Az Business and AZRE magazines announced the publications’ lists of the Most Influential Women in Arizona of 2021, including Susan M. Gray, CEO of Tucson Electric Power. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Most Influential Women program, azbigmedia.com is profiling one of the Most Influential Women of 2021 each day leading up to the Most Influential Women of 2021 dinner and reception.

READ ALSO: The Most Influential Women in Arizona Business for 2021

The Most Influential Women for 2021 will be honored at a reception on August 26 at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix. For sponsorship information, email Amy.Lindsey@azbigmedia.com. For information about the event honoring the Most Influential Women, email Lynette.Carrington@azbigmedia.com or click here.

To buy copies of the Most Influential Women in Arizona issue, click here.

Today’s spotlight: Susan M. Gray

CEO

Tucson Electric Power

Gray began her TEP career 26 years ago as a student intern and is now the first woman to lead the company. She has championed efforts to promote women’s engagement and achievement in the traditionally male-dominated utility industry.

Lesson learned in 2020: “We learned that our faith in the dedication of our employees was well-founded as we pivoted to remote work and adopted rigorous new safety protocols. Our success through that transition showed that if you start from a foundation of trust in your employees’ professionalism and accountability, they’ll meet or exceed those expectations.”

Source of pride: “I’m very proud of my role in starting a Women in Energy resource group several years ago at our company. It provided a more formal way to inspire and equip women to be successful and was another step toward a larger focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. We’re continuously working to bring this support not just to women, but to the men who work alongside us.”

Surprising fact: “I love football – and not just watching it, playing it. When I was growing up, I got in on every pickup game I could. So it’s probably no surprise I married a football player. My husband jokes one of the reasons he fell in love with me is that I could throw a spiral.”