Team Lead ensures employees have tech tools at their fingertips

With nearly 3,100 employees serving more than 840,000 electric and 352,000 gas customers, it’s important that CPS Energy team members have the proper tools they need to do their jobs. This includes thousands of desktop and mobile devices, and this is where Kim Walker and her team fit in.

Even though CPS Energy is exempt from the Mayor Ron Nirenberg and County Judge Nelson Wolff’s Stay Home Work Safe order because of the critical nature of our business, many employees are working from home right now to support the community’s effort to flatten the curve during the COVID-19 pandemic. With more people working from home, Kim and her team have been working harder to make sure everyone is equipped to ensure our customers still get the safe, reliable energy they need during these trying times.

Kim, who’s been with our company for almost 10 years, is a Team Lead for our Desktop & Mobile Support group. She and this group provide in-person computer and cellphone support to our entire workforce — putting technology into employees’ hands and ready to answer questions and resolve challenges they have.

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Aside from serving our own team members, Kim was part of a joint task force in 2017 that helped Rockport and the County of Aransas rebuild their critical communications infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. This year, she’s participating in the San Antonio Women’s Chamber of Commerce Transformational Leadership Development Series.

With Women’s History Month commemorated in March, we’re spotlighting a few of the hundreds of women at CPS Energy serving in various roles to ensure our company’s success in delivering reliable, secure power to our customers.

We recently sat down with Kim to learn more about her career with CPS Energy.

Q: What led you to a career with CPS Energy?

Kim: Born and raised on the southeast side of San Antonio, I have known MANY people who worked for CPS Energy and talked about what a good company it is. CPS Energy is the center of San Antonio and working here has been a privilege.

Q: Is there anything you’ve done and accomplished at CPS Energy that you’re especially proud of?

Kim: The creation of the Digital Lounge [a site at our Main Office Campus where employees can get quick, personal, one-on-one assistance with laptops and cellphones without an appointment].

Q: Did you have any role models/mentors who helped you in your career? Do you mentor others?

Kim: Becky Bailey taught me how to handle myself in a professional way at work and taught me how to be a leader. She retired last year from CPS Energy after 40 years of service.

I’ve been a mentor in the Inspire U program for the past 3 years. Being able to give back to the community and help these kids grow and give advice is very heartwarming.

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Q:  What can others do to be successful in their careers and personal lives?

Kim:  Stay out of your comfort zone.  When projects come up, volunteer to do them. Be proactive at work and in your personal life. Life and work are like playing a game of pool (billiards): you must always think about your next shot.

Q: How would you describe yourself?

Kim: I like to laugh and make others laugh. I am a jokester and I just try to enjoy life and make others happy!