Seattle City (spot)Light: Tanya Panomvana, Senior Manager of Joint Use and Wood Pole Design
The Basics
Division: Engineering and Technology Operations
How long have you been at City Light? 20 years and 8 months
Tell us about your role: For the Joint Use group, I oversee the programs that manage how external utilities and communication companies share space on Seattle City Light’s pole infrastructure. My team ensures that pole attachments are reviewed, designed, and coordinated safely, efficiently, and in compliance with engineering standards and regulatory requirements.
I also lead the Wood Pole Design group, which focuses on making sure our poles are strong, safe, and able to support our electrical system. We handle pole assessments, structural checks, and design work to support maintenance and capital projects. In short, my team helps keep our pole system reliable and ready for the needs of the community.
Background
Hometown: Lynnwood, Washington
Alma Mater: University of Washington
Discipline/Trade of study: Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, with a minor in mathematics and a master’s in business administration
Tell us about your family: My only child is my senior shih tzu Snoopy. He’ll be 16 years old on Halloween. I have two nieces who I’m completely obsessed with and try to see as often as I can – Aria, 11, and Riley, 9.
Just for Fun
When you were younger, what was your dream job? I wanted to be a math teacher. Not exactly an exciting dream job but I really enjoyed math and wanted to do something that involved it.
What’s a small thing that always makes your day better? Hot chocolate – I drink it almost daily, even in the summer. It’s definitely not a conventional adult drink but it’s like my coffee equivalent.
What’s the most exciting thing you’ve done recently? I was invited to a conference at the last minute in Glasgow, Scotland. With only a week’s notice, I made travel arrangements to go attend the conference and was only there for four days. I spent more time on the plane and the airport than I did getting to see Glasgow. It was a great trip but wish I could have stayed longer. I volunteer for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as the Power and Energy Society Seattle Chapter Chair and was asked to attend on behalf of the IEEE Seattle Section Chair.
What’s your favorite family tradition or memory? One of my favorite family memories is traveling to Thailand together a few years ago. The last time we’d all been there as a family, I was only three years old, so returning as an adult felt especially meaningful. We reunited with cousins I hadn’t seen since that first trip, which made the experience even more special. During our visit, we stopped by my mom’s childhood home in Bangkok, built by my grandfather, which has since been converted into a restaurant. Ironically, it’s now an American BBQ spot, and surprisingly, the food was incredible—better than many BBQ places here.
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