DyNAMC Issue 10 November 2015 Preview | Page 15

Colette D. Honorable: Bridging the Energy Gap By Writer/Editor Stephanie Clarke Commissioner Colette Honorable When Commissioner Colette D. Honorable was a high school student, she dreamed of living in Dallas, Texas, or Memphis, Tennessee. A career in law or the energy sector was not on her radar. Her dreams were nothing compared to her reality, however. She was nominated to be one of five commissioners’ at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by President Barack Obama. She was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December, 2014. She is only the third African-American to hold this position. Honorable sits down with DyNAMC to share journey and the future of the energy industry. “Our goal is to support the work that is occurring around the nation where states are developing plants to comply with this new rule.” Honorable Sasha Werblin Her father was responsible for planting the seed for her to become a lawyer. Honorable had other ideas. “At that age, and maybe because he thought it was a great idea, I didn’t want to do it,” she laughs. Her original plan was to major in business administration in college and then pursue an accounting career. She entered Memphis State University [now the Honorable was drawn to public service. Her career started at Legal Services. She was a consumer protection attorney, Medicaid fraud special prosecutor, chief of staff to Arkansas Attorney General, Mike Beebe. She told DyNAMC • ISSUE 10 Colette D. Honorable was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and lived for a period of time in Los Angeles, California. Her family settled in Little Rock, Arkansas, and that’s where she was raised. “I’m proud to be from Arkansas,” Honorable shared with DyNAMC. “I was raised with wonderful values in a great community and lots of wonderful family who supported and inspired me to do whatever I wanted to do.” University of Memphis] where she took an Introduction to Criminal Justice course as an elective. “I really enjoyed it. I thought it was challenging and intriguing.” Ultimately, she changed her major to criminal justice and criminology, and then she decided to pursue a career in law. Her family needed her home, so she enrolled at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law. 15