Employee Spotlight Nathen

BELLEVUE, Wash. (3/1/2023) We proudly introduce Nathen Graey, Visual/New Media Program Manager here at PSE – you’re likely already are quite familiar with his work, which weaves its way through every piece of branded PSE content, channel and document!

What is your role at PSE?
As a Visual/New Media Program Manager I own PSE’s visual language including the logo, fonts, colors, iconography, and other visual elements. I typically introduce myself to colleagues by saying that, if it has PSE’s logo on it, it should cross my desk for approval.

My immediate team manages PSE’s social media channels; email lists, design, and distribution; graphic and layout design; PSE’s voice, tone, and messaging characteristics; traffic management; and marketing project management. We strive daily to produce consistent, branded collateral and communications and work closely with customer, community, and employee engagement; communications initiatives; marketing communications; public and government relations; and any and every communication delivered to — or seen by — our customers, community leaders, and employees.

How long have you been here?
I’ve been with the company for a decade and within Communications for the duration as first a junior and then senior graphic designer. In my current role I’ve been moving away from production work — graphic, print and layout design — and more into brand and visual strategy.

How do you support PSE’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in your role/what are some examples of DEI in your daily work?
I’ve been assisting Employee Resource Groups with their visual identity and working closely with ERG leadership. It’s been an educational and rewarding experience, and I’m incredibly proud of the work done within each group. Ensuring each ERG has a distinct presence and personality while preserving our corporate brand is a unique challenge.

Our customers come first, and they deserve to see themselves represented in every communication and piece of collateral. There’s an increased focus and effort on evolving and tightening PSE’s brand — including its visual identity, voice, tone, and messaging characteristics. The purpose of my role is to ensure a cohesive, coherent visual identity. Exciting things are coming as we audit existing creative with an eye to tighten our brand and ensure communications and materials meet brand standards. Our external communications are exemplary but there’s always room for improvement. I’m excited to see an increased focus on tightening our internal branded communications. DEI and accessibility are front and center in how I approach my work and strategize the future of our visual communications. Again, if it has PSE’s logo on it — regardless of the importance of the piece or size of the audience — it should cross my desk for review and approval.

How does your role or work support our Beyond Net Zero Carbon aspirational goal?
Our communications, collateral, and materials need to be visually appealing and memorable. The messaging is the star but the visuals the opening act. A cohesive brand is vital to maintaining and improving our reputation; it improves our reputation. I don’t think anyone could argue that aesthetically appealing materials are more eye-catching and memorable.

Of PSE’s values, which one resonates most with you and why?
We do what’s right.” In a former life in a different country I worked in cash management, wage administration, retail/catering buying, and internal auditing. That world was very binary — everything was either right or wrong; black or white; yes or no. Very little gray area and only ever room for improvement. That mentality and approach very much carried over into my career as a designer; I’ve got a strong eye for detail and take immense pride in creating effective and memorable visuals.

Individually and as a whole, we know what’s right and we know what’s wrong. We know the difference between what needs to be done, what should be done and what can be done. We know what efforts need to be made to ensure we’re delivering our best to our customers, communities, and employees. Beyond Net Zero Carbon is a wonderful example of the efforts we’re making to deliver more than is required; to do the right thing.

How does the work you do make a difference/impact, in your view?
Strong visuals complement effective messaging. We want our customers, communities, and employees to recognize PSE’s logo and visuals at a glance. I think the instinct with individual groups, teams, departments, campaigns, and initiatives is to have unique and bold visuals, something that stands apart from our other communications. I understand where this desire comes from and I often caution against standing too far apart from our brand and visual identity. Every logo we create for an internal team or effort — every exception to an established rule or template — makes for a more disparate and muddied visual identity. The more logos and sub-brands we have, the more we risk confusing our customers and employees. We should always remember that we are one company; one voice; one brand.

We all spend so much time at work – what makes working at PSE worthwhile to you?
The people; the work; the aspirational goals. I appreciate who I work with. They’re all experts in their fields, and I rely greatly on them. Collaborating with them is immensely rewarding. There are frequent challenges and I enjoy exploring solutions. The work varies. Deadlines and priorities shift constantly. How I think a day or week will go is rarely how it actually goes!

I’ve always joked that there’s no such thing as a “graphic design emergency” except, of course, when there is. It’s not uncommon for critical and required communications to come our way with an incredible short turnaround (sometimes same-day). I make every effort to assist colleagues and peers with their needs and I take immense pride in my work and that of my peers. Seeing our increased focus on DEI and our aspirational goals, I’m proud of who we are as a company and where we’re going.

We may make mistakes — after all, we’re human — but we always demonstrate that we’re working hard to do the right thing. To go above and beyond.

Tell us about the work you do with storm response/restoration.
My storm role includes dispatching photographers and videographers to capture visuals of storm damage and our restoration efforts. I process those visuals so that we can share them on our social media channels. We want customers informed and reassured that we’re working 24/7 to restore their service.

What’s the best or favorite part about your job?
I enjoy so much about my role. It may be challenging but it’s always rewarding. I feel empowered by my line-management to own my area of expertise. It’s taken me a lifetime to feel confident in my own skills and abilities. I’m at a point where I can “toot my own horn” and proudly proclaim that I’m good at what I do. But I wouldn’t feel that way if it weren’t for the constant support of my supervisor, manager, and director. I very much hope that Matt, Mandy, and Christina realize that. They’ve repeatedly gone to bat for me.

What one thing do you need to know really well to do your job?
I cannot perform my job without understanding the company, its customers, and our employees. Identifying needs — external and internal — is critical to success in my role. We’re nothing if we don’t listen to and respond to those needs. Honestly, it’s a lot. And it involves constant education, research, and conversation. You have to be flexible in your thinking and opinions. You have to be willing to be wrong. Own your mistakes and learn from them.

What makes you most proud of PSE?
There will always be room for improvement but our aspirational goals and the efforts we’re making with diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility will have a lasting impact.

This year marks our sesquicentennial. We’re 150 years old. One of our many predecessors — The Seattle Gas Light Company — was founded in 1873. Can you wrap your head around that!? We predate Seattle's first electric streetcar that zipped up James Street in 1889. Thomas Edison's incandescent light bulb was demonstrated in Seattle in 1886, 13 years after our founding. The Long Depression began in the year of our founding. And Ulysses S. Grant was sworn in for his second term. I don’t know about you but its bonkers trying to wrap my head around PSE’s origins and history — our employees, our facilities, our work and efforts.

What safety tip applies to your daily work?
Ha! I’m blessed to have been working remotely for the last three years. Speaking from experience, please drink more water, don’t skip meals, and get up and move around regularly. Stretch!

Is there someone you consider a mentor and how did they help make an impact on you?
This is challenging because there are so many people who’ve helped shape who I’ve become but the one person who’s been there for me through thick and thin for the last decade is Mandy Hill (Manager, Digital Marketing and Brand). She’s a damn fine manager, an inspiration, my mentor, and my friend. I have immense respect for her. She’s always had my back, pushed me to succeed, always been in my corner, and fought for me.

I will always fondly remember her being on the other side of a cubicle wall. Plenty of shared memes, anecdotes, and humor. I very much miss those days. Her presence made difficult days much more bearable.

What other department or program at PSE would you be interested in learning about?
We’re a vast company with a myriad departments, programs, campaigns, and initiatives. A wealth of talent and experience. I’ve had the pleasure of working with most all of them in one capacity or another. Were time and energy to allow, I’d love to shadow folx from across the company.

While I’d be less than keen to do the work (poorly at best), I’d be curious to go out with a line crew. I used to work construction sites in Minnesota winters but you’d have to drag me kicking and screaming to ever do anything resembling that ever again. Needless to say, I’ve the utmost respect for our field and facility workers.

What's the best teamPSE volunteer program event you've participated in (or want to participate in)?
If teamPSE ever goes back to Woodland Park Zoo, I’d love to go with. Any excuse to see the owls and wolves.

What's your biggest win you've had at PSE?
Though far from complete, I’m immensely proud of the foundational brand work I’m currently doing toward developing and tightening our brand and visual identity. We’re auditing existing collateral and communication, performing customer research, and exploring different visual directions. It’s the highlight of my career and my work will remain part of PSE’s legacy for years to come.

How did you get interested in graphic design and Communications?
Going all the way back to high school in England, I was passionate about three classes: Fine Arts, Graphic Design, and Design and Communication. Between the three, they shaped the creator I’d become. They were the only subjects that mattered to me.

After I emigrated from England to Minnesota, I worked several jobs as a web and graphic designer, expanding my portfolio, repertoire, and skills. I relocated to Washington some 12 years ago and about a year after that was blessed to land a contractual position at PSE as a marketing coordinator in Communications.