Employee Spotlight Nicole Choi
BELLEVUE, Wash. (2/23/2023) We’re shining our spotlight on Nicole Choi, supervisor for C&SP in South King; learn how she pays it forward, invests in her team and supports those around her. Enjoy getting to know Nicole!
What is your role at PSE?
I am a supervisor for C&SP in South King and currently support a Duel Fuel team that is primarily responsible for all New Customer Construction.
How long have you been here?
I started with with PSE back in September of 2014 as a customer construction representative. From there I transitioned into a project management role in March of 2017, and I have been in my current role as of March of 2022.
How do you support PSE’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in your role, and what are some examples of DEI in your daily work?
Diversity needs to and should be integrated into the day-to-day operations of any organization. For me equal opportunity is extremely important and every employee is unique in their own way. I strive to create an inclusive and equal environment where every employee has an opportunity to flourish and has a voice. One example of this is hiring individuals with different backgrounds, providing opportunities for development, mentorship, training and growth opportunities within PSE. I am also a part of the AAL-Voices (African American Leadership Voices) here at PSE.
How does your role or work support our Beyond Net Zero Carbon aspirational goal?
With the changes in legislation and building codes, gas is no longer the service option of choice. We also received feedback from our customers that they would like one point of contact to work on the New Construction projects. To accomplish this and meet the needs of our customers, in the end of Q2 2022 we trained our project managers in South King Hub to manage both electric and gas fuel types; this created a more streamlined customer experience by having one single point of contact.
Of PSE’s values, which one resonates most with you and why?
“We all have a voice.” It resonates with me for the simple fact that collectively and individually we have the power to influence and make decisions. I think sometimes as individuals we don’t say something in fear of being wrong or hurting someone. I want to remove that fear and encourage my employees to be intentional about their words and their actions without minimizing respect and an open ear.
How does the work you do make a difference/impact, in your view?
For me I have always lived by the mindset of “paying in forward.” I had a leader who invested in me and my personal development and career growth, so in return I will do the same. Also being a minority and a woman in this industry is an additional incentive for me to help my employees progress in their career development. My primary goal and focus is investing in my employees. I want my employees to love what they do; before I can influence them I need to know what’s important to them and why. Getting to know your employees establishes stronger relationships and makes collaboration easier, especially when we have changes that require their buy in.
We all spend so much time at work—what makes working at PSE worthwhile to you?
When I first joined the company back in 2014 the first thing I thought to myself was, “Wow, why hadn’t I considered working for PSE sooner?” There is so much that I have learned from so many amazing people within the organization. It also allowed me the opportunity to learn about our local utility where I reside. Of course you hear about companies, but most times people really don’t know what they are all about. PSE is truly a great company to work for.
Tell us about the work you do with storm response/restoration.
My storm role is DA coordinator. I am responsible for leading the damage assessment team. I determine damage assessment strategies and priorities for the duration of the storm event. I am in constant communication with the UDS and other key storm staff. I monitor restoration progress and make changes as needed. I also have to make sure that assessment information is entered correctly in OMS to ensure that orders are sent to the correct resources for restoration.
What’s the best or favorite part about your job?
Hands down the best part of my job here at PSE is the people. I have met so many amazing people.
What’s one thing do you need to know really well to do your job?
One thing you need in order to be a successful leader is you need to know how to listen with intention. Paying attention not to voice my own opinion but to understand someone else’s point of view. Being a good communicator is about how well you are able to listen.
What makes you most proud of PSE?
I am most proud of working for PSE and being a part of this community because people are able to see the kind of company PSE truly is. When the pandemic first hit, our company responded to those who were significantly impacted. This ranged from providing financial support to our customers and also providing employees the opportunity to work from home, which to me says a lot. In addition to that when most companies were not hiring, PSE was one of the few companies that continued to not only hire but train remotely. This displayed a human element of understanding and empathy for our customers—internal and external—and provided an additional level of support.
What safety tip applies to your daily work?
Since most of us are working remotely and or in a hybrid environment, ensure that you have a Safety Survival Kit well stocked in both your home and your vehicle and don’t forget to include items for your pets if applicable.
What other department or program at PSE would you be interested in learning about?
I would be interested in learning and engaging with the groups outside of C&SP and learning more deeply how the work that they perform influences and impacts our work groups.
