People rarely remember what you say, they only sometimes remember what you do, but they always remember how you made them feel. To Erin Pogue, manager of safety and technical training for Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L; Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.), these words, passed on to her by her late uncle and former president of a well-known electric utility, characterize her philosophy of work as well as life.

“In many ways, I was born into the electric utility industry,” Pogue says. “My father, Ed Pogue, spent 20 years at Westar Energy (formerly KCP&L and Western Resources, respectively), retiring as vice president of the Western region in 1980. My uncle, Bill Brown, worked for KCP&L for 33 years, before retiring in the position of president.”

For some, these shoes may have seemed impossibly large to fill, but Pogue found them to be a comfortable fit. Growing up in Kansas — the heart of “Tornado Alley” — this daughter of an electric utility worker quickly learned the meaning of commitment. “When the air became still and the sky took on a strange color, I knew the tornado sirens would soon follow,” Pogue says. “This meant Dad would probably not be coming home any time soon.” Pogue also learned from the stories related to her by her father and uncle about the dedication of the linemen and others who worked day and night to restore power to their customers. “A death or injury to one of their linemen or workers was as if it had occurred in our own family,” Pogue remembers.

It seemed only natural when Pogue joined Western Resources in 1987. She began her career as a receptionist before becoming an engineering assistant. As she rose through the ranks, first as senior engineering supervisor and then as manager II, Pogue found it wasn't always easy being a female supervisor in a male-dominated industry. “I soon discovered that mutual respect and trust overcame most challenges,” she says. “I also learned that true leaders lead from the heart.”

During this time, Pogue realized the importance of completing her college education. She dedicated nights and weekends to earning a degree in management and human relations. Currently, she is enrolled in the master's degree program at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri.

In 2002, after 15 years at Western Resources, Pogue decided to leave. “It was one of the most difficult choices of my life,” she says. “My father, my uncle and I had dedicated a combined 65 years of service to the company.” Instead of joining another utility, Pogue started her own business remodeling and selling homes. Although her career change proved rewarding and profitable, Pogue missed the challenges and the relationships she had enjoyed at Western Resources.

She re-entered the utility industry as supervisor of field design for KCP&L. Through development opportunities, Pogue was promoted to superintendent of KCP&L's Southland Service Center. Currently, she holds the title of manager of safety and technical training. Like her father, she personally feels the pain of injuries to workers in her company, and she continually strives to reduce that risk. “We are constantly researching and investigating ways to acquire new information, develop new procedures and search for best practices in the industry,” she says.

When it comes to health and safety, Pogue doesn't just talk the talk. “Another area of interest to me is wellness training. Throughout my life, I've been involved in sports, ranging from competitive swimming, bodybuilding, to kickboxing, to lettering at Kansas State University on the rowing/crew team.” Pogue's interest in wellness began in 1998. “I was at a point in my life where some personal issues were getting the best of me,” she says. “I have always gravitated back to the gym when things in life were difficult.”

During this time, Pogue met her future business partner and good friend Ann O'Bryan. Together, they saw the need for a corporate wellness program that would complement the safety efforts of Westar. “I developed a pilot wellness program for the service center that included stretching programs to reduce strains and sprains, on-site aerobic classes, walking clubs, blood pressure checks and health screening.” The pilot, HealthWorks, proved so successful the company implemented the program from the corporate offices to the power plants.

In addition to the skills she learned from her father, Pogue attributes the compassion and dedication she brings to her leadership role to her mother, Kaye, who founded the first hospice in Salina, Kansas, 30 years ago.

Despite her busy career, Pogue still finds time to play. “My hobby is restoring classic cars. I have always had an appreciation for the American muscle cars,” she says. “My 1968 Chevy Camaro won Best in Class at the 2006 and 2007 World of Wheels Show, and my 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible won the Outstanding award at the 2007 World of Wheels Show.” Pogue says the Cutlass convertible is her favorite car to drive. “It rides like a Cadillac, but has a throaty rumble that announces its arrival several blocks away. My work in progress includes a 1964½ Mustang Convertible and a 1941 Ford Coupe.”