Melissa Seixas' Journey from Draftsman to Duke Energy Florida State President MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Melissa Seixas, the Florida state president of Duke Energy, has spent decades advancing in the energy sector, starting her career as a draftsman at the age of 19. Her path to leadership highlights the growing role of women in the energy industry, a trend she says is critical for the future of the field. Seixas began her career with Duke Energy in 1985, working as a draftsman responsible for designing the infrastructure of the electrical grid. At the time, she was just 19 years old, a young professional navigating a male-dominated industry. Her early years were shaped by the guidance of Art Gilmore, a senior engineer who has been with the company for 50 years. Gilmore, now a Senior Asset Design Engineering Technologist, recalls mentoring Seixas during her formative years. “She’s been very good to work with. It’s nice to have an employee you helped train who made something great of herself,” he said. Over the next four decades, Seixas held multiple roles within Duke Energy, steadily climbing the ranks. By 2021, she had become the Florida state president of the company, a position that places her at the forefront of shaping the state’s energy strategy. Her leadership comes at a pivotal time as utilities nationwide seek to diversify their workforce and attract more women to engineering and energy careers. In interviews, Seixas emphasizes the importance of preparing for the future of the energy sector. “One of my most important responsibilities is to hire the next generation of employees,” she said. She envisions a workforce where young professionals, like herself when she started, can grow into leadership roles over time.#duke_energy #melissa_seixas #art_gilmore #manatee_county #florida_state_president
Tornado watches, warnings Sunday night for Louisville area A fast-moving storm swept through the Louisville region on Sunday, bringing strong to severe thunderstorms, power outages, and a sudden drop in temperatures. The storm, which moved rapidly from west to east, prompted tornado warnings in western Kentucky and caused widespread disruptions as it passed through the area. The National Weather Service issued tornado watches and warnings late Sunday as the storm system intensified. At its peak, winds reached upwards of 80 mph, with reports of damaging gusts in areas like Hardin County, Kentucky. The storm's rapid movement led to chaotic conditions, with some communities experiencing severe weather within minutes. Power outages were a significant impact of the storm. By midnight, over 11,000 residents in the WLKY coverage area were without electricity, with the highest number of outages reported in western counties. Duke Energy and LG&E were monitoring the situation, and updates on power restoration efforts were being provided through local channels. The storm's path was marked by a series of updates from the WLKY Weather Team. By 11:50 p.m., several areas west of the region had already moved past the storm, but conditions remained volatile in Louisville and surrounding areas. Storms were heading toward Shepherdsville and Radcliff, with residents urged to take shelter. As the storm moved east, temperatures began to plummet. By Monday morning, the region was expected to see a sharp drop, with temperatures falling into the 30s and wind chills in the 20s. The cold snap was accompanied by the possibility of passing snow flurries, though officials warned that much of the precipitation would not stick due to the relatively warm air temperatures.#national_weather_service #duke_energy #wlky_weather_team #lg_e #hardin_county
Warm Tuesday forecast, then strong to severe storms Cloud cover returns to the Tri-State region today, but temperatures continue to rise despite the overcast skies. Morning conditions feature scattered light showers, with temperatures starting in the low 60s. The sky remains mostly cloudy throughout the day, with winds blowing from the southwest at 10 mph. By 4 p.m., temperatures are projected to reach 74 degrees, slightly below the record high of 77 degrees set in 2009. Severe weather is expected to develop late Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. While the likelihood of rain is not guaranteed for the entire area, storms that do form could bring large hail. The Storm Prediction Center has placed the region in a "marginal risk" category for severe storms overnight. Wednesday brings a higher chance of significant weather activity. The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded the risk to "slight" for severe storms, which may include large hail, damaging wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes. Scattered thunderstorms are possible in the early morning hours, with intermittent breaks in the rain. However, new storms are expected to regroup and intensify in the early to mid-afternoon. Storms developing after 1 p.m. are likely to be more severe, moving eastward across the Tri-State from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. High temperatures on Wednesday are expected to remain near 74 degrees, even with the increased cloud cover and rainfall. Winds will shift to the southwest at 20 mph on Wednesday. A cooler air mass will follow the storm system, bringing temperatures back to seasonal averages by Thursday. Thursday morning is forecast to start at 36 degrees, warming to 49 degrees by afternoon with partly cloudy skies.#tristate_region #storm_prediction_center #duke_energy #wcpo #first_warning_weather_team
