Job Title: Residential Energy Program Manager

Organization: Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection

Career Overview: My job is to educate Montgomery County residents on the programs that exist to help them lower their utility costs, keep money in their pockets, and help the county reach its greenhouse gas emissions goals. I do this through a variety of ways. I produce a monthly newsletter and blog post for two websites www.mygreenmontgomery.org and www.montgomeryenergyconnection.org. I also provide workshops, presentations, and attend community events throughout the month to present on various topics from energy conservation to energy efficiency to renewable energy to energy assistance.

A Day on the Job: There really is no typical day on the job. Since my job is to educate residents about lowering their utility costs and keeping money in their pockets, every day is different. Some days, I am busy answering emails and phone calls. Some days, I am out in the field doing workshops, presentations, or a light bulb exchange at a local partner location such as a library, a brewery, a senior center, or a school – you name it. We go where people are to provide them with necessary information.

Skills Needed: Communication skills are a must: you must be able to write, read, and give presentations to people. We have to write blog posts, give workshops on energy programs, and table at community events.

• Partnership building: must be able to work with various partners to bring programming to their facility.
• Social Media skills: need to create content for online platforms.
• Flexibility: sometimes things do not happen the way you think they are going to so it is super important to be flexible.

Education: Various backgrounds could be used for this position. I have a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy. My undergraduate degree was in Sociology and English so that path varies person to person. Most government positions require a bachelor’s degree to start.

Experience and Training: I have over 15 years’ experience working with communities in the public health and environmental arena. I continuously participate in leadership programs, workshops, and other educational opportunities to make me a well-rounded employee.

Personal Career Path: What inspired me? Helping people to create sustainable, walkable, bikeable healthy neighborhoods that invigorate the communities’ livelihoods. I started working with an organization called Network for a Healthy California in 2005 where I worked in the areas of nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease prevention, that’s where I grew to realize that the environment is at the center of everything we do in life. We need clean air to stay healthy and combat illness; clean water to grow nutritious, locally produced foods; and access to clean, renewable energy to remain productive without becoming destructive. So that led me to get my MPA and then to Maryland.

Pay and Job Outlook: This really depends on your position but somewhere between $50,000-90,000 depending on experience, education, and the job tasks. The outlook is good because climate change is a big issue we are going to be tackling so it is important for organizations, governments, and businesses to think about energy, sustainability, and our impact on the environment more – which means more jobs!

Favorite and Most Challenging Aspect to the Job: My favorite part of my job is talking to residents and providing that “aha moment.” My favorite thing to hear when I am out in the community is “oh, I didn’t think about it that way” – that is my favorite thing to hear. As for challenges, bureaucracy is always a challenge – sometimes it is overwhelming to get something done. Something seemingly small like purchasing folders for an event can become a nightmare pretty quickly but it is worth it once you have a successful event.

Advice for Young Professionals Interested in This Career: My biggest advice is to not worry about the path – my own expression is “the road may not be straight but it is going forward, so I stay on it” – you may not see exactly where it is you’re supposed to be going but if you follow your heart and your passion – you should be able to find it! Also, when a door closes, don’t take that as a negative sign, it probably wasn’t the best move for you – be aware of all the windows and cracks that may open up as well. Most importantly, leave the world a better, more beautiful place than you found it.