the reverse mentorship program has been extremely rewarding. As a Total Rewards Co-op, the majority of my work deals with the inner works of Liberty, dealing with employees benefits and compensation from the corporate head office in Oakville. Through the reverse mentorship program I was paired up with the Director of Government Affairs, Faviola Ochoa, located in California, and was able to learn more about the great work happening at an entirely different area of Liberty. From the very beginning, Faviola and I discussed all kinds of barriers to success in our professional lives, and I was able to provide my advice and opinions from an outside perspective. These conversations allowed me to develop my own skills, as well as showcase my knowledge thus far, and I can’t wait to take everything I’ve learned from this program into my future. Thanks so much to those at Liberty who took the time to organize this program and to Faviola for such a life-changing semester!
- Rowan Brown, Total Rewards Co-op
I absolutely loved the Reverse Mentorship Program, and I am glad I was a part of this. I feel programs like this enable you to work upon your leadership and communication skills. This program helped me a lot in gaining the necessary confidence to talk to people higher up. One of the benefits of the program is that the generation gap gets reduced by sharing ideas and knowledge. I learned a lot from my mentee and at the same time I was able to provide my opinions and reviews about stuff as well. It helped us both get better insights and POV’s that we might not have thought of. Theresa is a warm, passionate and super-friendly personality. She made me feel super comfortable and I felt free to put my thoughts out without being nervous. The conversations flowed smoothly, and we never felt any awkwardness or tension, another reason why Theresa is such a great leader. Getting to know about Theresa a bit more, I was truly inspired and motivated by her journey, and I will always look up to that. I would take this program up every single time if I am back here since it’s a great nurturing and growth opportunity.
- Shivang Shingala, Service Desk Analyst Co-op
The Reverse Mentorship Program was one of the main reasons I applied for this role at Liberty! Where do you get the opportunity to mentor a Senior Leader? I got the opportunity to be paired with Dale Harrington, Director of Human Resources, he is highly knowledgeable and shared many things with me about the company that I was not aware of. We talked about employee retention, the mindset of the current generation, and their expectations from organizations, including "How do we earn money?" and some information about facilities. We usually have a half-hour meeting that lasts 45 minutes because we both have so much to discuss. This was one of the best parts of my Co-op term, and I am looking forward to participating in this program for my Winter 2023 term as well.
- Farhinbibi Sindha, Talent Acquisition Co-op
Sweeney is Liberty’s Puppy with a Purpose®, a five-month-old black Labrador Retriever. His purpose in life is to provide independence for a visually impaired individual through the Guide Dog Foundation, located in Smithtown, New York. He is being raised by East Region Communications team member Pam Bellings, who takes him everywhere she goes, including to the New York Water offices where she is based and for visits to other Liberty offices.
Presidents Chris Alario, New York Water, Neil Proudman, New Hampshire, and Mark Saltzman, New York Gas sponsored Sweeney through the Guide Dog Foundation as a way to give back to our communities. Guide dogs are life-changing for their owners, and they recognized the impact this donation would have on someone's life. As part of the sponsorship, the three operating centers collectively donated $25,000 to the Guide Dog Foundation to support the program and volunteered to raise Sweeney until he is ready for formal training.
Sweeney loves to chase leaves, steal socks, eat snacks and snuggle, but his absolute favorite thing is to interact with people. Anyone who shows him a little love should be prepared for lots of puppy kisses. He also adores training sessions, which come with non-stop food rewards. He will learn any skill quickly knowing he is getting a treat.
There are lots of tasks Sweeney does each day, but he thinks he’s just having fun. Socialization is his number one task. Sweeney has to learn to be comfortable with people wherever he goes, and he has no problem with that.
He is required to go to public places a minimum of five times each week. This includes visits to grocery stores, the post office, the mall, restaurants, and of course, Liberty offices. He loves these outings so much that it is difficult to get him to leave. He often sits down and refuses to walk to the car. But his treat lady, aka, puppy raiser, can always entice him with some kibble.
Every day, we practice the basics, including sit, lay down, stay and heel. Currently he is also focusing on learning to go to his place when told, and to stay there. He likes going to his place but prefers not to stay. At five months old, he’s got lots of puppy energy.
Additionally, Sweeney has to learn to ignore distractions such as squirrels, birds, sirens, and yes, those blowing leaves that he loves to chase. We teach this by front loading him with treats before he has a chance to go for the distraction. For example, if we see another dog ahead, we start giving him treats while saying “nice” and keep doing this until the other dog passes. This teaches him that ignoring the distraction brings him rewards. It is challenging but he is making incredible progress.
Sweeney is required to attend Guide Dog Foundation puppy classes twice each month, where the distractions are extreme. Lots of other Puppies with a Purpose®, people, airplanes, etc. and the goal is to ignore them. Nobody expects perfection at this age.
The goal is for Sweeney to become an assistance dog, preferably a guide dog for a blind or visually impaired individual. He could have a different career that better suits him if he doesn’t meet the qualifications for a guide dog. He has a long road ahead of him until that point and many skills to tackle. We’re all rooting for him to succeed!
Sweeney is the most affectionate little puppy. He came to us at 22 pounds and now weighs in at approximately 46 pounds. Everyone loves him and he loves them right back. He is eager to learn and is becoming more mature each week. It is rewarding to see him succeed at a task and know that his skills will one day provide a life changing experience for a person in need. That person will be lucky to have him, and we are lucky to have him for this time.
Get to know Julianne through her story of coming out as trans in her personal and work life, how living authentically has changed her life, advice for those who may be considering coming out, and ways you can support those in the LGBTQ+ community.
Julianne has worked as a contractor on several Liberty projects in the Central Region for the last two years. She earned her Associate of Science in Electrical Engineering from Southwest Virginia Community College.
What led you to a career in engineering, and specifically working in the energy sector?
My father was a project manager in construction and engineering. He spent many years teaching me the principles of critical thinking, problem solving and project planning that helped to shape my interest in the field. In high school, I took a keen interest in industrial arts programs like wood shop, metal shop, electronics and drafting. I always had a fascination with electricity and the processes by which it’s utilized, so electrical engineering came as a natural career path.
I began my professional career as a drafter for a company in St. Louis. As I grew into a senior designer role, I specified equipment, ran calculations, and produced full designs for senior engineer’s review. Through these experiences, I also had the opportunity to spend time in the field. This drove my interest in pursuing field construction work, which I found both challenging and rewarding. It was gratifying to make decisions that directly impacted projects and produced tangible results.
As a result of project work, I discovered that the energy sector offered a breadth of experiences and new challenges that bring diversity to my daily work.
How long have you worked on Liberty projects?
I have worked on projects for Liberty for two years. Beginning with the 91-O line from Gentry, AR, to Neosho, MO, I provided daily observance, progress reporting, quality assurance and coordination from the field for Liberty. I then performed similar responsibilities in Monett, MO, for 69KV distribution line upgrades. This was then followed by the Sub 322 replacement project in Anderson, MO, where I assisted Liberty in the project site coordination, materials management, field progress reporting, and quality assurance. More recently I have been providing this same resource for Liberty at the Sub 432 substation replacement and line upgrades in Webb City, MO.
What do you love most about your work?
My favorite part about my work is the process by which the team arrives at the end result. I enjoy collaborating to address challenges and implement innovative solutions.
When did you know you were trans?
I first knew that something was different about me in my teenage years, but the social norms of the time (the 1980s-1990s) made it difficult to identify what that difference was. I had never even heard the term “transgender” until I was in my twenties – and then, only briefly. When I came to fully understand the term, I had a profound realization that this explained how I felt, but I was still afraid to talk to anyone about it.
How did you come out in the workplace?
About five years ago, I began a period of self-reflection that resulted in truly accepting myself for who I am. Through the support of my partner, I developed the courage to begin coming out in public, though I was not yet out in the workplace. Fears of misperceptions and social acceptance kept me from letting the people around me know who I truly was for some time. I learned about &PROUD, our LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group at Burns & McDonnell and felt supported by fellow members. Eventually, I felt comfortable approaching a manager who was touring a Liberty project site and began the journey to live as my authentic self at work.
How was that received?
Everyone has been extremely respectful and courteous. In fact, I feel like the crews on project sites have even more respect for me since coming out because of my courage in being authentic. Many within the construction community make a concerted effort to use my preferred pronouns, which I greatly appreciate.
What do you wish people would better understand about trans people?
I wish people would better understand that many transgender people, like myself, are happy to help educate others about things they may not understand regarding being transgender, if asked respectfully and with sincere intent. Through these conversations, we often discover more similarities than differences.
What recommendations would you give to those not in the LGBTQ+ community who may have questions about pronouns or how to address someone who is trans?
If you are speaking with a person and are unsure, don’t hesitate to ask what their preferred pronouns are. Avoid immediately assuming gender pronouns. Many non-binary individuals may prefer not to be gendered. I often experience being gendered as male due to my deep voice, despite my name and presentation as a woman. It may not seem like much to those who are not in the LGBTQ+ community, but pronoun misuse can affect an individual far more than the speaker realizes.
Do you have any advice for anyone who may be struggling with how to come out in the workplace?
Fear is a hard emotion to overcome, but fear is often a feeling that we manifest based on an untrue representation of reality. Find a small group of people who you know and trust. Try talking to them first to build your confidence in coming out. Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace has come a long way, and it only continues to progress if we have the courage to show up authentically for ourselves and our colleagues.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience as a trans person?
Since coming out as trans, I have experienced newfound joy and fulfillment. Being true to myself is not easy, but it brings inner peace. I try to serve as an example to other transgender individuals and parents or family members of transgender individuals. My hope is that they see that we can continue to be successful in whatever we choose to do, and we do not have to give up our dream careers or previous lives to be our authentic selves.
NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY This October 11, National Coming Out Day, is a day where individuals in the LGBTQ+ community spread awareness that prejudice thrives in ...
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