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MWMCA Interviews Jill Walter from INTREN

INTREN’s footprint spans coast-to-coast within the United States, with regional offices in 10 states and dozens of working locations.
Jill Walter, Regional Director, INTREN

 

1. Please tell us about your educational and professional background and what drove you to land in the utility energy space?
In middle school, I realized that I wanted to be an engineer.  My uncle was an engineer and encouraged me to consider engineering as I was exceling at math and science.  In high school, I continued exceling at math and science where I decided to go to Villanova University.  I was very fortunate to receive grants and scholarships as a woman in engineering.  At Villanova, I majored in electrical engineering with a concentration in signal processing with the idea that I would go into the telecommunications industry.  When I started in 1998, the industry was booming but, in 2001, when I was looking for an internship in my junior year, the industry was fizzling, and I could not find an internship in that field.  At the same time, I found an internship at PPL Electric Utilities in Allentown, PA in their transmission engineering department.  I never thought that I would work for a utility.  The industry seemed lackluster and behind the times.  What I discovered in my internship was that there were so many interesting things starting to emerge, including smart meters, distribution automation, and renewable energy.
When I graduated in July 2002, I accepted a full-time position with PPL in their asset maintenance and reliability group.  I’ve worked in many facets of the industry business including engineering, operations, safety, quality, customer service, and business process improvement.  It was been an exciting career thus far.  It is hard to believe that I will be in this industry for 20 years this year.  
2. Please tell us about Intren’s history, disciplines of work, present and future objectives?
In 1988, Loretta Rosenmayer founded INTREN. Starting with just 4 employees and a loan from a friend, she guided the growth and development of INTREN to more than 2,000 men and women working coast to coast. Originally called Trench-It, the name was changed to INTREN in 2009 to incorporate the “in” from “integrity” and the “tren” from “trench.” As her vision statement proclaimed, Loretta ensured that INTREN would be 'The Measure of Excellence' in the industry, earning trust through stewardship—the cornerstone on which the company has thrived. This is inclusive of all relationships from customers to employees and community organizations. In May 2021, INTREN was acquired by MasTec. MasTec shares the same strong core values and beliefs as INTREN and remains steadfastly committed to adhering to the highest standards of safety and customer service. MasTec is the largest certified minority-owned energy infrastructure company in the country. Becoming a part of MasTec allows INTREN to not only expand the work we are doing today but also expand into new markets and better deliver for our customers. 
3. As a certified diverse supplier, what obstacles do you encounter when pursuing new work? Are you best suited to work as a prime or subcontractor and why? Or can you perform in both capacities?
INTREN is a full-service specialty contractor, and we can perform in both functions as a prime or a subcontractor.   The biggest obstacle we face as a diverse supplier is coming into new markets and getting started with new customers.  I’m sure it is the same for companies that are diverse and non-diverse.  When we come into new markets, it is so important to seek out partnerships with other suppliers in the market.  I would encourage small diverse companies to seek out these partnerships as they begin to grow their businesses.
4. Please tell us about Intren’s footprint in America and do you envision expansion and or acquisition of other disadvantage trade firms?
INTREN’s footprint spans coast-to-coast within the United States, with regional offices in 10 states and dozens of working locations. INTREN is actively expanding service offerings, including via merger and acquisitions, to better serve our customers.
5. What’s your take on America’s comfort level with women in the utility and design energy construction field?
Twenty years ago, there were not many women in key leadership roles.   When I first started in the industry, I was often mistaken for clerical staff rather than an electrical engineer.  At the time, women filled most, if not all, clerical staff positions and with only a handful of women engineers in the company.
The industry has come a long way since then.   And America’s comfort level with women in the industry will continue to improve as we see more women in key leadership roles.
As for the construction field, I believe that we still have a way to go for positions that are primarily in the field.  It starts with promoting work in the industry and in the trades with local high school programs and STEM programs. 
6. Why would one select Intren over the rest performing in your industry of transmission and distribution?
INTREN is the leading a provider of transmission and distribution construction services. Our safety culture is what helps set us apart from our competitors – we constantly work to improve our adherence to industry safety standards while maintaining the level of excellence our customers have come to expect.  
7. Who has been your industry role model or influencer and why?
Sarah Fliszar was my first formal mentor and an electrical engineer.  She inspired me by her ability to excel in a male dominated industry and to challenge the status quo.  As I developed a relationship with her, she inspired me even more.  Sarah was a schoolteacher that changed careers in her mid-thirties.  She went back to school and became an electrical engineer as a single mom to three daughters.  I admired how well she adapted to adversity both in her career and in her personal life.  She was always one of my biggest advocates and believed my potential even when I did not.  I can only hope that I have the same impact to the women I lead and mentor.
I always encourage the people I lead to find mentors whether formally or informally.  Mentorship has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career both as mentor and a mentee.  I have personally grown through both types of relationships.
8. How can people connect with you?
Email: jwalter@intren.com
LinkedIN: linkedin.com/in/jill-walter-1114537

1. Please tell us about your educational and professional background and what drove you to land in the utility energy space?


In middle school, I realized that I wanted to be an engineer.  My uncle was an engineer and encouraged me to consider engineering as I was exceling at math and science.  In high school, I continued exceling at math and science where I decided to go to Villanova University.  I was very fortunate to receive grants and scholarships as a woman in engineering.  At Villanova, I majored in electrical engineering with a concentration in signal processing with the idea that I would go into the telecommunications industry.  When I started in 1998, the industry was booming but, in 2001, when I was looking for an internship in my junior year, the industry was fizzling, and I could not find an internship in that field.  At the same time, I found an internship at PPL Electric Utilities in Allentown, PA in their transmission engineering department.  I never thought that I would work for a utility.  The industry seemed lackluster and behind the times.  What I discovered in my internship was that there were so many interesting things starting to emerge, including smart meters, distribution automation, and renewable energy.

 

When I graduated in July 2002, I accepted a full-time position with PPL in their asset maintenance and reliability group.  I’ve worked in many facets of the industry business including engineering, operations, safety, quality, customer service, and business process improvement.  It was been an exciting career thus far.  It is hard to believe that I will be in this industry for 20 years this year.  

2. Please tell us about Intren’s history, disciplines of work, present and future objectives?


In 1988, Loretta Rosenmayer founded INTREN. Starting with just 4 employees and a loan from a friend, she guided the growth and development of INTREN to more than 2,000 men and women working coast to coast. Originally called Trench-It, the name was changed to INTREN in 2009 to incorporate the “in” from “integrity” and the “tren” from “trench.” As her vision statement proclaimed, Loretta ensured that INTREN would be 'The Measure of Excellence' in the industry, earning trust through stewardship—the cornerstone on which the company has thrived. This is inclusive of all relationships from customers to employees and community organizations. In May 2021, INTREN was acquired by MasTec. MasTec shares the same strong core values and beliefs as INTREN and remains steadfastly committed to adhering to the highest standards of safety and customer service. MasTec is the largest certified minority-owned energy infrastructure company in the country. Becoming a part of MasTec allows INTREN to not only expand the work we are doing today but also expand into new markets and better deliver for our customers. 

3. As a certified diverse supplier, what obstacles do you encounter when pursuing new work? Are you best suited to work as a prime or subcontractor and why? Or can you perform in both capacities?


INTREN is a full-service specialty contractor, and we can perform in both functions as a prime or a subcontractor.   The biggest obstacle we face as a diverse supplier is coming into new markets and getting started with new customers.  I’m sure it is the same for companies that are diverse and non-diverse.  When we come into new markets, it is so important to seek out partnerships with other suppliers in the market.  I would encourage small diverse companies to seek out these partnerships as they begin to grow their businesses.

 

4. Please tell us about Intren’s footprint in America and do you envision expansion and or acquisition of other disadvantage trade firms?


INTREN’s footprint spans coast-to-coast within the United States, with regional offices in 10 states and dozens of working locations. INTREN is actively expanding service offerings, including via merger and acquisitions, to better serve our customers.

5. What’s your take on America’s comfort level with women in the utility and design energy construction field?


Twenty years ago, there were not many women in key leadership roles.   When I first started in the industry, I was often mistaken for clerical staff rather than an electrical engineer.  At the time, women filled most, if not all, clerical staff positions and with only a handful of women engineers in the company.The industry has come a long way since then.   And America’s comfort level with women in the industry will continue to improve as we see more women in key leadership roles.As for the construction field, I believe that we still have a way to go for positions that are primarily in the field.  It starts with promoting work in the industry and in the trades with local high school programs and STEM programs. 


6. Why would one select Intren over the rest performing in your industry of transmission and distribution?


INTREN is the leading a provider of transmission and distribution construction services. Our safety culture is what helps set us apart from our competitors – we constantly work to improve our adherence to industry safety standards while maintaining the level of excellence our customers have come to expect.  

7. Who has been your industry role model or influencer and why?

Sarah Fliszar was my first formal mentor and an electrical engineer.  She inspired me by her ability to excel in a male dominated industry and to challenge the status quo.  As I developed a relationship with her, she inspired me even more.  Sarah was a schoolteacher that changed careers in her mid-thirties.  She went back to school and became an electrical engineer as a single mom to three daughters.  I admired how well she adapted to adversity both in her career and in her personal life.  She was always one of my biggest advocates and believed my potential even when I did not.  I can only hope that I have the same impact to the women I lead and mentor.

 

I always encourage the people I lead to find mentors whether formally or informally.  Mentorship has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career both as mentor and a mentee.  I have personally grown through both types of relationships.

8. How can people connect with you?

Email: jwalter@intren.com

LinkedIN: linkedin.com/in/jill-walter-1114537

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