GRU's Groundbreaker
Donna Honsberger, GRU Field Services Supervisor, is the first female to hold a supervisory role in the Field Services Division. In what some consider a man's job, this woman has not only found her place, she has excelled in her work.
Her path at GRU has not always been smooth - male co-workers slashed her tires on her first day on the job as a Tree Surgeon I in 1980, and her jobs were physical and demanding. Ultimately, she found her experiences were just the beginning of a long and exciting new career because she thoroughly enjoyed her line of work.
Honsberger has never shied away from physical labor. Moving up from Tree Surgeon I, Honsberger became a Meter Reader and then a crew foreman. In 1991, she was promoted to field services, and by 1999 she was working as a Revenue Protection Investigator. She has held her current position as a Field Services Supervisor since 2002 and says that throughout her 25 years in the utility, she has seen many women who unfortunately just couldn't make the cut.
"Meter reader was a tougher position than many women thought," she said. "You walk 10-15 miles per day and bend and squat all day long. You work in the rain, cold and heat."
Honsberger was able to break into the technical industry thanks to a gender equity program that Santa Fe Community College hosted in the early 1980s. The program, similar to GRU's Utility Academy, took participants through a series of classes and technical training workshops to better prepare workers for employment. She recalled, "In my class in 1980 there was really a diverse group. There were 20-30 students, and we had Hispanic, black, women and white men in the class."
The Utility Academy is a vital piece of the puzzle when it comes to diversity in the workplace according to Honsberger. During her tenure at GRU, Honsberger has seen many changes at GRU that foster an environment that encourages women to follow her lead by stepping into non-traditional roles. "It seems like our company is more diversified. We're actively seeking that, which is exciting."
If you would like more information about working in a non-traditional field or have questions regarding any other diversity issues, please call Organizational Development at 393-1541.
