Name
Stephanie Weimer Liska
Company/Organization
Entergy – Palisades Power Plant
What Does Your Company/Organization Do?
Entergy owns and operates the Palisades Power Plant in Covert Township, Michigan. The plant produces safe, clean, and reliable electricity to power Southwest Michigan. Entergy is an energy company that produces and distributes electrical power to various locations within the United States.
Age
35
Accomplishments
I am an Engineering Supervisor at Palisades. My responsibilities include acting as a technical expert and mentor and managing a team of six engineers in their day-to-day functions. Aside from typical workload management, one of the focuses of my work is ensuring my team has the resources they need, and their roadblocks removed, for successful performance of their jobs. This often involves working with a number of external stakeholders and helping to resolve conflicts. At the same time, being an experienced engineer affords numerous opportunities for the training of new employees! Most recently, I obtained an American National Standards Institute Pressurized Water Reactor Management Certification.
Outside of work, I utilize my Fire Protection education by participating on the Baroda Fire Board, this year serving as the Board Secretary, and am a professional member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
My true passion, though, lies with animal rescue efforts. I am a former board member of the Al-Van Humane Society, created a Trap, Neuter, Release Program in Southwest Michigan, and have given a temporary home to over 100 cats awaiting adoption!
What else do you hope to accomplish by the age of 40?
To continue my professional development within the nuclear power and fire protection industries. Additionally, I hope to further my animal rescue footprint in Southwest Michigan. In conjunction with local municipalities and veterinarians, I hope to establish a low-cost clinic that is available to anyone in Southwest Michigan.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Fire Protection Engineering – University of Maryland
Residence
Baroda, MI
Where were you born?
Chittenango, NY
What was your first job?
My first job was an afterschool preschool daycare assistant during my Senior year of High School.
Best advice you ever got?
If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change – Michael Jackson
Who inspires you most?
I have had wonderful people that have inspired the different facets of my life. My philanthropic inspiration is from the founder of Mac’s Mission, Rochelle Steffen. She showed me that if you have the dedication and drive, one person can make a difference. She’s raw, hardworking, and is a hardcore animal lover like me.
That one thing about you we’d be most surprised to learn.
I enjoy doing crafting and home DIY projects. Projects as simple as homemade cards to gutting and remodeling our master suite.
What do you love to do in your downtime?
Spending time with my husband and our pets; 3 dogs and 5 cats. Additionally, we like to go on weekend getaways along M22.
What book are you reading now?
Baroda: The Story of a Small Place by Kathleen Shafer
Volunteer activity you love the most.
Helping animal rescues during natural disasters. I was able to help in Texas for Hurricane Harvey, Recent flooding in Tennessee, and in Louisiana for Hurricane Ida. Being able to help animals and people when their most basic resources disappear is a very humbling experience.
What motivates you to give back to your community?
I came from a humble upbringing and had a wonderful community in my childhood who helped me along the way – this still motivates me every day. Thank you would never be enough, but I strive to make them proud.
What Superpower would you most love to have?
Teleportation so I could get more done in a day.
What has been the most eye-opening thing about the coronavirus pandemic for you, personally?
We worked remotely for a year during the pandemic. During the regular video calls, it provided a unique insight into the diverse lifestyles that my coworkers (and friends) live. This has led me to value and focus on the wide array of perspectives that each individual brings to any situation.
What does the honor of being named to the 40 Under 40 most mean to you?
To be recognized with a group of individuals who are making an impact in Southwest Michigan is very exciting and humbling. Hopefully our biographies inspire others to find what they are passionate about and turn that into an opportunity to improve the community.
