Kristina Pilcher, MBA
Kristina Pilcher, MBA, is a seasoned financial professional with over 15 years of experience spanning banking, accounting supervision, and electric utility management. She currently serves as a Transmission Project Cost Analyst, Senior at American Electric Power in the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, where she leverages her expertise in budget management, forecast analysis, and project monitoring to ensure cost efficiency and compliance in a federally regulated environment. Her analytical rigor and strategic oversight have been instrumental in supporting the company’s financial stability and operational success.
Before joining the electric utility sector, Kristina developed her financial acumen through roles at Bank of Oklahoma and as an Accounting Supervisor at IMAX Worldwide Imports. Her background in accounts payable, receivable, and account reconciliation provided a strong foundation for her transition into utility finance, where she navigates the complexities of engineering-related budgets while maintaining strict financial accountability. Known for her quiet yet approachable leadership style, she prioritizes supporting her team without micromanaging, fostering collaboration and problem-solving across projects.
Kristina’s professional achievements are complemented by her personal dedication to growth and resilience. A mother of four, she completed her MBA in Accounting from Rogers State University in just three semesters while managing her family and full-time work commitments. Outside of her career, she enjoys lake outings, intramural softball, golf, beach vacations, and giving back to her community through United Way events. Her ability to balance professional excellence with personal dedication exemplifies her commitment to both her family and her field.
• Rogers State University - MBA
• United Way Charities
• Golf Tournament Coordination
• Skeet Shoot Event Coordination
What do you attribute your success to?
I definitely attribute my success to hard work and staying dedicated. I've had to be able to micromanage and do lots of things at one time, which has been essential in balancing everything. Most importantly, I've had a good support group with my husband and kids being supportive of me in getting to this point. Without that support system around me, it would have been much more difficult to achieve what I have.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is to never get comfortable. You have to just keep learning, keep growing, and keep pushing yourself to keep learning. It's so important not to become complacent in your career, because the moment you stop learning and growing is when you stop progressing.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would be to keep going and don't give up. Just keep pushing through, no matter what challenges you face. Yes, having an accounting degree has helped me, and I think financial roles are important in this field. But in the electricity industry, there's also a lot of engineering involved, so there are different paths you can take. The most important thing is to not give up and to keep pushing forward.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I feel like everything is always changing in this industry. Learning new processes and procedures is the biggest challenge right now. We're federally regulated, so we're on a tight rope and watched in everything we do. That constant oversight and the need to stay current with changing regulations and processes makes it challenging to keep up with everything.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is extremely important to me in both my work and personal life. I also believe you have to have a good work-home balance, especially with a big family. You can't have work taking up all of your time when you have four kids and all their activities to manage. Dedication is another core value for me, because without dedication, you can't succeed in balancing everything that matters.
Locations
American Electric Power
Kellyville, OK 74039