career paths - uw geography
alumni and friends
Manager, Commercial & Industrial Energy Mgt. Services
Jean Shaffer
1. Description of current work.
I manage a group of 30 energy management professionals and support staff.
We provide energy conservation programs and services to commercial, industrial,
and institutional customers of Seattle City Light. I am responsible for
a budget of over $10 million. The job has a lot of variety including policy
and planning work, personnel management, fiscal management, customer relations
and marketing. Working within a bureaucracy is an art. It requires ingenuity
and patience. It is helpful to be a risk-taker willing to push against
unreasonable barriers.
2. What drew you into geography?
From childhood I was interested in geography and regional differences.
Once in college I took a geography class in my first quarter as a freshman
and was hooked immediately. I gravitated to urban geography early on.
3. Describe your education in geography.
B.A. 1974 from UW (with an emphasis in urban). M.A. 1976 from UW (with
an emphasis in urban and transportation).
4. Are you currently in a job where you find your training in geography
is useful?
Geography is an integrative discipline that stresses systems thinking
and the interrelationships among different factors affecting systems.
This perspective is critical in public policy development and implementation.
5. How did your undergraduate studies prepare you for the workplace
and/or graduate school?
I developed sound writing and research skills. I honed analytical abilities.
Statistical analysis and economic analysis capabilities are valued by
employers.
6. Did you work as an intern while in college? Was it a valuable experience
you would recommend to others?
I had no formal internship but I found relevant summer jobs as a land
use planner and land use technician.
7. How did you find out about your current position?
I looked for employment in the public sector. I started working for
the City of Seattle in 1979 and then for Seattle City Light in 1980.
8. Are you working with other geographers in your organization?
Yes, two work in the energy conservation division.
9. If there is potential for professional growth with your current
employer, what kind of a career path is it?
The work does not have a strong geographic emphasis.
10. What advice would you give to early undergraduates considering
a major in geography?
Think ahead about whether you want to work in the public or private sector
and select courses to prepare accordingly.
11. What advice would you give to college geography majors about what
courses to take or which skills to get before they graduate?
Concise technical writing; ability to develop hypotheses and evaluate
impacts of change; demonstrated teamwork through team projects; articulate
and organized public speaking; survey design and analysis; statistics;
evaluation research; economic analysis; cost-benefit analysis.
12. What advice would you give to college seniors about their prospects
with a geography degree in hand?
A lot of local employers appreciate the value of geographic education,
but some do not. Be prepared to sell yourself and what you offer an employer-
skill sets and experience.
13. Please describe your career path up to this point.
I started with planning, research and evaluation positions. Later I
helped develop the first rigorous program evaluations on the effectiveness,
efficiency and economic merits of various energy conservation programs
as an energy research and evaluation analyst and supervisor. Still later
I acquired broader policy and management experience, and I have worked
as a manager of strategic planning, business planning and commercial and
industrial energy management services.
14. What do you anticipate that your career path will be in the next
10 years or more?
A director position with the City of Seattle.
15. What do you wish someone had told you when you were in college?
I wish my advisors had been better connected with outside employers
to help with my job search efforts.
Jean is willing to answer other occasional questions as they come up.
If you have questions, please ask in the Geography Advising Office (415
Smith) for his contact information.
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