“I wish I was aware of AABE at the start of my energy career,” said Knox, Advisor, at MISO in Carmel, Indiana. AABE provides a network of energy professionals that have years of energy experience and who understand the challenges that one may face day-to-day in this business. AABE provides mentors that not only help develop young professionals, but also can be relied upon as a quality sounding board for wisdom and advice.
Having access to these resources has helped me be more strategic in how I do business. I have been in the energy industry for 11 years, to have the organization as a resource early in my career would have been helpful in me advancing in my career sooner.
Were you exposed to the possibilities in energy before you entered the field?
No, I had not been exposed to the energy industry before entering the field. I completed an internship in high-school for a government agency where I worked with engineers, however it was never mentored or explained to me the opportunities in engineering careers.
After college, an acquaintance at the local electric company noticed I was a college graduate seeking employment and recommended I apply for the local Call Center, where customers call to handle their electric service. After interviewing, the management team acknowledged that I would fit better in the company’s “control center” where the generation plants were dispatched, and transmission was scheduled and dispatched.
With the opportunity to learn a business that was new and dynamic, I latched on and have been intrigued ever since. I now volunteer and speak at elementary schools to young girls for Girls Inc. and to high school students about the various opportunities in the energy industry and with STEM education.
What college courses would you recommend for those interested in going into the industry?
I find math to be critical. Even now my North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) certification requires that I know how to complete Geometry and Trigonometry to calculate voltage and phase angles in the event the computer systems that manage our energy management system fail. I started pre-algebra in the 7th and 8th grades. Followed by Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus. The sooner a student progresses in math and understands the basic concepts for each math subject, it makes it easier to understand more challenging concepts that they may experience when learning about the electric grid and how it functions. I recommend college students enroll in advanced math courses as well as other courses that fall under the STEM curriculum. Such courses will increase your analytical and problem solving skills.
What interpersonal skills do you feel are crucial to having a successful career in
energy?
Communicating well is important in being successful in any career requiring you to work with others as a team. The energy industry at times seems like one large extended family where many are well connected, in theory having six degrees of separation.
As an energy professional, what program/initiatives are you involved in to reach
out to other diverse professionals to spark their interests in careers in energy?
When the opportunities arise I connect with the local National Black MBA Association and the local National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). When there are events locally in my area I partner with these organizations and utilize opportunities to promote the AABE mission and the benefits of membership.
October 15th, 2014 
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