Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM Superheroes

Shameka Wilson

In March 2019, Shameka Wilson became BGE’s first woman gas controller. She and her co-workers are responsible for ensuring safe, reliable natural gas service to more than 680,000 BGE customers. Shameka, along with her colleagues, use sophisticated electronic equipment to detect any points where gas pipeline pressure is too low or too high. From the Gas System Control Center, they make instant corrections to keep the system safe and reliable. She encourages other women to dream big and explore the wide range of positions at BGE. Read more about Shameka’s historic career at BGENow.com.

Eli Galloway

Eli Galloway is an overhead mechanic at BGE. Eli and his fellow hardworking lineworkers, brave harsh seasonal conditions to respond any hour of the day when emerging issues require their expert technical skills. BGE lineworkers ensure service reliability for more than 1.25 million customers in central Maryland, and are responsible for nearly 9,200 miles of overhead primary electric distribution and 17,300 miles of underground primary distribution, along with 1,567 feeders and 244 substations. For more information on Eli and the work that BGE lineworkers do, visit the Thank You Lineworkers page at BGENow.com.

Andy McCauley

As part of BGE’s continuing efforts to enhance safety and reliability, Andy McCauley flies drones over the company’s electric and gas systems across central Maryland. Andy is the lead of BGE’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) team that flies drones for equipment and infrastructure inspections. Andy is one of the roughly 4,000 people in Maryland who work in the drone industry, including pilots, software developers, device technology developers, mechanics, and more. For more on BGE’s drone work, visit the drone page at BGENow.com.

Dawn White & Amber Young

From a young age, twin sisters Dawn White and Amber Young were both drawn to math and science magnet programs and pushed each other to succeed in those subjects. They attended various programs to hone their STEM skills, including a summer program at NASA while in high school. After graduating from college, Dawn and Amber began their careers in engineering at companies not affiliated with Exelon, but in 2005 both sisters joined companies that would one day be sister utilities within the Exelon family of companies. Dawn is the vice president of Gas Distribution for BGE, where she manages hundreds of employees and technical systems that ensure safe, reliable energy to BGE’s nearly 700,000 natural gas customers. Amber is Delmarva Power’s director of the Operations Control Center. She is responsible for transmission and distribution system real-time operations, gas emergency response, and overall control room operations. Both sisters can thank their STEM background, dedication and hard work for the path that led them to their pivotal roles within their companies. Read more about Dawn and Amber’s impressive career achievements at BGENow.com.

Kailun Cheng

Kailun Cheng is a senior data scientist. Kailun uses statistics, computer programming and data examination on a regular basis to help BGE find solutions to difficult problems. By creating data visualizations and computer models, she analyzes and predicts key insights that allow BGE to develop solutions and innovations around some very complicated topics. Kailun encourages students interested in STEM subjects to remain curious and to become comfortable with solving non-linear problems.

Wing Lam, Manager

Wing Lam manages the budget for BGE’s Customer Operations team which is responsible for ensuring the needs of BGE’s 1.3 million electric customers and more than 680,000 natural gas customers are met. Wing Lam uses his mathematical and analytical skills to identify innovative ways for the company to find savings and improve the financial management process. He encourages students to pursue STEM education because it helps improve their critical thinking skills and ability to come up with original, innovative ideas.

Joe Grant

As a principal arranger at BGE, Joe is responsible for coordinating outage requests for planned equipment maintenance at BGE’s substations across central Maryland. Joe uses complex math calculations to assure the electric system is not overloaded during maintenance. He also uses virtual digital modelling to code every step of his process. He encourages students to stick with STEM subjects, even when it seems difficult. Through STEM students have the opportunity to make the world a better and safer place.

David Tooma

David began his career at BGE in 1982. In his current role as a senior training specialist he provides critical training for all new BGE hires that require a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). David uses the latest technology, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), to train BGE’s team of drivers Company wide. David is a proponent of students exploring the STEM subjects to find a career they are truly passionate about.

Bibiana Valdes Hernandez

As a protection engineer, Bibiana works with capital projects essential to keeping BGE’s system running efficiently. To do so, she writes system protection and control project scopes, creates mark-up drawings, conducts coordination studies and assists during the commissioning and construction phases of projects.

She leverages her electrical engineering knowledge and other STEM skills to be successful at her job.

Bibiana encourages those interested in STEM careers to explore the array of job opportunities available that require a variety of skills, both technical and non-technical. She has seen first-hand how STEM careers can lead to rewarding opportunities and can help expand one’s knowledge.

Rick Hunt

Rick Hunt is the senior project manager in the centrally managed unit of BGE. Rick manages the detailed scope, quality, performance, schedule, and budget of key projects.   He has overseen projects such as pole replacement, pole reinforcement, targeted transformers, and Targeted Reliability Incentive Program (TRIP) work. He currently manages 4kV conversions, feeder upgrades, and capacity expansion efforts.   As a manager and budgeter of detailed STEM work, Rick advises students interested in the STEM field to gain an education and use the skills from that education to pursue a variety of opportunities.

Ronald Smith

Ronald Smith is a senior accountant with BGE Regulatory Accounting. Ronald and his fellow accountants are responsible for day-to-day activities associated with the monthly financial statement close process which results in accurate balance sheets and much more.

He is also responsible for filing reports while working with many co-workers to make sure everything is organized and reviewed. Ronald’s role is an essential part of helping BGE run smoothly by analyzing and presenting the positive and negative business results to the company and outside stakeholders. Ronald wants the next generation of STEM leaders to understand that while careers in STEM are challenging, they are also rewarding. He advises students to try as many areas of STEM as possible, as the field is constantly growing and creating new work opportunities for interested young people with college degrees and/or certificates.

Lily Kuitcha

Lily Kuitcha, a senior engineer in the transmission & substation strategic planning group at BGE, is responsible for capital projects executed within electrical substations. She also leads the Battery Energy Storage installations and other technical deliverables of projects.

Lily is actively a part of the STEM field through her usage of math and engineering in her day-to-day tasks. She develops plans on how a storage battery will communicate with multiple systems, programs smart electrical devices and reviews designs to ensure systems are built to meet expectations.

Lily’s advice to students interested in STEM is to not let fear stop them from exploring careers in science, technology, engineering or math. She also encourages students to invest in themselves by developing both technical and soft skills.