The Bob Elliott Show Ep. 36 - Susan Gray | CEO of TEP

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The following content provided in this show belongs solely to the host and guests, and does not represent the opinions of Live The Dream Media. The content provided in The Bob Elliott Show is for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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In a world of titles, positions, and unfiltered city noise, we forget that people make the job. The job doesn't make the person. Before the success lies an unwritten story. From Wildcats legend and NBA veteran to Tucson community leader, Bob Elliott goes beyond the resume to uncover the heart, grit, and real unedited stories shaping Southern Arizona.

Welcome to The Bob Elliott Show, exclusively on the Live The Dream Media Streamverse Network.

Bob Elliott (1:05)

Hello and welcome to another edition of The Bob Elliott Show. You know, one of the things that we like to do, we like to educate, we like to have fun. And yes, this is not about politics and it's not about religion. However, as you will know from the past, I may have a politician or political issues, I may have a religious person on the show.

But the key is to try to get to know this person as a person. Regardless what you've seen on TV, on radio, in the newspapers.

A lot of times you think because of that, you think you might know this person. Well, I'm here to let you know that it's not true. And I know it's happened to me many times. So my guest today is Susan Gray, who's the present CEO of TEP. Welcome to the show.

Susan Gray (1:51)

Thanks, Bob.

Bob Elliott (1:52)

Me with my nickname of being Big Bird, I say we're in the bird's nest right now.

Susan Gray (1:56)

So we're going to have a good time.

Bob Elliott (1:59)

And so the key is I want people to find out about you, to know you. And the thing I love about this format, you know, we've done interviews before for press people. You have, I have. 20-minute interview, and out of it comes two lines.

I'm like, wait, wait, that's editing. You're missing something. So this is a chance for you to let people know who you are, unedited, your words about how you grew up. So let's go back with the DVD, where were you born, and tell us about Susan.

Susan Gray (2:31)

Yeah, thanks Bob. So glad to be on your show today. Appreciate the time with you. I was born in Walnut Creek, California. So I grew up in the Bay Area. My dad actually worked for PG&E, the electric and gas company in the Bay Area. And so we moved around a little bit, went to high school in San Jose. Spent a good portion of my years in Fresno, California, which I think is a lot like Tucson. It's hot, it's a college town.

So I think that's probably what drew me to Tucson, is just my time in Fresno that I liked so much.

Bob Elliott (3:05)

Right. Oh, definitely. Yeah, Fresno is not far from, oldest daughter grew up, I had her family over in Elk Grove, which is kind of close to there. So you're back there in that area, you're growing up.

So any recollection of things like elementary school, middle school, high school, what made you tick?

Susan Gray (3:24)

I don't think anyone really wants to think about middle school. That is so true. Skip those years.

Bob Elliott (3:31)

That is a common element across everything. Something about middle school, it's just not there.

You think you're grown, but you're not grown. You're a little kid, but you don't want to be a little kid. No, that's true.

Susan Gray (3:44)

So when I was three or four, we moved to San Jose, California. And the format of housing there is there's like a neighborhood pool. So you don't have a pool, like here everybody has their own pool at their house. But in San Jose, it's kind of a water conservation thing. But there's a neighborhood pool. And we'd wake up in the morning, have breakfast, go to the pool all day. And eventually, they started a swim team.

And here, I'm the youngest of three. And so my brother and sister were on that team. I was like, well, I have to be on that team. That's right. And so I could swim one lap. I could make it across the pool and start racing when I was four.

Bob Elliott (4:20)

OK. So that's when swimming got into your veins.

Susan Gray (4:24)

That's right.

Bob Elliott (4:25)