Amber Wood built her career by embracing the unexpected.
Today, Wood is nearing the completion of a three-year apprenticeship as an electrical test technician trainee with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Her day-to-day life looked much different just a few years earlier, when she was a stay-at-home mother raising three sons.
“I never would have thought that I would have been an electrical test technician,” Wood said. “But I am, and I love it.”
Growing up, Wood was no stranger to the utility industry. Both of her parents had worked for LADWP; her mother served as an electrical craft helper, while her father worked as a lineman. Watching her parents, particularly her mother, left a lasting impression, she said.
“My mom was so good at her job that people would request her to work on their jobs and I always admired that,” Wood said.
Despite that influence, Wood initially pursued a different path. She first earned a degree in psychology with an emphasis in child development before becoming a stay-at-home mother.
Her journey to the utility industry began years later when her husband, an electrical mechanic at LADWP, encouraged her to explore opportunities within the department. Despite having little experience with technical trades or working with tools, Wood entered the Electric Station Operator training program. She quickly discovered an unexpected passion and fascination by the work of electrical test technicians.
Wood applied for the position soon after, but a hiring freeze during the COVID-19 pandemic delayed her entry into the program by nearly three years. By the time she finally joined, she had to overcome the challenges that came with being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Over time, Wood learned not to let assumptions define her. Instead, she focuses on letting her work speak for itself.
“I think what really helps is letting the small things go,” she said. “If I walk into a room and feel like an older gentleman is looking at me the wrong way, that doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t matter, because he doesn’t know me.”
Wood was one of dozens of employees who shared their stories at LADWP’s fourth annual Women’s Career and Wellness Expo. Held May 2 at the Truesdale Training Center in Sun Valley, the event welcomed more than 2,500 attendees and featured more than 80 career and wellness booths. Students, families and community members were given an up-close look at the many opportunities available throughout the utility industry.
For Wood, the Expo served as a chance to introduce people to careers they may have never previously considered.
“The Expo is for everybody to see the types of jobs that are available, get hands-on and learn what these careers are actually about,” she said. “I love being there and showing people how much I love my job.”
Still, Wood hopes the event encourages more women to pursue careers in the field.
“The more women we get into the trades, the less of those biases people are going to have,” Wood said. “We’re going to come in and show that we can multitask and we have a different perspective on the way things work. Having a diverse crew allows you to solve problems more effectively.”
Over the past five years, Wood said she has witnessed a growing number of women entering the department. She believes women help bring valuable strengths to the workplace, including communication and decision-making.
“I also think that women tend to boost morale,” she laughs. “I think, at least for me, that I sparkle and shine every time I come into a room.”
For students who might be uncertain about their futures, Wood encourages them to remain open to opportunities they may have never previously considered.
“Get your foot in the door and figure out if you like something or not,” she said. “Maybe you’ll enjoy something you never would have thought that you would do.”
For Wood, taking that leap of faith led to a life-changing career she never expected.
“I wouldn’t go anywhere else,” she said.
The Women’s Career and Wellness Expo inspired attendees about LADWP careers on May 2 in Sun Valley, Calif. (Photo courtesy of LADWP)
