A Day in
the Life
of Energy Professionals
Discover the People Powering Our Energy Future
From engineers and technicians to lineworkers and offshore wind developers to power plant professionals and project managers, each “Day-in-the-Life” story highlights the diversity and drive behind careers in energy and offers a glimpse into what it means to work in the energy sector and power the future.
The “Day in the Life” profiles are personal narratives that showcase the routines, challenges, and triumphs of energy professionals. Their stories provide authentic looks at what it’s like to work in one of the most essential, innovative, and evolving industries. Hear their experiences. Learn about their journeys to discover
- Daily responsibilities: Insight into the tasks and activities that make up a typical day.
- Career paths: How each person got started in their role and the journey that led them there.
- Key challenges and rewards: The obstacles these employees face and the accomplishments that make it all worthwhile.
- Personal insights: Their thoughts on the future of energy and advice for those considering a similar career.
Interested In Learning More About Energy Career Paths?
Join us as we delve into the lives of the people who are powering our future. Their stories are not just about jobs but about passion, innovation, and the drive to make a difference. Let these energy professionals’ career stories inspire you as they work to shape tomorrow’s world today.
A Day in the Life of a Nuclear Power Plant Professional
When Margarita Villa is at the store with her family shopping in the produce section and they pass by the organic foods, she likes to say that nuclear energy is the organic food of the energy world. “I like to call it organic energy,” says Villa, a mechanical design...
A Day in the Life Of An Energy Lineworker
Jeremy Young can remember the exact moment when he knew he wanted to get into the power industry. He was installing floor tiles. Two of his uncles taught him the craft, and he started doing the work part-time in high school. He was installing floor tile for about six...
A Day in the Life of a Solar Technician
Kiera Nelson’s day literally starts with the sun. As a solar technician for Southern Power, Nelson’s necessary tasks working with solar inverters – the brains of a solar power installation – may start sooner in summer when the sun rises earlier or later in winter when...
A Day in the Life of an HR Professional
Isaiah Wattree started his job as an HR analyst at Evergy in May of 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. “So I had to start remote,” he says, explaining that Evergy was created in 2018 as a result of a merger between Westar Energy and Kansas City Power &...
A Day in the Life of a Natural Gas Distribution Professional
Sandra Sanchez, a First Responder at New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), a gas distribution company that serves over half a million customers in New Jersey, is passionate about her work. She is a diligent and dedicated employee, role model, and advocate for more women to...
A Day in the Life of a Hydroelectric Energy Professional
Vern Cochran believes there are three areas for work that are extremely reliable – no matter what the economy is doing at the time. “People need to eat, people need fuel, and people need power,” he says. Cochran has worked in all three of these areas, but he believes,...
With Climate Change on Her Mind, This Engineer Sees a Future in Nuclear
Clean Energy Advocate, Engineer, and Graduate Student. Like many young people today, the environment and climate change are driving my future and my life choices. As the recent youth-led climate protests have highlighted, the youngest among us will have to face the...
Day in the Life of a Cyber-Security Expert
Security sector jobs have changed. Today, those in security must think about enabling a business and helping it thrive, in addition to maintaining a secure facility. “Security touches all aspects of a business,” explains Brian Harrell, Vice President and Chief...