The local women of APS share what it’s like to work for the state’s largest electricity provider
By Hilary Dartt
Generally, when people think of Arizona Public Service (APS)—the largest electricity provider in the state—they may picture men at the forefront. And while men make up the majority of the employee roster (as of May, 27.4 percent of APS’s 6,000 employees are women), there is a growing number of women employees within the organization … in a variety of roles.
Mackenzie Rodgers, APS Transmission Operations and Maintenance, explained that as an organization, APS supports women in all roles, including leadership … and many opportunities exist that the public—and women in particular—may not expect.
“I’ve worked in many jobs where I’m the only woman on the team or one of many women on the team,” Mackenzie said, “but I have never felt not supported or empowered or mentored to be my best and support other women to be their best as well.”
APS has a number of employee network groups, and the first and one of the most popular is the WISE network: Women In Search of Excellence.
Prescott Woman magazine asked APS’s local women to weigh in on what it’s like to work there.
Susan Aspa, Verde Construction/Maintenance Supervisor
Time with APS: 24 years as an employee; 34 years total as an employee or contractor
What she does: Susan makes sure obstacles are out of the way for the line crews and troublemen to work safely as they build lines and keep the power on for all the Verde Valley customers.
Her favorite thing about working for APS: “Every day is different. I never stop learning.” She said she loves being part of helping the community, and her co-workers are like family.
On the women of APS: “The women at APS are strong, smart, and not afraid of a challenge in a field that is dominated by men. They all bring different points of view on the work, which I believe builds a stronger company. This particular group of women inspires me to be better and reminds me that we are able to accomplish anything as a team.”
Darla Deville, Public Affairs Manager, NW Division
Time with APS: 10 years
What she does: As the public affairs manager, Darla considers herself a dedicated community partner; a bridge of information, communication, and support between APS and the communities it serves. Her role also entails government affairs, economic development, non-profit partnerships, and more. “I’m the local point of contact for whatever issues might pop up, from customer care and communications to coordinating events we participate in locally. Every day is different!”
Her favorite thing about working for APS: “The spirit of aloha is alive and well at APS! We are a company of people, a family, who genuinely care about one another and the communities we serve. We are a company that believes in service and there are so many ways we demonstrate our commitment.” For most APS employees, their jobs are an extension of who they are and they live their principles: “Planning for the future, empowering each other, and succeeding together.”
On the women of APS: “APS is a company that truly believes in its people. Based on ethics and integrity, everyone is treated with respect and encouraged to be the best they can be. Perhaps a traditionally male-dominated industry, APS values diversity and we celebrate the fact that we are all in this together. This solid foundation has provided the opportunity for everyone—certainly, women—to grow and succeed through every department in the company … and we have! From linemen to senior vice presidents, if you have the skill, the talent, the desire, and the values that set APS apart, the door is open for women to limitless possibilities.”
Sheryl McCracken, Customer Project Consultant
Time with APS: 10 years
What she does: Sheryl manages area municipal, industrial, large commercial and multi-family development projects. She mentors customer representatives and serves as a local stakeholder for APS capital and system projects.
Her favorite thing about working for APS: “I love APS’s focus on serving the community and public safety.” Today’s business environment presents a tremendous number of challenges, she said, “and APS has a lot of dedicated people who work around the clock to ensure the public has power when they need it. They also spend an incredible amount of time volunteering for community service, and donating money and resources to help those in need.”
On the women of APS: While men generally make up most of APS’s field crews, “there are a lot of women in support roles … I’ve been in Prescott for more than 40 years and worked in multiple industries, so I appreciate the opportunities APS provides statewide. The women who work in the Prescott district love the community and are passionate about their work. I’ve never worked with a group of people as dedicated to safety, integrity, and serving others.”
Tracy Moore, Supervisor, NW Forestry & Resource Management
Time with APS: 19 years as an employee, plus one as a contractor
What she does: Tracy oversees APS’s vegetation management work in the northwest division, which includes Wickenburg, Bagdad, Sedona, the Verde Valley, the northern part of Black Canyon City, and the Prescott area. The team’s goal: to ensure electric lines stay clear. They use trimming, removal, and herbicide. They also coordinate with other agencies in regard to threatened and endangered species and cultural concerns.
Her favorite thing about working for APS: “My team. I love my team. My team is amazing. We have a lot of camaraderie, and we really support each other. It’s kind of a big family here working at APS.” She reflected on APS’s hometown, small-town family feel, and said the organization is family oriented and concerned about making sure people have what they need to deal with issues in their personal and professional lives.
On the women of APS: When she started, there were only a handful of women working for APS, but over the years, that number has grown. Even more importantly, she said, is that APS personnel are respectful of different perspectives and different backgrounds and ideas. The willingness to try new approaches “is really exciting and it’s more of a driving factor in getting the job done and doing what we’re doing.”
Brenda Rhodes, Business Operations Consultant, Fire Mitigation
Time with APS: 14 years
What she does: Brenda manages the deployment of fire mitigation technologies on 250 of the highest-risk fire feeders in APS’s distribution system statewide. Fire mitigation technologies include Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition—protective switches, expulsion limiting fuses, weather stations, and cameras.
Her favorite thing about working for APS: “The constant challenges our industry faces make each day on the job new and exciting. I enjoy the people at APS the most though, as I consider them my second family. I take seriously the responsibility of providing an essential service to our customers and community.
On the women of APS: While men hold many of the front-line positions and supervisory roles in operations, “There are more women now than even five years ago. I’m no stranger to a male-dominated career field. I spent ten years as an F-15 aircraft mechanic in the United States Air Force before joining APS. I’ve held roles in the power plants, operations, and maintenance. The APS women in this group are strong leaders, compassionate, hardworking, and devote their whole self into their work. But most importantly, they support other APS women as well. There are many decades of experience amongst these ladies and I’m proud to work alongside them.”
Rebecca Rudd-Lacy, Key Account Manager II, NW Division
Time with APS: 26 years
What she does: Rebecca is the primary APS representative for all key accounts in the NW area—Wickenburg to Sedona. “I engage in the most complex customer account management issues, apply advanced energy management technologies and solutions, and utilize knowledge of energy policy” to support customers and APS. She builds and maintains relationships with business leaders for large commercial and industrial customers and supports those that require aggressive energy management support. She also engages with customers that require large load and generate high revenue.
Her favorite thing about working for APS: “There has been a wide range of opportunities for growth and learning along the way. I have been blessed to hold a variety of positions within APS and am thankful for the continuous learning opportunities.”
On the women of APS: “I work with very strong, intelligent women at APS, and they are all wonderful humans inside and out. They are supportive and have a great work ethic, and I admire their ability to think outside the box for solutions in any problem they come across. Each one of them fully supports her co-workers and is a team player within the organization.”
To learn more about APS employment opportunities, visit https://www.aps.com/en/About/Careers/Working-at-APS.