Powering New York, Empowering Communities

New York City’s iconic skyline has been photographed and admired by countless residents and tourists, but few realize that skyline is only possible thanks to Henry Gutierrez and his coworkers at Con Edison’s East 14th Street power plant. The East River Generating Station provides underground steam power to New York City landmarks known all over the world — and steam power is the reason why the NYC skyline is not obscured by plumes of smoke.

Gutierrez has worked at Con Edison for the past 26 years. He started off as a meter reader, then worked in collections, and later as a mechanic. Now, Gutierrez is a material analyst at the company. His ability to change careers and remain with the same company speaks volumes about his drive for self-improvement and dedication to his employer.

As a mechanic, on any given day, Gutierrez would fix and fit piping, change the boiler feed pump, or change the filter inside of a drum. The work is dangerous. Steam, water, chemicals, and electricity can cut, slice, burn or kill a person. As a material analyst, Gutierrez is responsible for procuring vendors and contractors who perform work for Con Edison. The contractors could be boiler manufacturers, welders, plumbers or any number of skilled laborers. Gutierrez is a member of the Utility Workers of America union, Local 1-2 and is on its Executive Board.

In addition to his full-time job at Con Edison, Gutierrez is also very active in the community. For the past 20 years, Gutierrez has organized the Back to School Drive, Turkey Drive, Holiday Party, and other events for students at P.S. 188 The Island School on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Approximately half of the students who attend pre-K to 8th grade at that school are homeless. Gutierrez recruits his coworkers from Con Edison to volunteer for the events. Together, they make sure the children are fed, receive toys, and have fun.

When it comes to the volunteer work Gutierrez does for adults, he makes sure that they learn. For the past 15 years, Gutierrez has taught a bilingual financial literacy class. The free class takes place every few months. Students learn how to buy a home and the difference between various home mortgage loans. They learn the difference between financing, leasing, and purchasing a car. And they learn about a variety of retirement plans — from 403(b) to pensions — and their role in managing these plans.

When asked what advice he had for his fellow New Yorkers, Gutierrez replied, “It’s hard because New Yorkers are hard-headed.”

Once the question was rephrased to “What advice do you have for the kids?” Gutierrez shared, “I would tell the kids: set your goal and follow it to the end. The most important thing is: Don’t let people discourage you for what your goal is. For instance, people always are thinking about how much money they can make, but they also have to pick a career or job or goal that they can be happy with... Sometimes, money is not everything. It’s something, but not everything.”

“I always say, ‘I’d rather be healthy than rich’ because if you don’t have health, you don’t have anything.”