One of Hydro One's Women in Trades, Technology and Engineering (WTTE) Network members, Alourdes Sully, was awarded Ontario's 2015 Leading Women Building Communities Recognition Certificate for her outstanding work in improving the lives of others in her community.
Sully received the honour for her consistent efforts in breaking down barriers and encouraging women and girls to get involved in non-traditional careers.
Sully is a Senior Technical Specialist based in Toronto at Hydro One Telecom. She has been with the company since 1999 and has worked on many critical projects to maintain the safety, reliability and security of Ontario's electricity system.
She has been an active member of WTTE since its inception in 2013, and she is a member of the Operations Committee for the Hydro One University Partnership Initiative for Women in Engineering.
Sully was nominated by her MPP, Kevin Flynn of Oakville, for her contributions. She was recognized for her work with Hydro One and the WTTE, and as a leader within the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. The recognition ceremony took place on May 20 where seven other individuals were awarded for their efforts.
Dedicated individuals like Sully help make Hydro One a strong, people-powered organization. By accomplishing such a mission, she has proven she is a role model that trains, coaches and mentors at every stage of her career.
Leaders such as Sully help make Ontario strong and vibrant. Hydro One is proud to showcase her success and achievements, and recognize her as a member of the WTTE Network.
A Hydro One employee since 2006, Donna McClocklin has had an extensive background in trades before becoming a Sub-Foreperson at the Baywood Service Centre. Previously working for Columbia Forest Products and as a team member on the Saskatchewan pipeline, McClocklin knows how to juggle different careers and changing work locations.
Starting first with Hydro One in Ottawa, McClocklin was involved with doing everything from constructing entrance towers to installing insulators and panels. After only a short period, her supervisor was quick to ask McClocklin to mentor new employees, offering them advice on how to deal with career challenges.
"The biggest challenge of my career is balancing family life and work routine. I forever found myself travelling for my job," she said.
In 2008, McClocklin relocated to Stayner, Ont. During her time there, she operated heavy machinery such as the forklift, and was involved in cable pulls, as well as grounding. Followed by her time in Stayner, she moved on to Hurontario TS, and then on to Trafalgar, Milton and Leaside engaging in the same physically demanding labour that is required of a tradesperson.
"One of the struggles a lot of trades people have to face is being physically fit at all times to be able to perform and display the necessary skills on the job," she said.
In addition to the physically demanding aspect, McClocklin knows that having a solid support system is crucial to anyone's career. That's where the WTTE comes in.
"The WTTE Network is a form of support for each other that also provides endless possibilities," McClocklin said.
McClocklin is also an essential member to the WTTE community. She enjoys sharing information in hopes of strengthening career paths for young women.
"My hopes are that we continue to provide additional resources such as technical courses in the electrical field to make us a stronger candidate for young professionals choosing a company to invest their skill set in."
And just like Cindy Whittaker, we asked Donna McClocklin to provide some advice for young women starting their careers.
"Be prepared for the trade you are looking to get into by researching the skill set that is required to do that job. Become comfortable by handling the tools of the trade, and always remember that you are the doorway for other women to come through. Leave the position with a positive imprint," she said.
Cindy Whittaker started her career with Ontario Hydro in 1994 at the Nipissing Operations Centre. Initially hired to assist with the implementation of our original customer service system, Whittaker quickly transitioned into different roles such as a Billing Clerk and a Customer Operations Support Representative.
Through the years, Whittaker found herself moving across the province for her career, which proved to be one of the biggest struggles her and her family had to face. From North Bay, she relocated to Minden, and from Minden, she landed a position at the original OGCC in Markham. Since 2003, she has been at the OGCC in Barrie.
"Relocating my family from Northern Ontario to Barrie was the most challenging decisions I ever had to make. My three children and my husband were in North Bay, and I was commuting back and forth from my home to Minden on my days off," she said.
Since 2003, Whittaker has been an expert in Hydro One's emergency storm response system. Her first role in the outage sector of the company was as a Dispatcher, then she moved into the role of Outage Management Supervisor. She is now the company's Grid Operations Manager where she assists in hiring dispatchers, liaising with the training department, and occasionally being thrown into the midst of the OGCC's control room to provide support during Ontario's largest power outages.
Her role can be a demanding one, so she relies on her support system.
"My own supervisors prove to be great coaches and supportive of my personal development. I have people that I can reach out to when I need some advice, or to just be able to vent and use as a sounding board," she said.
Whittaker also finds support in being part of Hydro One's WTTE. She initially decided to join the WTTE's committee in 2013 as she believes in returning that form of support back to her co-workers and young women looking to pursue non-traditional careers.
"I like the approach that has been taken by the WTTE in regards to women in business editorials, articles and interesting videos," she said, adding her favourite part of the WTTE is hearing from other women about their journeys and challenges they've had to face.
Given Whittaker's extensive experience on the front lines of this company, coupled with her educational background and qualifications, we asked Whittaker to provide some advice to young women who are beginning their careers or determining a suitable career path.
"You have to learn as much as you can and find the right fit for yourself. Be confident in your abilities. Find the right people to ask questions, and those who will help nurture your development. Take the positive and the negative and learn from it."
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