Women of Winyah

Winyah Generating Station is a literal powerhouse, and the women who work there bring a unique energy to it. That’s not to say the men who work there don’t perform important jobs; however, in a traditionally male environment, the women of Winyah really shine.

Winyah has been operating for almost 50 years. It produces 1,260 megawatts of electricity to help serve more than 200,000 people in Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry counties, as well as the state’s electric cooperatives that serve around 2 million people across the state. 

Whether leading community efforts or leading departments within Santee Cooper, the women of Winyah spark a fire among their coworkers, Barnette said.

“All the people at Winyah are awesome! We have a great team here. Like the men, the women are hardworking, dedicated and loyal to our mission of providing reliable, low-cost electricity with care for our environment,” said Barnette. 

“I am so proud of our team at Winyah, and they make it easy for me to brag on them. Our folks want to be a part of something great, and Winyah is a great place to work. It all starts and ends with the quality of character and quality of people. Winyah has the best in the business.”

“I’ve seen firsthand the value of women in our power plants,” said Don Cribb, retired Senior Director of Special Projects, who also served Senior Director of Generation. “Their diverse perspectives and invaluable contributions foster innovation and enhance our operational excellence.”

Here, we highlight three of the exceptional women of Winyah.

The Results Lab is integral to keep the plant running smoothly and efficiently. The technicians handle everything from chemical deliveries to waste storage and disposal, confined space monitoring, and gypsum testing.  Because they are involved in so many areas of the plant, they have to have good relationships with other departments.  

“That is the thing I love most about Winyah,” said Cantrell. “We have a wonderful family dynamic where everyone is willing to pull together to get the job done. I work with a great group of folks who make coming to the plant every day enjoyable, and there’s a lot to be said for loving what you do and who you get to work with.”

Cantrell volunteers for Days of Caring and thoroughly enjoys plant tours and sharing her career path.

“Most recently we hosted Sisters in STEM, where a group of young women toured the facility, and we discussed our careers with them.  I enjoy sharing my career path with young women to show them that they don’t have to follow a conventional career path.  They can be anything they want to be if they have the drive and are willing to put in the work.”

“I’m a person who absolutely loves to give back to my community because growing up, I was not exposed to many successful people,” Reed said. With that in mind, Reed has worked strategically in the community to help inspire children.

“I love the opportunity to be a role model for children and let them know that they have the ability to be whatever they wish if only they put in the work,” she said. “Some children don’t have the luxury of having people who they can turn to for advice on how to do something, and some children don’t have positive influences to mirror.  

“I am involved in the community to hopefully be that person for any child or person who needs guidance or a little nudge in the right direction,” Reed explained. “You never know what you will say or do that will influence a person to change their course of action. Therefore, I give my time so that I can be ready for the moment when it happens.”

“The women at Winyah stand out because they are diverse and provide a dynamic work environment. It takes an ambitious and hardworking woman to make it in this industry,” Swoyer said. “I’m proud of all the women I work with.”