Sarah Beth Funderburg recognized for breaking barriers in utility infrastructure

Influential Women is spotlighting Sarah Beth Funderburg, a Wilmington, North Carolina-based project manager whose path from lineman to leader highlights how field experience and mentorship can reshape the energy workforce. Her career includes becoming Pike Electric’s first female crew leader and now managing utility infrastructure work for major clients.

Why it matters: - Sarah Beth Funderburg’s career shows how frontline trade experience can translate into leadership in utility infrastructure. - Her path adds visibility for women entering construction, utilities, and energy roles where leadership pipelines still remain limited. - Her mentorship work reflects a broader workforce need as utilities face growing infrastructure demands and an aging labor base.

What happened: - Influential Women is recognizing Sarah Beth Funderburg for her work in utility infrastructure and for breaking barriers in the field. - Funderburg is a project manager based in Wilmington, North Carolina. - She began her utility career after attending line school at a local community college. - She later became a lineman at Pike Electric and became the company’s first female crew leader. - Funderburg moved into project management after building field experience in utility operations. - She joined Sigma Technologies and moved from supervisor to project manager in 2024.

The details: - Funderburg worked earlier jobs in nursing assistance, salon work and cleaning services before entering the utility industry. - Her field background includes work with Pike Engineering and Team Fishel. - Her client experience includes Duke Energy, Alabama Power, AEP and FirstEnergy. - Her current work includes make-ready and distribution design projects. - Funderburg centers her leadership style on communication, collaboration, accountability and trust. - She also mentors women through the Center for Energy Workforce Development’s Power Her program. - The program introduces women to careers in construction, utilities and related fields. - Funderburg says honesty and trust are the values that matter most in her professional and personal life. - She says her parents encouraged her to focus on how to accomplish goals rather than on limits.

Between the lines: - Funderburg’s story reflects a common industry theme: technical expertise can be a stronger leadership credential when paired with relationship-building. - Her rise from field worker to manager suggests utilities may benefit from more internal promotion pathways that reward hands-on experience. - Her emphasis on mentorship also points to a talent gap for women who enter the trades without an early support network.

What’s next: - Funderburg plans to keep mentoring women who are exploring utility and infrastructure careers. - She wants more young women to take first steps into the industry, even if they are unsure which role fits best. - She expects the utility sector to keep changing as infrastructure needs grow and technology evolves. - She believes that change will create demand for skilled workers who can learn quickly and collaborate across teams.

The bottom line: - Funderburg’s career combines field credibility, management experience and mentorship, making her part of a wider push to open energy careers to more women.

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