2016 40 Under 40 Yearbook: Amy Austin, 49

Then: Director of customer services, City Utilities of Springfield
Now: Associate general manager of administration, City Utilities of Springfield

Amy Austin had laid down roots at City Utilities of Springfield when she was honored among the 2006 class of 40 Under 40. At the time, she had been with CU for 17 years, working her way up to director of customer services from a part-time office trainee in 1989.

Ten years later, Austin’s roots have spread even deeper and she now serves on the executive team of the public utility as associate general manager of administration.

“While I still have customer operations, I now also have human resources, safety and training, communications and community relations departments, as well as our board responsibilities,” Austin says of her job these days, which includes direct oversight of roughly 150 employees. “I’ve just added on to what I already had.”

In fact, she says the only thing that has changed much in her life is her daughter now is 22 years old.

Austin, who predicted in 2006 she would work at CU until it was time to retire, said she expects to reach that goal within 10 years. Until that day comes, she is quite happy where she is.

“When you come to work everyday and you like the people you work with, and you feel like you’re an asset to the community with an employer that gives back to the community, what more could you ask for?” she says.