Connect & Care
Culture of Caring
PJM remains dedicated to fostering a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We honor the diversity of more than 67 million people who reside in our footprint. PJM’s L.E.A.D. framework highlights the behaviors of listening, empathy, allyship and (continuous) development to create a workplace where everyone belongs. To enhance connections, engagement and awareness, PJM celebrated more than 60 events on its calendar in 2024 from Black History Month to Veterans Day. Events at PJM marked many of these notable occasions, including PJM happenings tailored to breast cancer awareness, Hispanic Heritage Month and LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
Cultivate Connections
PJM employee resource groups (ERGs) are open to all employees and help staff find connections and collaboration opportunities and celebrate the power of togetherness. In all, PJM’s campus life featured more than 45 initatives or events in 2024 sponsored by ERG groups. Examples include:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder event highlighting military service and related disability awareness
- Walk for breast cancer awareness
- Donation drive to benefit nonprofit community service organization ACLAMO, based in Norristown, Pennsylvania
- Event to make thank-you cards for hurricane restoration workers
ACLAMO Donation Drive
Breast Cancer Awareness Walk
Corporate Client Services Division Volunteers
LAMBDA Rock Painting Event
HOLA Pioneers of Change Event
Laurel House Donations
Thank-You Cards for Hurricane Volunteers
Trivia Night
Workplace Recognition
As PJM strives for a workplace where personnel feel a sense of respect and belonging and find opportunities to flourish, PJM staff and leaders were recognized within the energy industry and beyond:
PJM was named “Large Business of the Year” by the Main Line Chamber of Commerce in recognition of the important and often unheralded work done by PJM personnel on the Chamber’s doorstep.
As a locally grown company, PJM staffers give back to the community as volunteers and board members for many organizations. The award recognizes those staffers as well as the organization and helps bring light to the important role PJM plays beyond Valley Forge.
PJM was named one of Fairygodboss's 2024 Best Companies for Women, reflecting the company’s dedication to promoting gender equality in the workplace.
Fairygodboss also noted PJM in categories such as Most Supportive of Managers, Best for Flexibility and Top-Rated CEO Supporting Gender Diversity. These recognitions are a testament to PJM’s employees' positive reviews and experiences on that workplace-focused website.
Philadelphia Magazine recognized PJM President and CEO Manu Asthana as one of its top 150 most influential people in Philly in a year the magazine is calling the “Year of the Shift.”
Dubbing Asthana a “grid guru,” the magazine stated “He’s not a household name, but the PJM Interconnection CEO is maybe more important to your day-to-day life than anyone else on this list: He’s the guy who keeps your lights on. As the head of the Audubon-based company, he oversees the largest power grid in North America, a territory that stretches from Illinois to New Jersey to North Carolina and covers 67 million Americans.”
The Philadelphia Business Journal honored Lisa Drauschak, Sr. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, with the 2024 Corporate Leadership Award.
The award recognized chief financial officers and corporate leaders from the greater Philadelphia region for their commitment to excellence and expertise in financial management, strategic thinking, fiscal integrity, accountability and philanthropic work. PJM’s CFO since 2020, Lisa is responsible for PJM’s budget and analysis, controllership, financial reporting, payroll, tax records, market settlements, procurement and treasury functions. She also oversees the formulation of long-range financial strategies and business plans to achieve PJM’s business goals. Since last year, Drauschak has also chaired PJM’s Markets & Reliability Committee, which governs PJM markets as well as reliable grid operations and planning.
City & State Pennsylvania included Nora Swimm, Sr. Vice President – Corporate Client Services, among its 2024 Power of Diversity: Women 100 List.
“With leaders in fields from engineering and corporate litigation to health insurance, fine dining and energy production, this list calls attention to the increasingly broad spectrum of excellence demonstrated by Pennsylvania women – an array of professional achievements notably more diverse than would have been the case even a decade ago, let alone in [Betsy] Ross’ day,” the publication noted. Swimm was recognized for her work establishing PJM’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and her executive leadership of PJM’s Corporate Client Services Division.
Swimm was also named to the 2024 Above & Beyond list by City & State Pennsylvania, highlighting “women blazing new trails across the commonwealth.” Swimm is one of only 50 accomplished women who demonstrated exemplary leadership in their fields, making significant contributions to society.
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption ranked PJM second among utility companies for its adoption-friendly policy that reimburses families for adoption-related fees, travel and legal costs.
People Helping People
Staff at PJM came together to help community members in many ways during 2024:
Four hundred sandwiches handmade by PJM staff were donated to the Chosen 300 organization and Saint John’s Hospice. That event was organized by the African American Networking Group employee resource group as part of PJM’s Black History Month celebration.
Employees packed and sorted necessary supplies at Mitzvah Circle. The Lansdale, Pennsylvania, nonprofit provides basic goods, case management and counseling to people facing poverty, homelessness, serious illness and more.
PJM’s Advanced Analytics Department volunteered at the Chester County Food Bank. Altogether, the team packed food into more than 580 backpacks and then loaded those into 72 boxes for distribution.
Environmental Stewardship
PJM activities demonstrated care for the environment during 2024. This included the annual Earth Day Recycling Event that convened on campus:
Campus waste disposal through waste-to-energy process:
Recycling:
