Rosendin

Brea Bailey

Mission Critical is excited to introduce you to the 2024 Top 25 Women in Technology. Meet Brea Bailey.

Title: Project Manager

Company: Rosendin Electric

Age: 33

Education: Bachelor’s degree in architecture; master’s degree in construction management

Achievements/awards: Part of a data center project that successfully turned over all phases to the owner with zero defects

What made you realize you wanted to pursue a career in technology?

My favorite subjects in school were always math and art. Due to my love of drawing houses, my 2nd grade art teacher suggested I become an architect. I researched what that was and from that point on, that was all I ever wanted to be. It wasn’t until my junior year of college that I had a change of heart. I ultimately took a slightly different path and ended up becoming a Project Manager for an electrical contractor. I have been involved in data center projects for the past six years and have truly loved every minute of it. It’s challenging at times, but also very rewarding.

What inspires you to do what you do?

The next generation of working professionals, especially my children and all my nieces and nephews, is what inspires me to continue down this path. Growing up, it was rare to see any STEM programs or initiatives that encouraged kids to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Being that I am in one of these industries, I see how great of a demand there is to still fill these roles.

My goal is to continue to advocate for careers in STEM and show them that there is no limit to what they can achieve in these ever-evolving industries.

What role does sustainability play in your life?

I was first introduced to certain aspects of sustainability efforts through LEED in college. I enjoyed the concept of it so much that one of my final papers in graduate school identified ways to implement green building products and materials in the U.S. construction industry. I could easily go on and on about this topic, but to keep it short, some simple yet impactful sustainable practices that I follow in my everyday life include going paperless, conserving energy and water, and limiting the use of plastic water bottles. Professionally, it’s exciting to see sustainability initiatives implemented on some of the projects I have worked on, such as the use of electric vehicle chargers or material that contains a certain amount of recycled content. It gives me hope that we are still on track to improve the planet and quality of life for future generations to come.

What is the most fascinating thing you have learned while working in this industry?

I’ve learned that nothing is impossible, as there seems to be an unlimited number of possibilities in technology. It’s amazing to witness how fast it is changing and how companies are either taking advantage of it or getting left behind.

What’s something unique about you personally?

I wouldn’t quite call this unique, but as a girl who was born and raised in the city of Las Vegas, I have fallen deeply in love with the slow-paced country life. I enjoy going fishing, attending trail rides and just being with family away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

What’s something unique about you professionally?

My honesty and accountability are what make me unique professionally. I believe those two traits go hand in hand. As a leader, I hold the truth in high regard and take ownership of my actions and how they could affect others.

What’s your most admirable quality?

In a society that seems to be losing its compassion by the day, the kindness I show my coworkers and trade partners is a quality I think most people admire about me. I’ve realized that you never really know what someone is going through so I make it a point to always be kind to anyone I encounter. One famous quote by Maya Angelou that I resonate with is, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Why is diversity, equality, and inclusion important to you?

Diversity, equality, and inclusion are very important to me. Most of the time when DEI is mentioned, race or gender is what automatically comes to mind. However, DEI also encompasses people of different ages, disabilities, religions, cultures and more. Diversity in the workplace allows for different perspectives when making decisions or solving problems, increases employee engagement, decreases turnover and increases productivity.

I love that over the last few years, Rosendin has taken the necessary steps to implement DEI training to all its employees and has numerous employee resource groups available that offer diverse and inclusive spaces that are safe and supportive for members and allies.

What aspect of the industry do you think has the most potential for growth, and, on the other hand, which aspect do you think needs the most improvement?

The area I think has the most potential growth would be energy efficiency. I’ve seen a trend in the past few years where data centers would choose whether to adopt certain sustainability practices at their facilities. With artificial intelligence currently pushing the boundaries to make data center operations larger than ever, energy efficiency is no longer becoming an option, but a requirement.

The area that needs the most improvement would be diversity, equality, and inclusion. Although there has been much improvement in this area over the years, we still have a long way to go. Women in this industry are still highly underpaid, undervalued and overlooked in comparison to their male counterparts. It would be beneficial for companies to focus on not only hiring more women but finding better ways to retain them as well.

When you imagine the future of the technology industry, what does it look like?

I don’t think it’s even possible to imagine what the future of technology holds. Twenty years ago, who would’ve thought we’d eventually have touch screen cell phones, or technology that uses facial recognition to unlock it? If I had to guess, I would say we will more than likely see the use of artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality in ways that we haven’t seen before. Such as robots in customer service roles or assisting aid doctors in life saving surgeries. Or using VR & AR to teach a class or somehow visit a loved one who is hundreds of miles away from the comfort of your home. As I stated before, the possibilities are endless and I’m extremely excited to see what’s to come.