Tracy West
What is your connection to Georgia Tech?
I graduated from Georgia Tech in 1990 with a B.S. mechanical engineering and later obtained my MBA from Samford University.
What is your current professional role? Please list a few notable career accomplishments.
I am a retired energy industry executive who spent nine years in consulting and 27 years working in six business units of the Southern Company.
Some of my notable career accomplishments include:
- I was a project manager for the first commercial scrubber installed on a Southern Company power plant in Alabama ($265M over 5 years).
- I was named one of the first female plant managers of a coal fired plant where I oversaw 200 employees who were mostly men and mostly union workers.
- I was awarded a Greater Atlanta YWCA Women of Achievement honor and an EPRI Technology Transfer Award.
- I served on the DOE’s Microgrid Steering Committee and I testified in front of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on energy efficiency.
Why are you passionate about WoW?
Today, if you ask me what my most memorable accolade is, I say having the ability to mentor so many bright and wonderful people across my career. I took advice from one of my closest mentors on my personal board of directors and learned to “pay it forward,” leaving the male dominated field of engineering a little more tolerant and friendly to female engineers, particularly moms. Over the course of my career, the needle hasn’t moved on the number of female mechanical engineers. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to create WoW.
What are your hobbies and passions?
I was able to balance work life with family life and squeeze in a few passions like traveling and gardening along the way. Currently, my time is spent on the Georgia Tech Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board and planning my retirement kick-off by spending six months in Italy with my husband.
What is your favorite quote?
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” -Maya Angelou
What advice would you give a young female engineer?
My favorite quote above is great advice for young women today.