Society of Women Engineers welcomes power players from PSE&G

PSE&G provides a majority of the power to New Jersey homes, schools, and businesses. Within the company are powerful women engineers who have much experience to share with aspiring female engineers. This past Thursday, the Society of Women Engineers harnessed some of PSE&G’s internal energy by hosting a panel with three female PSE&G employees. The main goal? Encourage and provide female engineering students with the necessary tips to secure a fulfilling career.

Karen Dilsizian from the Office of Career Development welcomed those in attendance and soon allowed the three women to introduce themselves. Dawn Shilkoski graduated from Stevens with her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering in 2009. After participating in the co-op program, she found herself working on the railroad with Mass Electric Construction Company. After three years, she then had an opportunity at PSE&G, where she has been working ever since as a principal staff transmission engineer at the South Plainfield PSE&G location.

Kate Vaupel, the second panelist, also graduated from Stevens in 2009 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After taking a power plant course, she knew that her future lie with power. She began at Burns and Ro designing power plants, but found herself discontent. “I had no opportunity to go out into the field,” said Vaupel. She soon began another chapter in her professional career at PSE&G first as a contractor working on conversion projects. She now is a full time outage planner, supervising a 15-member team.

The final panelist, Bridget Hicks, is currently a chemical engineering student from Widener College. She works at the Mercer Coal Burning Plant developing ways to make burning fossil fuels a cleaner process. As an intern, she will be working with PSE&G until August.

The three women were asked a variety of questions, with topics ranging from challenges and obstacles to daily job responsibilities. When a question regarding mentorship was posed to the panelists, Hicks responded first: “Just recently, a piece of equipment failed and it was my responsibility to give a report. My manager helped me prepare the report, and I did very well overall.”

Vaupel agreed that mentorship is important in one’s career. “When you start working at a company, be sure to ask about their mentorship program. PSE&G doesn’t have a formal program, but the woman with whom I co-mentor Rutgers female engineering students is actually my own mentor.”

Shilkoski enjoys what PSE&G’s new vision. “PSE&G has new initiatives and we’re seeing public support to upgrade our system,” said Shilkoski. “There is a big age gap in the company, so it’s a great place to work and be valued in.”

Vaupel appreciates the value PSE&G has in its employees. “Our company really does put value into who works. I’m being paid to attend Supervisor training, which is a $12,000 to $13,000 cost,” Vaupel said. “However, I don’t have to pay for it. They must value me to spend that kind of money!

After the Q&A session, Vaupel, along with Shilkoski’s and Hicks’ input, delivered a brief presentation on how to be successful when searching for a job. The women went over essentials such as networking, dressing professionally, and asking thought-provoking questions at the end of an interview.

The Society of Women Engineers continues to bring experienced female engineers in the industry to campus to offer their advice and excite those aspiring to attain high-level positions.