Holly Black
Joined in 2008
"The people that drive this company have provided me with an opportunity to develop unique skills, continuously achieve career goals, and be an example to my children that they too can do the same if they have the determination to work hard and apply themselves."
I intended to spend my career in the education field advocating for education professionals. All that changed while attending a graduate level statistics class, where I learned of an internship opportunity at The Energy Authority, a unique and exciting company in Jacksonville, Florida.
My career at TEA began in 2008, in a support role on the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) Desk. Since then, I have been in at least five different roles and have been encouraged, empowered, and given the time and support to grow in each of these roles. TEA’s supportive environment has allowed me to develop and strengthen my core competencies and advance my career in an exciting and growing industry.
I remember the moment I knew TEA was the place I would call home. My manager communicated to our team that his role was to identify the strengths of each employee, create alignment between the individual's skill sets and his or her position and then, most importantly, to step out of the way. These words resonated with me. I value the freedom to succeed and fail, and to use those successes and failures as learning and growth opportunities. Because my manager used this approach and created this environment on the trade floor, I was able to grow in my role and to reach my full potential.
TEA cares about my professional development, but they also care about me as a wife and mother of three small children. At a time when the requirements of my new position put a great deal of stress on my family, TEA senior leadership demonstrated their understanding and appreciation by creating a transition plan to ensure that I would be successful on all fronts. The people that drive this company have provided me with an opportunity to develop unique skills, continuously achieve career goals, and be an example to my children that they too can do the same if they have the determination to work hard and apply themselves.
My dedication to continuous learning, the personal support I receive, and my internal motivation are recognized and rewarded at TEA, and I am surrounded by highly driven teammates that strive to do all they can to bring value to TEA, its owners, and clients.
Tyler Wolford
Joined in 2008
"It is rare to find a place you love to work—where you’re encouraged to forge your own path while collaborating with highly skilled professionals that make the work environment fun."
The Energy Authority was my first job out of college. I was looking for a work environment that was unique, challenging, and would offer the opportunity to learn in-demand skills.
Commodity trading, especially in electricity, is unique to say the least. Electricity is difficult to store, must respond to instantaneous demand changes, is produced at thousands of points across the nation, and travels along frequently congested transmission lines. Originally hired as a pricing analyst, I evaluated complex software that modeled various supply and demand fundamentals in an attempt to make sense of those market variables and uncertainties. It was an amazing opportunity to work with intelligent professionals, use new technology, and build new skillsets.
The skills I developed were in such high demand I made a career choice to leave TEA and launch my own business as a consultant. While I enjoyed the experience immensely, the time came when another career move was needed. Although I had worked for numerous companies as a consultant, none possessed the mix of culture and challenge that TEA provided. Luckily, the family at TEA welcomed me back with open arms and since my return, I have held positions in the trading, IT, and marketing departments. Each one has pushed me to try new things, grow outside my comfort zone, and do impactful work for an amazing group of Clients.
All these years later, I’m very glad I came back to TEA. It is rare to find a place you love to work—where you’re encouraged to forge your own path while collaborating with highly skilled professionals that make the work environment fun.
Yohan Sutjandra
Joined in 2009
"TEA continually provides many exciting opportunities to pursue and solve challenging and interesting industry problems.”
The Energy Authority hired me in 2009 as an analyst to work on developing strategies to hedge congestion costs in their Midwest ISO market. Since then, TEA's management has presented me with ample opportunities to grow in my skill set and career. From developing a prototype of a hydropower optimization module to assessing the impact of new environmental rules, my work is as engaging as it is diverse.
TEA continually provides many exciting opportunities to pursue and solve challenging and interesting industry problems. My colleagues and I know we are supported by a management team that focuses on our strengths and encourages us to learn and excel beyond our comfort zone. We currently serve over 50 state and municipal public power utilities. With the ever-changing market trends and innovations in the energy industry, I am confident that we will never run out of interesting problems to solve.
Every day I am excited to come to work at TEA. Our company is actively growing the depth and breadth of knowledge and services that we offer to our clients; that growth is made possible through the support and vision of TEA's management and the sense of ownership shared by our people.
Desi Middleton
Joined in 2005
"The energy industry is full of challenges and constant change. I appreciate the fact that I get to use this to my advantage. To be successful, I have to learn and grow constantly. ”
My degree in computer engineering allowed me to work at several companies prior to finding my niche in the energy sector. Our industry is full of challenges and constant change. I appreciate the fact that I get to use this to my advantage. To be successful, I have to learn and grow constantly.
At TEA, the personal development of every employee is not just expected but supported by the company. A few years ago, I attended a conference that sparked my return to Toastmasters, a world leader in communication and leadership development. My conversations with other attendees and conference leaders had a recurring theme of the strong desire for developing confidence when speaking in public. I knew immediately that Toastmasters could meet this need not only for me, but for all employees at TEA. I approached the senior management team to share my insights, and they embraced the idea of helping their employees grow by supporting a Toastmasters program at TEA. Not only is Toastmasters a wonderful way to develop key leadership skills, but we also have a great time together as we challenge each other to get better.
At TEA, the opportunities for personal success and growth are unlimited.