Austin
Jackie Sargent is General Manager at Austin Energy.
With the support of the Dentons Smart Cities & Communities Think Tank, PUF chose to honor Austin, Columbus, San Antonio, Spokane and suburban Birmingham as the Fortnightly Smartest Communities 2019.
PUF: What is your position and what is a typical day like?
Jackie Sargent: I'm the general manager of Austin Energy, where I lead over one thousand seven hundred and fifty dedicated employees in our mission to safely deliver clean, affordable, reliable energy, and excellent customer service.
There really is no typical day in this role. The job entails dealing with people, developing strategies, managing finances, and addressing various issues. I have to be responsive to numerous stakeholders including Austin City Council, the Texas Legislature, Boards and Commissions, and of course, our customers and employees.
I work closely with Austin Energy's executive team on balancing stakeholder needs while still providing customers with the best service possible. Depending on the day, I may be working on finance and strategy, meeting with stakeholders, conducting customer site visits, speaking at a conference, or out in the field visiting staff.