Melanie Taylor | Entergy Arkansas | Vice President, Distribution Operations
A Day at Work… I have the privilege of leading an organization of nearly 600 employees…these men and women are the heart of our company. They are the ones in the bucket trucks, building lines, restoring service 24/7, 365 days a year, the engineers designing jobs to serve customers, and doing all of the behind-the-scenes work that it takes to serve our customers and communities.
I would be remiss if I didn’t emphasize how important it is to all of us to ensure that our employees go home to their families safe every single day and night. Our linemen are dads, husbands, brothers and sons—and their families are counting on them. While we are committed to providing reliable service to our customers, safety always comes first.
Career Evolution… My career was definitely not a straight path into a technical industry and I am grateful for that. It has evolved into a wonderful career that is bigger than I would have ever let myself imagine. I have a liberal arts degree, and later earned an MBA. So I didn’t start out envisioning a career in a technical field, but I went to work for a highly technical company that gave me wonderful opportunities.
LOVE the Work… There are many projects and initiatives focused on providing excellent customer service that are rewarding. At the same time, my heart and commitment are truly toward engaging our employees. I’m in the position where I get to mentor others, advocate for removing roadblocks, and problem solving. So when I am able to positively influence change successfully through engaging our employees, that’s when it is most rewarding.
I also love being a part of storm restoration efforts. While I never wish for ice storms, straight line winds or tornadoes, when they do occur, our team is awesome. To witness how we come together, execute our plan and safely restore service to our customers—it is really something to see and of which to be a part.
Surprising but True… You don’t have the be the most technical person in the room to bring value and drive change. Often the best outcomes are created through collaborating with those with diversity of thought and skill, asking the right questions, listening and speaking up.
Photography by Lori Sparkman Photography
