Amy Austin

“I can remember on one hand the number of times I had a babysitter,” Austin said. “My parents took me with them everywhere they went. I was always placed in a setting where I interacted with adults more than kids. I believe this helped me learn at an early age how to listen and respond to all types of people.”

As director of customer services for City Utilities, Austin oversees approximately 145 employees in areas of the utility that work directly with customers. She is responsible for hiring, promoting, educating, encouraging and disciplining employees. She also works with the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on employee issues and negotiations.

She is accountable for collecting more than $30 million in customer billings each month and is in charge of an $8.2 million annual budget.

Austin has worked at City Utilities for 17 years, moving up the ranks from a part-time office trainee through five other positions to her current leadership role.

“I plan to remain at City Utilities until I retire,” she said.

A Springfield native and graduate of Drury University, Austin is a member of Leadership Springfield Class XIX. She now serves on the Leadership Springfield communications and public relations committee.

Austin also spends her time volunteering with Central Advantage, a high school mentoring program. She supports Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake, is a St. Jude Partner in Hope and attends Fellowship Bible Church.

Austin said raising her 12-year-old daughter to be “respectful, kind and a good friend to others” is her most important achievement.

Born: 1966

What book do you currently have open? “The One Thing You Need To Know,” by Marcus Buckingham

Quote to live by: “Be true to your work, your word, and your friends.” – Henry David Thoreau (It’s hanging in my office.)

What are some stocks that you watch? I really don’t watch specific stocks. I don’t have the time. I purchase mutual funds and leave the stock selections to the experts.