DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN REVIVING THE AABE PITTSBURGH CHAPTER. (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)
Deo Alexander named president; state Rep. Abney presents proclamation
When state Rep. Aerion Abney walked into Emerald City, a Black-owned multi-purpose space on Smithfield Street, Downtown, he was more than elated to be surrounded by Black people whom he called “resilient,” “diligent” and “committed.”
He was more than elated to present this group of 40 African Americans a proclamation on behalf of the Pa. House Democratic Caucus, for bringing back the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE).
“I really want to thank and commend the folks who are here tonight, who decided to come together and think about the importance of creating a space and opportunity for Black and brown people to have access to opportunities in the energy space,” Rep. Abney said during the Sept. 28 event. Representative Abney said it was important for the chapter to be rejuvenated “particularly in the City of Pittsburgh where a lot of times, access to opportunity for Black and brown folks aren’t always available across all different industries, even in politics.”
STATE REP. AERION ABNEY SPEAKING… (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
Several employees from Duquesne Light Company worked together to bring the AABE chapter back to Pittsburgh. The event was labeled, “Reclamation and Networking.” According to an article posted on the Duquesne Light website, AABE Pittsburgh had a strong foothold in Pittsburgh in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Included were Black employees and entrepreneurs from various energy-related companies or suppliers. However, membership dwindled in the early 2000s, ultimately resulting in the disbandment of the chapter. Several attempts since then failed to gain sustained traction, with the most recent efforts coming in 2017.
ARTHUR CHILESHE, JEREMY CASTRODAD, DEO ALEXANDER, KEVIN WALKER, SAMSON HORNE
AABE officially became a non-profit organization on Dec. 1, 1977, in Colorado. The organization was the brainchild of Clarke A. Watson, who owned an energy-consulting firm in Denver, called Watson Associates. According to the AABE website, Watson called for a meeting of a core group of Blacks concerned about energy matters on July 25 and 26, 1977, at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. Among those present at that meeting with Watson was Linda Taliaferro, of Westinghouse Electric in Pittsburgh. Eventually, Watson was named chair of the new organization, while Taliaferro, who served as a member of the Advanced Reactors Division at Westinghouse Electric, served as a board member.
Currently, there are 37 regional chapters of AABE across the U.S., which now includes Pittsburgh.
Kevin Walker, current president and CEO of Duquesne Light Holdings, which includes Duquesne Light Company, revealed during his remarks that early in his career in the energy/utility industry, he saw virtually no one who was Black like him in his company. He said he was this close to leaving the industry altogether.
But then he was invited to an AABE national conference, “and I met hundreds, not tens, but hundreds of African Americans in every role in the utility industry. Black CFOs, CEOs, Black line workers, HR folks…I came back empowered by that,” Walker said.
“That was a pivotal moment,” Walker added. “I wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for that inspiration of the AABE conference.”
Walker then praised Victor Roque, the first Black president of Duquesne Light Company (a subsidiary of Duquesne Light Holdings) for paving the way for other African Americans to serve in C-Suite level roles after him. Walker said he gets the “luxury” to thank and appreciate one of the “giants” in the utility industry face-to-face, and continues to get counsel and inspiration from Roque. Roque was in attendance at the Sept. 28 event.
The event also featured a keynote address from La’Meshia Whittington, CEO of an energy consulting firm and professor at North Carolina State University. Whittington’s talk highlighted the need to celebrate Black excellence in energy, from innovators like Lewis Latimer and George Washington Carver, to contemporary leaders like Roque and Walker, all while keeping in mind the importance of accessibility and equity in the energy space for Black and low-income individuals and communities, according to an article on the Duquesne Light website.
The AABE Pittsburgh chapter president is Deo Alexander, supervisor of Distribution Engineering at Duquesne Light. Other organizations that were involved in the Sept. 28 event included EQT, Burns & McDonnell, Range Resources, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Dominion Energy and CRBE Group Inc.
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