Meet the women keeping your lights on
Greater Foothills Helping Hands, a nonprofit serving seniors in the Foothills for more than 20 years, welcomes a new executive director, Carol Brown.
Brown has been marketing and serving on a volunteer basis for Helping Hands as well as serving on the board of directors prior to being named as the new executive director.
Born and raised in Southern California, her family owned two Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Stores as well as a catering business, which afforded her the opportunity to learn a solid work ethic beginning at a young age. She is married to husband Christopher; they have one daughter Jennifer, a son-inlaw Luke and three grandchildren who also reside here in Yuma. Brown and her family relocated from California to Yuma in 1994.
There will be a meet and greet at the Foothills Assembly of God Church, 12831 E. 41st Street, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday. For more information, call Helping Hands at (928) 305-9974.
Allison M. Engler
The law offices of Ryan C. Hengl, Esq., P.L.C., is pleased to announce that Allison M. Engler, Esq., is an associate attorney with the firm.
Engler is a third generation Yuman and second generation attorney.
The firm will continue to concentrate in the areas of corporate law, real estate, general civil law, estate planning and criminal defense.
Esmeralda Vasquez grew up in a family of migrant farm workers in a rural California community. When her family wasn’t traveling to Texas for work, Vasquez and her four sisters found themselves tinkering with their father’s tools. This was the foundation that eventually led to her work as an engineer at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, the nation’s largest power producer.
Vasquez is one of many of our female engineers who are operating the energy grid, which has been referred to as the world’s largest machine. It takes some bright minds to operate this machinery and keep everything running smoothly. I feel honored to work alongside these individuals. They are using their incredible talents and vast knowledge to make sure you have power whenever you need it.
In order to continue this steady flow of reliable power, we need to ensure a steady flow of capable individuals entering the workforce. That is why we are a leading supporter of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in Arizona. In fact, last year, we donated $1.4 million to STEM education throughout the state.
This is an especially important effort for young females who are considering which career to pursue. According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, female students show achievement and participation in mathematics and science that is on par with their male peers through 12th grade. However, when it comes to higher education, “gender disparities begin to emerge, especially for minority women.”
This continues into the workforce as women make up half of the total U.S. college-educated workforce, but only 29 percent of the science and engineering workforce.
Here at Arizona Public Service, there are many inspirational examples of women who are thriving in their STEM roles. One example is Charmaigne Cortesio, a chemical control specialist at Yucca Power Plant right here in Yuma. She pursued her education and advanced in her STEM career while supporting her husband’s career in the Marine Corps (including his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom) and taking care of their two boys. She loves her current role because it enables her to achieve work/life balance, and she enjoys the “water science involved in generating energy for a power plant.”
Leanne Burgess is another great example. She was able to find the right friends in school who had similar interests, rather than making her feel like math was “uncool.” Here is her advice for other girls considering a STEM career: “Surround yourself with people who support you in your interests, and seek out opportunities to learn more. Go to the afterschool programs, career expos, tours, and information sessions. Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire!”
Many companies and industries rely on capable STEM talent. We encourage other businesses and industries to do what they can to strengthen this workforce pipeline by supporting STEM education. With more people like Vasquez, Cortesio and Burgess entering the workforce, we will all have a bright future ahead.
Anna Chaulk is the community affairs manager for APS. She can be reached at Anna.Chaulk@aps.com.