​Join us in the MCJ Community Slack to kick off our 24 hour 'Ask Me Anything' with Tonya Hicks (Power Solutions Inc, Women Do Everything LLC).

​Our next MCJ Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) is with Tonya Hicks, President and CEO of Power Solutions, Inc. and the Managing Principal of Women Do Everything, LLC.

• ​→ Want to listen? Catch up on Tonya’s podcast episode here.

• ​→ Want a reminder for this AMA? Add it to your calendar via registering for this event.

​Let’s meet our guest…

​Meet Tonya: Tonya Hicks is a serial entrepreneur and journeyman wireman electrician in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). She became the first woman to become a journeyman wireman in Local 917 of IBEW in her hometown of Meridian, Mississippi. She is the first African American woman to become an IBEW journeyman electrician in the State of Mississippi. Ms. Hicks specializes in robotics, building automation, and high voltage equipment installation and repair. In 2000, at the age of 28, Ms. Hicks founded Power Solutions, Inc.; an electrical contracting and facility maintenance company specializing in renewable energy, sustainability, and smart city technology. In 2015, Ms. Hicks launched Women Do Everything LLC; a workforce development and technology company helping women to thrive in male dominated industries through employment and entrepreneurship. Tonya serves on the board of C5 Georgia Leadership Foundation, Georgia Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and Board Chair for Partners in Action for Healthy Living (PAHL). In November 2019, Ms. Hicks was featured in Forbes Japan for expanding her business in Singapore and the New York Times for her progress as a tradeswoman and business owner in the construction industry. Ms. Hicks is a Leadership Atlanta Class of 2022 alumni and a Sustainability Ambassador for the City of Atlanta. Tonya is a graduate of the inaugural classes of the City of Atlanta Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI), Women Export University by UPS, The Bridge Accelerator by Microsoft, and the African Diaspora Network (ABLE) Program. Ms. Hicks has received several honors and awards. She was honored in 2021 with the Minority Contractor of the Year award by the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC)- Atlanta Chapter.

​Our AMA with Tonya will start on Wednesday 8th February at 9am PST - 12pm EST - 5pm GMT and will run asynchronously in the MCJ AMA slack channel for 24 hours.

​In Tonya’s episode with Yin, they cover:

• ​[2:18] Tonya's background in electrical work

• ​[6:35] The education path to becoming an electrician

• ​[8:46] Gender and racial disparities in the trades and electrical work specifically

• ​[12:37] How Tonya started her own company called Power Solutions and grew her business

• ​[21:44] Power Solutions' footprint in Georgia and internationally

• ​[23:41] Different types of electricians and the union vs. non-union experience

• ​[27:07] The electrician shortage

• ​[27:54] An overview of Tonya's Women Do Everything organization

• ​[31:32] The first Women's Summit and Career Expo on March 28-29 in Atlanta, Georgia

• ​[35:45] Impacts of the IRA on electrical work

• ​[38:28] Tonya's SHE EV company

​Set your reminders, and get your questions ready! You can ask Tonya anything!

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NOTE: This event will act as a placeholder in your calendar. Only MCJ members will be able to attend. Not yet a member? Apply to join here.