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Sept. 7, 2024
In this edition of the American Gas Association series Learning from Leaders, Washington Gas President Blue Jenkins shares insights into his leadership philosophy, the importance of community, and the values guiding his professional and personal life.
As the President of Washington Gas, one of the things I truly enjoy about my work is our employees. I love seeing them succeed, add new skills, and continue growing as they build their skills. A lot goes into making sure our customers can count on the 99.9% reliability they've come to expect from us. Regular maintenance, progressive investments in the pipeline system, a robust supply plan, and a balance between reliability and affordability are all crucial.
But what makes it all possible is our employees. They understand our system, our customers, and our business, and they're completely focused on providing safe, reliable, affordable, and secure energy every day.
Our community appreciates our employees tremendously. In fact, whenever we gather feedback, the highest scores we receive are for our crews and how they interface directly with the public. We consistently hear that they are professional, nice, and respectful. I'm incredibly proud of the reactions and feedback we get from the public when they interact with our team.
Outside work, you can often find me either hiking, fly fishing, or doing something in the great outdoors. Being outdoors reminds me of the importance of our work in managing our impact on the climate. It reminds me repeatedly of how essential it is to provide that opportunity for our children, grandchildren, and those who will come after us.
On a more personal note, I have a son with special needs, which has allowed me to engage in programs like the Special Olympics and other initiatives that support people with special needs. I enjoy finding ways to enable those who face physical or mental challenges by providing them opportunities to showcase their capabilities and giving them the opportunities that many of us might take for granted.
One piece of advice that has stayed with me since my younger days working on our family farm is something my dad used to say: "The best way to kill time is to work it to death."
Sometimes, getting started on a tough project can be daunting, and it's easy to procrastinate. The best way to tackle it is to sit down, roll up your sleeves, and get after it.
