Page 94 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2016

leaders of the pack
Nicole Faulk
Capt. Cheryl Hansen
interest in becoming an astronaut led me to engineering, which in turn led to working at nuclear power plants and my career in the energy industry.”
She was inspired by many women. “So many have paved the way, enabling me to experience the opportunities I have been fortunate to experience. So many have guided and advised me, and many more encouraged me when
I needed it most,” she said. “But, if I have to pick one: I would not be where I am today without the love, support and encouragement of my Mom. When I talk about encountering risks, her advice is always, “Why not go for it?”
At Mississippi Power, Faulk is responsible for all customer-related activities including customer accounting, customer call centers, engineering, transmission, distribution and marketing.
Faulk is accustomed to working in a predominately-male environment because she spent the developmental part of her career in nuclear power plants. “During those years, I did feel I had to work harder: to prove myself to my team and to myself,” she says, “but over the years, I’ve gained more confidence in my ability to succeed. Now, I don’t feel I have to work harder to be successful because of my gender, but in general, to be successful, I work hard.”
Capt. Cheryl Hansen, Commanding Officer of Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, was introduced
to the Navy while in college and was so impressed with the caliber of the people and their enthusiasm that she decided on the spot it was the organization for her. “They are people who are positive, professional and motivated, and who share a common desire to serve others and
our country,” she says. “To this day, I have not been disappointed; I’m still very impressed across the board with both the Department of Navy civilian and military workforce.”
With a degree in engineering, Hansen is a believer in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) for girls. “STEM subjects provide an incredible value on a personal level to young women because they teach ways of thinking that don’t always come naturally to girls,” she said. “They help us learn problem-solving, which includes deliberate and logical analysis of facts, assumptions and opinions and the steps it may take to achieve a desired outcome. This is a skill that can have a tremendous impact across the board on a person’s ability to succeed in life, professional and personal. Traditionally, women have not been trained so specifically on how to analyze a problem. STEM subjects also provide a solid foundation for many careers that can then be pursued, such as medicine, law, technology and government.”
Although the military lifestyle has many challenges — including moving every few years — it also offers many
94 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • September 2016
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