Meet Jessie Balbiani, Our April Employee of the Month

Jessie Balbiani has a long list of tasks and projects she is responsible for at the PUD

But she doesn’t let that prevent her from also having a little fun.

In between managing programs, the Environmental Specialist III has found herself in a little prank war with Team PUD folks in Substation and Scheduling and Crew Dispatch. The origins of event are a little unclear, but what’s certain is Jessie is a big part of keeping things enjoyable and on track, sometimes during trying times.

Jessie’s positive attitude and focus on safety, as well as her commitment to environmental stewardship has earned her our Employee of the Month award for April.

“She’s a bit of a magnet,” said Colleen Murphy, the PUD’s Manager of Environmental Affairs. “Because of where she sits, it’s easy for people to connect with her there. She just draws people in to chat with her or ask questions. She absolutely makes it fun. People want to come hang out with her and work with her.”

“At the PUD, our incredible teams are working every day to responsibly minimize and mitigate our environmental impacts, and Jessie is a huge part of our success in doing that,” said Colin Willenbrock, Chief Operating & Legal Officer. “Her dedication is evident and we are so lucky to have her on Team PUD.

“Jessie continues to set an inspiring example for her colleagues. Her proactive approach not only ensures swift action during environmental emergencies but also fosters a culture of learning and responsibility throughout the utility.”

Jake Larson, a Crew Coordinator for the PUD, has found himself in the prank war with Jessie. He was recently the victim of about 1,000 ping pong balls falling out of his cupboard – retaliation for rearranging some keys on Jessie’s keyboard.

“I think that she takes her job very seriously, has a lot of passion for her job, while still being able to hold on to some humor,” Jake said. “That’s not always the case. Jessie is sensible and is a pleasure to work with when it comes to overcoming problems and figuring out solutions.”

Her role is a far-reaching one. She manages the Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) program, bulk oil disposal, stormwater/wastewater programs and field surveys. She’s also doing an internal process improvement review to help the Environmental Affairs team look at continuous improvement and develop standard operating procedures for specialized programs.

“She looks a lot at, what are things we can do better as an Environmental Affairs team?” Colleen said. “When she takes on a project she owns it. She has a commitment to finding results.”

In between pranks and continuous improvement efforts, Jessie is also known for her positive attitude and infectious laugh.

“She just lights up the room,” said Matt Gregorich, the PUD’s Wireman Training Coordinator, another coworker who’s been known to mess with Jessie’s work station. “She’s respected by all the Substation crews. Everybody enjoys when she comes out to evaluate the scene. Everybody trusts and respects her opinions. If she says we’re not done yet we keep going, no questions asked. She’s just a fun person to be around.”

She’s also revered for her level-headedness and knowledge, prompting lots of requests for her assistance from around the PUD.

“I’ve had other managers reach out to me to see if she can be on their interview panels, committees or continuous improvement projects,” Colleen said. “People want her to be on their teams. She brings a lot of reassurance, a lot of confidence and a lot of fun. She’s easy to work with and fun to work with. And she knows what she’s talking about.”

Fellow Environmental Affairs Specialist Jason Cummings summed it up with a good dad joke.

“Thank you for all you do for our team in the EA department – and at the PUD,” Jason said. “This is very well deserved and I’m proud of you! You’re a scarecrow, you are outstanding in your field.”

Jessie was born and raised in Issaquah before attending the University of Idaho. After graduation, she moved back to western Washington and worked for the City of Newcastle, the Port of Seattle and City of Marysville in the Public Works Department before coming to the PUD.

She joined the utility in July 2022 as an Environmental Specialist and advanced to an Environmental Specialist III by 2024.

When she’s not at work, Jessie enjoys spending time with her family, playing cards, reading and gardening. She also enjoys watching movies and getting outside to hike and kayak.

“I take pride in the fact that my work protects and improves local communities,” Jessie said. “The PUD’s approach to environmental stewardship is unique in that it goes a step farther than most organizations. We’re doing the right thing because it matters and we all live here too.”