Her Story
About Sarah
Sarah Pink is Director of Station and Electrical Services for the Great Lakes Region at TRC Companies, Inc., where she leads a growing team of engineers responsible for advancing long-term utility transmission upgrades, including complex 765 kV projects. Since joining the company in March, she has built the regional division from the ground up, recruiting thirteen staff members and securing six new job awards across four separate utility clients. With nearly 24 years of experience in electrical engineering and utility infrastructure, Pink brings a track record of standing up high-performing teams capable of delivering large-scale, technically demanding work.
Before joining TRC, Pink spent several years as Director of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction at M. J. Electric, a Quanta Services company, where she led a national EPC division that grew to generate more than $400 million in new business and built a backlog exceeding $1.2 billion. When that role shifted to a more regionally focused scope, she transitioned to TRC, drawing on years of established industry relationships to replicate her earlier success in building capable, mission-ready teams. Her career also includes leadership roles at Faith Technologies, Trachte LLC, and Power System Engineering, reflecting a steady progression through electrical engineering and construction management positions throughout the Madison, Wisconsin area.
Beyond her technical achievements, Pink is known for prioritizing honesty, transparency, and integrity in her leadership approach, including her insistence on accurate project billing that reflects genuine productivity rather than overhead costs. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of North Dakota and a Master's degree in Business Management from Purdue University. An active member of IEEE and her local Chamber of Commerce, Pink is also a vocal advocate for women in non-traditional engineering fields, encouraging them to embrace their individuality rather than feel pressure to fit a conventional mold. She views the current shortage of experienced talent in large-scale transmission work — a challenge not seen since the 1970s and 80s — as one of the defining issues facing the industry today.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sarah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to grit and persistence. I've never been one to give up easily, and I hold myself to a standard of being real, honest, and transparent in everything I do. Integrity matters deeply to me — for instance, I make it a priority to ensure billing reflects actual productive work for our customers rather than padding it with overhead.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I'd tell young women not to be discouraged if they ever feel like they don't quite fit in. You don't have to change who you are or force yourself into a mold to succeed in a non-traditional field like this one. Your differences can be an asset.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge we're facing is a shortage of experienced resources to meet the scale of demand. We haven't seen transmission work at this magnitude since the 1970s and 80s, so there's no established playbook for it. Many of our most experienced professionals have retired, which means we're largely rebuilding institutional knowledge with a relatively inexperienced workforce, all while working against an urgent timeline.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, transparency, integrity, and persistence guide everything I do, both professionally and personally. I also place a lot of value on having trusted mentors and people around me who truly listen — including my husband, who is also an engineer and has been a steady source of support throughout my career.
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