GRID ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Jeanie Campbell stays busy. As the CEO and majority owner of Shreveport, LA-headquartered Grid Electric Corporation, she spends time managing her business operations, on the phone with prospective customers, and traveling across the country to be boots-on-the ground response when power outages occur.
“We’re not an electric utility company; rather, we support the local, state, and federal governments in disaster relief, and day-to-day operations,” she says. “After a disaster or power outage, we’re the first ones there – and possibly the last ones to leave, depending on the damage.”
The business is incredibly unique and has grown significantly since Jeanie started it in August 2020. It’s a success story, too – not just about an Alaska Native woman breaking barriers in a largely male-dominated industry, but also about the power of perseverance, and making the most of opportunity and passion.
POWERING (BACK) ON
For most people in the United States, power outages are temporary; the lights will eventually come back on. But it’s companies and teams like Jeanie’s who make that happen, ensuring utilities, government agencies, and telecommunication companies have a complete understanding of the scope of an outage, and what equipment and resources will be necessary to restore power. In addition to working in Dallas, New York, and Louisiana, her company participated in the response to the recent Hurricane Ian in Florida, providing utility companies with crucial information as they began to rebuild and restore power after the devastating storm.
“My company helps provide damage assessment teams that go out during storms, similar to Ian,” Jeanie explains. “We let utilities know what the actual damage is, and what will be needed to restore power to communities. And that first look we do is critical – If the line company or power company has incorrect information, it will take even more time to restore power.”
Grid Electric’s work isn’t just limited to storm response, though. They also provide day-to-day operation support for governments and telecommunications companies, like Comcast and AT&T. That includes everything from powerline construction and maintenance to safety and training.
“We are starting to bid on work for tribal governments in Alaska, too, which is very exciting,” Jeanie says. “In reality, we touch anything and everything in the electric utilities space – solar, renewable energy, fiber, communication towers. Anything that keeps people on the grid is our specialty.”
POWERING THROUGH
Jeanie’s journey began in Alaska’s oil and gas industry. Early in her career, she had no idea she’d be running a national electric utility support business. So how did she end up starting and running Grid Electric?
“I get asked that question all the time as a young indigenous woman in a male-dominated industry,” she recalls, laughing. “I started my career as an administrative assistant supporting drilling and well completion in Alaska, and was privileged to be mentored by quite a few great managers who taught me about the industry.”
The oil industry shifted in 2012, and she decided to move to Florida and took a bit of time off before going back to school. Jeanie received a special honor scholarship through The Aleut Corporation, and while at school, ended up working in the power industry.
“When I got into the power industry initially, much like in Alaska, I had a few really great mentors who helped me through this industry. I networked and worked really, really hard, and was eventually able to start my business –and my first employer was my very first client!”
Jeanie started Grid Electric with just eight small damage assessment teams and now has up to 200 people responding in a major storm or power event.
“The most fulfilling part of all of it has been being able to grow,” Jeanie says introspectively. “I started off as an office assistant, and now I’m running a company with reach across the country and helping mentor and grow new people in our industry. That’s incredibly meaningful to me.”
POWERING FORWARD
As Jeanie looks to continue expanding Grid Electric, she’s excited about the opportunities to work with and support other Indigenous entrepreneurs, paying forward some of the same mentorship and counsel she’s received over the years. “Since I started Grid, we’ve built partnerships with other Native business owners, some of whom are actively working on storm response with us right now,” she says. “Together, we’re able to support each other as Native business owners, and also support rural areas and villages on Native lands. It’s a huge part of where I came from and who I am.
She’s excited about forthcoming partnership and future work in Alaska and is even open to the potential of internships and other opportunities to help train future generations.
“Our model is about bringing people together. The electric utility sector can be kind of old fashioned, but we’re changing for the better, and being a part of that means a lot to me. And we have to keep the trade going to keep the lights on!”