What do you like about working at AVANGRID?

Through local Leadership programs, like Leadership Rochester and the Chamber of Commerce’s CLIMB program, the company has helped me to grow as a leader. Also, by supporting local activities, like being a mentor for the City of Rochester’s Distinguished Gentleman Event or a mentor with the City of Rochester’s Pillars of Hope Program, it has helped me enhance my skills as a leader.

The company also allowed me to utilize my mentoring skills with students in Mexico through the INVOLVE program.

I have also met and worked with some awesome people in the company from Customer Service, ESI, Marketing and Government & Community Relations.

How do you feel regarding AVANGRID’s commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)?

I think a pledge of this magnitude has been needed for some time and I feel hopeful for the direction of our company. I look forward to seeing how these efforts translate for employees, job seekers and organizations with which we work.

What do you like about working with your current team?

I really enjoy working with my team because I think we have the coolest job in the company. We get to reinvest money back into businesses and communities to spur economic vitality and economic empowerment. We focus on what is happening within the communities we serve and that is incredibly meaningful.

What does Black History mean to you?

Black history is life to me. Black people have a common struggle and it culminates into history. It reflects on the resilience and strength of African Americans throughout our history. It is a celebration that we should continue every month.

I think it is very important for everyone to know the contributions that African Americans have made in this country’s history, and I applaud companies, like AVANGRID, for celebrating black history.

How was Black History month celebrated in your family?

Black history was paramount to my family. My parents wanted to make sure I understood where I came from and the strength I possessed. They had us attend black history-related events, read books and go to plays that were created by local African American leaders.

My mom made the decision to take me to Africa as a child so that I could learn that slavery was not all I knew about the story of being black. It was far more than what television would acknowledge. Since that first trip to Africa, I have been back several times to visit places, such as Ghana, Senegal, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

What were your parents like?

My mom was a force to be reckoned with. She was one of the first black women to graduate from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. She later received her master’s degree from Syracuse University.

My dad was a mentor and a friend to me. He worked for The City of Rochester in Economic Development. He was loved by the people he served in the community in many ways. He helped me to understand the world as it pertains to the relationship between socioeconomics, history and economic development. He used stories like “Black Wallstreet” to teach me about the potential of thriving black economies and the importance of generational wealth in a community.

Although both my parents have passed, I still feel a very strong connection to them and think of their words of wisdom often.

Who inspires you?

My grandparents, Mamie and Frank Johnson, on my mother’s side inspire me because my grandfather is a WWII veteran.

After the war, he came home and was able to use a GI bill to secure a mortgage on his first home for his family. He received the GI bill so easily because he was fair skinned. It hurt him deeply that most black men with whom he served could not get the GI bill or access to securing a mortgage as easily.

My grandmother was from Montezuma, Georgia and was a field worker. She could not read or write. She and my grandfather moved to Rochester from the South and worked very hard to try to make the best life for their children. My grandmother became a maid/nanny and my grandfather became a mechanic. Through the money they saved, they were able to put my mother through college.

How do you continue to honor those who came before you?

I live my life in tribute to those who came before me every day. I have no choice but to honor them by becoming the best version of myself in their name.

One way of honoring them is by finding my voice to help others. I have participated in the line leadership program at the Chamber of Commerce and have spoken on numerous panels.

What do you do in your spare time?

I like to hit the Peloton bike for some fun hip hop cycling classes. Keep in touch with family and friends, both local and not local. I meditate to keep my mental and emotional stability balanced. I am a board member for RochesterWorks!, Center for Employment Opportunities and Innova Girls Academy.

Where did you go to college? What did you major in?

I went to the University of New Haven in Connecticut, where I received a BS in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing. I received an MS in Strategic Leadership from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York.

What is the first thing you would like to do once the pandemic is over?

I miss seeing the world and experiencing different cultures with my fiancé. I cannot wait to make more memories in other places.