Lunch and learn events empower female gas employees
A new collaboration between AVANGRID and other energy companies is aimed at narrowing the gender gap in the energy sector and empowering AVANGRID’s female engineers.
This past July, AVANGRID subsidiaries NYSEG and RG&E hosted the first Western and Central New York “Lunch and Learn” event for Women in Communications and Energy, or WICE.
WICE is a diversity-focused utility and communication industry organization in New York, and AVANGRID is one of several companies to have corporate-level membership, funded by AVANGRID Human Resources, which enables any employee to participate, according to Melissa Reese, gas engineer at AVANGRID and organizer of the event.
“Utility workforces are rapidly changing. Where it was once a male-dominated industry, we’ve seen a true diversification taking form,” Reese told American Gas. “Part of that diversification has to do with the push to get young women involved in STEM at an early age, but the other component has to do with utilities playing a leading role in the clean energy economy.”
With the interest generated by the NYSEG/RG&E WICE-related events, AVANGRID’s WICE members formed a committee that included women from National Grid, with a goal to develop “Lunch and Learn” WICE events for upstate and western New York.
That first event drew 32 women from AVANGRID, National Grid, NYSERDA and Better Power Inc. Donations were collected for the Syracuse YWCA Women’s Residence.
Professional coach, speaker and facilitator Tarchia Powell gave an insightful presentation titled “Energy-Powered Leadership,” recognizing women’s ability to shift atmospheres, drive change and help others grow, Reese said.
“I’m excited about how the industry will continue to evolve as more women join the effort to create a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future,” she added.