Q&A with Brenton Guy, Director of Support Services at SoCalGas

1. Tell us about your background and experience?

I was born and raised in South Los Angeles. After I graduated from Crenshaw High, I studied computer science at UC Davis and industrial engineering at the University of Southern California (USC). I’ve worked at SoCalGas for 14 years, holding various roles in industrial engineering, project management, facilities management, and business management.

2. What does your role in support services entail? 

As the director of support services for SoCalGas, I oversee the company’s 2 million square feet of administration buildings and 4,500 fleet vehicles. These critical assets are spread out across Southern and Central California.

I lead a diverse team of over 160 real estate, facilities, and fleet professionals who oversee the construction, management, and operation of our facilities and vehicles through the lens of SoCalGas’ strategic goals of safety and operational excellence, technology and innovation, clean energy, people and culture, and financial discipline.

1. Why are you passionate about this work?

I’m passionate about this work because my department directly impacts the experience of over 8,500 SoCalGas employees. We design workspaces and work vehicles that inspire and enable employees to do their best work. Our efforts often set a new employee’s first impression of the company, because a work truck or a building is usually the first thing they see when they arrive on their first day.

Designing office workspaces and enhancing the employee experience involves meticulous planning and thoughtful consideration, including the selection of furniture, the design of conference rooms, and the provision of amenities. For our field employees, their ‘office’ is their vehicle. Therefore, we design SoCalGas employee trucks from scratch, equipping them with essential safety features and ample storage for necessary devices, allowing employees to work efficiently from their vehicles.

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1. Do you have a mantra or philosophy of life that has guided you in your career? 

I believe one’s career is guided by three things: your personal brand, your network, and your self-improvement. Building a personal brand involves defining and communicating precisely what makes you unique and valuable in your field. A strong personal brand helps you stand out and advance in your career. Your network should be large and diverse, and should grow from both informal interactions, like breakroom conversations, and formal networking, such as attending industry events. Continuous self-improvement is crucial to staying relevant and competitive. I find it important to update my skills, seek feedback, and reflect on experiences to identify growth opportunities.

1. How do you see your role and future in support services expanding? 

Our work has expanded to support SoCalGas’ aspirational goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the company’s operations and delivery of energy by 2045.

By 2025, my team aims to transition 50% of our gasoline and diesel vehicles to alternative fuel equivalents like battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, hybrids, and natural gas vehicles. Additionally, by 2025, we aim to have 100% of our new building construction projects over 10,000 square feet will be net zero, meaning all energy used onsite will come from a renewable source such as solar.

1. How do your goals impact the community?  

My team’s goals help reduce carbon emissions in the communities we serve.  For example, our first electric vehicles were recently deployed to some of our South Los Angeles communities, chosen for their dense population. By implementing cleaner technologies and advancing environmental initiatives, we are helping to create a healthier future for all the diverse communities we proudly serve.

SoCalGas’ sustainability strategy includes goals related to safety, diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace, and investment in underserved communities, and the goal of spending 45% of purchases with diverse business enterprises by 2025. In 2023, SoCalGas exceeded the California Public Utilities (CPUC) diverse spending goal for the 31^st consecutive year, purchasing 44% of all goods and services from diverse businesses. SoCalGas has spent almost $6 billion over the past seven years with diverse business enterprises owned by minority, women, disabled veteran, persons with disabilities and/or LGBT-owned businesses.

1. How do you spend your time outside of work?

I’m a husband to a lovely wife and a father of two amazing kids, ages 6 and 9. We live in South L.A. and, in our free time, can be found hiking, running, or mountain biking at the Kenneth Hahn State Recreational Area. I also serve on the board of the Pan-African Technical Association (PATA), a non-profit focused on promoting STEM activities for youth in the U.S. and in Africa.