Seattle City Light's Civil Crew Chief, Colton Phelan has been the man behind the city's underground power grid for nearly a decade. In a recent spotlight feature on Seattle City (spot)Light, Phelan shared insights about his day-to-day responsibilities, "My crew maintains and installs all of Seattle City Light’s underground infrastructure."
Originally from Maple Valley, Washington, Phelan's roots are deeply planted in the Pacific Northwest. Having clocked in almost 10 years at the utility since starting in March 2014, he expressed his pride in servicing the community, "I enjoy providing a service to our great customers," he stated, according to the Seattle City (spot)Light interview. Alongside his career, Phelan is a family man with two young daughters, Cienna, 3, and Skylar, 7, a 14-year-old dog Macky, and a cat named Bingo making up his home team.
The Transmission & Distribution division at City Light reaps the benefits of Phelan's hands-on experience, which he juggles with his commitments at home. His educational background stems from Tahoma High School and Central Washington University, pathways that have led him to where he stands today. When he's not underground or planning the next big project, Phelan's go-to song is “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” by Toby Keith, a sentimental track that perhaps echoes the ethos of a man who's not afraid to get his hands dirty for the greater good of his city.
With ambitions that scale the corporate heights of City Light, Phelan envisions a future of continued service and leadership. "In 10 years, I see myself working side-by-side with Assistant General Manager Mike Haynes to keep City Light great," he told Seattle City (spot)Light. While he considers Hawaii to be an ideal living spot, for now, Phelan remains committed to ensuring that Seattle remains illuminated, and energized through his stewardship – a clear mark of his dedication to the community and to the profession he clearly holds in high regard.
