JEA Celebrated Women’s History Month with “Women Powering Change” Event

2026-03-24

Jacksonville, FL - As women continue to lead some of Jacksonville’s most influential institutions, JEA brought together top leaders in business, government and public service for a Women’s History Month event focused on how women are shaping the region’s future and strengthening the community.

The event, Women Powering Change, held Tuesday, March 24, drew more than 50 attendees, including JEA leaders and employees, underscoring strong interest in advancing leadership, service, and opportunity for women across Northeast Florida.

The program featured a moderated fireside chat led by JEA’s Katie Jeffries, highlighting the perspectives of women whose leadership directly impacts the region. Panelists included JEA Managing Director and CEO Vickie Cavey, VyStar Credit Union Chief Human Resources Officer and JEA Board Member Kawanza Suarez, and State Attorney for Florida’s Fourth Judicial Circuit Melissa Nelson.

Through an engaging conversation, the panel explored leadership journeys, perspectives on public service and the role women play in building strong, sustainable communities.

“Women are playing a critical role in shaping the future of our community, from leading major institutions to driving innovation and strengthening the services people rely on every day,” said JEA Managing Director and CEO Vickie Cavey. “At JEA, we see that impact across our organization—from the front lines of customer experience to engineering, operations and executive leadership. This event highlighted the importance of investing in people, creating opportunities for growth and ensuring we continue building a workforce that reflects and serves our community. It also reinforces our responsibility to support and develop the next generation of leaders who will continue powering progress across Northeast Florida.”

By the Numbers: Women at JEA

Women are playing an increasingly vital role in the utility industry, helping shape a field that is evolving to meet the demands of growth, sustainability, and innovation. While women currently represent about a quarter of the utility workforce nationwide, their impact continues to expand across leadership, engineering, operations, and customer-focused roles. At JEA and across the industry, these contributions are strengthening performance, enhancing decision-making, and delivering greater value to the community’s utilities serve.

JEA’s workforce reflects the growing impact of women across all areas of the organization:

• 2,286 total full-time employees
• 543 employees – 24% – are women
• 191 in Customer Experience
• 88 in Finance
• 81 in Administration
• 53 in Water/Wastewater Services
• 47 in Electric Services
• 46 in Human Resources
• 36 in Information Technology
• 1 serving as JEA’s CEO

From the front lines of customer service to critical infrastructure operations and executive leadership, women at JEA play a vital role in delivering reliable electric, water and wastewater services to more than one million customers across Northeast Florida.

About Women's History Month

Women’s History Month traces its origins to Women’s History Week, first celebrated in 1980 following a presidential proclamation. In 1987, Congress expanded the recognition to the entire month of March. Today, it serves as a national celebration of the contributions women have made to history, culture, and society—and a reminder of the ongoing work to advance equity and opportunity.

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About JEA

JEA is a municipal utility providing safe, reliable and affordable services to more than one million residents across four Northeast Florida counties. JEA is not owned by investors and does not earn a profit. It was created by the City of Jacksonville to meet the electricity and water needs of those who live in Jacksonville and surrounding communities. JEA’s 2,300-plus workforce is dedicated to meeting customer needs, both today and for generations to come, while protecting our precious natural resources and supporting our region’s growth and economic development. Learn more at jea.com.

Media Contact

Myers Vasquez
media@jea.com | 904-665-5500

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