Three female Oncor employees have seen first-hand how the workplace has evolved for women. Oncor’s Jill Alvarez, Kathy Coleman and Maria Martinez each have at least three decades of service with Oncor.

They not only celebrate Women’s History Month each March; they’ve lived it.

Martinez, the Director of Market Performance, said she chose Oncor as a place to work after college thanks to a friend’s suggestion, but also because the company, unlike some others, told her she would be able to work outside.

“As an intern, I had an opportunity to work in the field and found that it really resonated with me,” Martinez said. “So after I graduated, the company was very receptive to the idea and I was able to start my job as a field support engineer.”

Alvarez, a Senior Manager in Transmission, started her Oncor career at the Comanche Peak nuclear power station. But while she relished the post as a new mechanical engineer, she was the only woman on staff, other than clerical workers.

“Only on occasion it would occur to me, ‘Oh look, I’m the only female in this room.’ ” Alvarez said. “But it had been that way through engineering school, so it wasn’t much different than that.”

Coleman, Meter Technician Senior, first worked for Lone Star Gas, and then made the move into the electricity business.

“I think I was the first woman in this group,” she said. “I really didn’t have any issues. I had good coworkers who were ready to train me. I had the opportunity to work with some really great guys who wanted me to know everything I needed to know to be an asset to them. I never had any issues out here in the field working with men.”

Still, her first uniforms were made for men, Coleman said, because the company had never needed ones for women.

“That was all they would order,” she said. “Now that we have more women out here, we’re able to get women’s clothes.”

Growing up, Martinez said, her grandmothers provided strong female role models for her. Both women lost their husbands early on, leaving one grandmother to raise six children and another to raise eight.

“I think of them when things get difficult,” Martinez said. “What they would do in a tough situation. They fended for themselves. They took care of the situation and they moved on.”

Likewise, Martinez chose engineering, a male-dominated profession at the time, because she was interested in math and science. “That was the area I needed to explore,” she said. “I didn’t ask for permission. I went ahead. That is what I needed to do.”

For Alvarez, a big role model and inspiration is Oncor’s Debbie Dennis, Senior Vice President, Chief Customer Officer and Chief HR Officer.

“I was very fortunate to be selected for the first group mentoring program, and it was headed up by Debbie Dennis,” Alvarez said.

“I hold her in high regard,” she said. “She came in at the time when there weren’t very many roles for women other than being an economist or secretary. She made her mark and has led this company very well.”

Alvarez said today’s workplace is “radically different” than it was 30 years ago. She credits Oncor for being a leader in making positive changes for women in the company.

“Women are a lot more willing and able to do what they’re interested in doing without really feeling like they’re going to have to climb over barriers to get there.”