While Sara Mamuska-Morris has always felt challenged and fulfilled by her work at Citizens Energy Group, the opportunity to work alongside smart, talented individuals who really care about the company’s mission, vision, and values has been the best part of her tenure at the Trust.
1. What does the Market Development department do?The Market Development department is composed of two areas. The New Services team is responsible for gathering, interpreting, and processing information required to complete gas new service orders, as well as the review, issuance, fee collection, and documentation of all water service line, sewer lateral, and main permits. Additionally, the team responds to customer inquiries about new service initiation, utility availability, and the septic tank elimination program (STEP); handles the initial technical review of all new service applications; and creates and manages premise and service points in C2M, the company’s customer information system.
The other area is Sales and Marketing, which manages relationships with our larger industrial and commercial customers and residential developers. The team works in the thermal markets for steam and chilled water to help bolster economic development in and around Indianapolis and works closely with other municipalities where we provide wholesale water and wastewater treatment.
2. What is a typical day like for you?Along with leading a team of 18 employees, I work closely with Energy Operations, Water Operations, Wastewater Operations, and Capital Programs & Engineering to help facilitate projects. I meet with customers, industry experts, government officials, and regulators. I also am a member of several cross-functional teams and lead strategic business case development.
3. When did you start working at Citizens and what positions have you held?I started at Citizens in March 2001 as a Plant Engineer at the Perry K Steam Plant before becoming the Superintendent of Gas Operations Services, managing project engineering, standards and measurements, meter reading, and the storeroom. From 2005 to 2006, I was a co-lead of the Oracle EBS system implementation and then worked in the Strategic Growth Initiatives area, where we developed the Kinetrex liquified natural gas business. In 2013, I was named Director of Shared Field Services. I took on the Director of Treasury role in 2014 and moved to Market Development last year.
4. What is your goal for the Market Development department?My goal is to continue to be a solution provider for our customers. We have talented problem solvers on our team who care about Citizens and its customers. I am challenging my team to find opportunities to help Citizens remain competitive and provide value to our stakeholders and community.
5. What cross-functional teams do you participate in at Citizens?Among other ad hoc teams, I am a part of the Enterprise Risk Management, Strategic Planning, and Strategic Opportunity Teams, as well as the Sustainability Advisory committee. In February of this year, I was part of the initial chartering of Citizens’ corporate Toastmasters club, the Talk of the Trust. I encourage anyone who is curious about Toastmasters to reach out to me. It is a terrific way to improve leadership and communication skills, and we also have a lot of fun.
6. How do you spend your time outside of work? I am on the boards of the Energy Plus Credit Union, Lynx Capital Group, and St. Richard’s Episcopal School, and I also work on committees for St. Mary’s Early Education Center. I enjoy spending time with my husband, Del, who is the Manager, Steam Distribution, at Perry K, our two sons, Richard, 15, and Curtis, 12, and our dog Petey. I also love to travel and run. I was able to combine those two passions recently during a six-day trail running event in Colorado.
Sara Mamuska-Morris enjoys traveling with her husband, Del, and sons Curtis and Richard.
