Interns to Full Time Employee Profiles

Name: Christopher Rael
Position: Systems Analyst/Integrator II
Work Location: Deer Valley

I started working as an intern for APS in the summer of 1999, just after graduating high school. Despite having no practical experience, I was given an opportunity to employ my technical aptitude to create web applications using software development skills that I learned while on-the-job. In the summer of 2000, APS welcomed me back to train new skills and apply what I was learning in college.

In May of 2003, I graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. The self-taught skills that I developed while working for APS served as an excellent foundation for my studies. My internship experiences gave me an understanding of the practical application of my skills, and my formal education gave me an understanding of the theory behind those skills. With both theory and application under my belt, I was ready to start tackling real technical challenges.

I accepted another internship with APS immediately after graduating from college. During that internship for Communication Systems, I assisted in the design and implementation of software that would eventually be worthy of a patent application. My hard work paid off one year later when APS offered me a fulltime position as a system analyst.

I now work for Projects & Deployment, with the majority of my focus on software projects for the Network Services organization. I am doing work that I love, making use of my degree, and applying skills that I have been building since my first internship is 1999. More importantly, I am gladly returning to APS what it invested in me all those years ago. I am proud to have been a part of the APS internship system, and I am proud to be part of the APS family today.

Name: Brian Tang
Position: Systems Analyst/Integrator II
Work Location: Deer Valley

I started at APS/Pinnacle West as an IS Intern in Power Trading. As a Quality Assurance developer, I programmed and maintained automated scripts to test our new power trading system. My goals were to keep testing as efficient as possible and to ensure our system was fully functional after each developmental phase. With this project, I definitely learned a lot about the financial side of power which previously, I did not know had existed!

One of the benefits of our IS department is the ability to work various projects throughout the company. I got the opportunity to work in Substation Maintenance. Working with the substation techs, my responsibility was to make their job easier via technology. For example, I replaced cumbersome paper checklists with lightweight mobile devices that provided more functionality in the field. With this position, I wore a hard hat for my first time and certainly learned a lot about the material side of power.

When I graduated from Arizona State University with a Computer Systems Engineering degree, the Technology Team in Customer Operations hired me full-time. Ever since then, I have been learning a lot about the customer service side of power. Some of my projects include creating and developing applications, using the latest programming technologies, to support the call center to be more effective and efficient. Working directly with my customers on a one-on-one basis and quickly delivering solutions for their needs is what I like about this job.

Overall, my career path here at APS/Pinnacle West has been a great one. With the many opportunities to grow, I am looking forward in my future with this company.

Name: Adolfo Maldonado
Position: Engineer II
Work Location: Deer Valley

As an intern, I worked in the Protection Metering and Automated Controls (PMAC) department. I worked on many different projects while in PMAC. I was responsible for re-drawing all the hand written diagrams using AutoCAD that the department uses for running fault studies. These studies are used to get settings for relays that protect substations through out Arizona. I was then given the opportunity to hone my website building skills. I put together a directory for all the drawings so that other departments could now access the newly drawn diagrams from the department website. I was given the opportunity to learn technical skills that would follow me through out my career at APS while I went to school to get my Engineering degree.

In May 2003 I graduated from ASU with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. With my Electrical Engineering degree many new doors opened. APS gave me the chance to apply and interview in different departments. I accepted an opportunity to become A Generation Rotation Orientation Engineer (GRO). As a GRO engineer, I rotated among different departments within Generation Engineering. I started as a project manager at in the Generation Engineering group. I rotated around to Ocotillo Power Plant, then to West Phoenix Power Plant, and finally to the newly bought Sundance Power plant. During these rotations in the course of two years, I worked on many different projects through out the gas and oil power plant. The projects ranged from replacing vibration systems, voltage regulators, to working on critical alarms. Again, I was blessed to have met so many people that would encourage me to learn and grow as a new engineer.

I was the plant Engineer for the Sundance Power Plant for close to two years before taking a position back in Generation Engineering where I am now a project manager again. I am currently involved in projects in the coal power plants, which again is new to me. At generation, I have a great team that inspires me to learn and become a better engineer. My goals are to work as many new projects as possible and become as familiar as one can be in the field of generation engineering. APS has given the opportunity to travel, learn, and meet experienced engineers that genuinely want to mentor me to become an asset for this company.