Celebrating Pride Month: Meet Bill Oxford
During Pride Month in June, Avangrid is celebrating our LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies! Today, meet Bill Oxford, Manager – Gross Margin Accounting, for Avangrid.
Tell us a little bit about your background and your current role at Avangrid?
I began my career at Avangrid within the Internal Audit group in 2011, a year after graduating with my MBA and Bachelors in Accounting. After a few years I transitioned to a more financial role and joined the Networks Gross Margin Team in 2017. I gradually worked my way from Lead Analyst to the newly created Principal Financial Analyst and as of October 2024 became the Manager of the Gross Margin Accounting group for Networks. It is a highly technical role that as a group we focus on the billed consumption customer revenues, analyzing customer receivables and uncollectible expenses, and related Purchase Power and Gas Expenses recorded by the multiple Networks subsidiaries.
What’s a recent project or initiative you’ve been proud to be a part of?
I am proud to act as a Local Leader within the state of Maine for the CMP and Avangrid locations within the area. I look forward to reaching out to others within the Company to hear their thoughts and voices for issues concerning the community and ideas to bring these items to light/work towards a better tomorrow for all who work at Avangrid.
Why is being a member of the Avangrid Pride employee resource group important to you?
Being a member of the Pride group at Avangrid is important to me because as far as the LGBTQ+ community has come, it continues to face obstacles in acceptance and inclusion. Resource groups like Pride, as well as others within Avangrid, provide visibility to our workforce and allows those a seat at the table that may or may not have been available to them. Diversity and inclusion are not problematic terms and I am proud to see Avangrid embrace policies for these items.
What does Pride Month mean to you, and how do you plan to celebrate?
Pride to me is living truly as your most authentic self. Living authentically goes beyond lables and boxes and shouldn’t revolve around other’s pre-conceived notions of how everyone should live in this world. We all get a chance to live the human experience, and it shouldn’t be hindered by those who wish to limit others based on opposing views. I plan on celebrating Pride authentically with the annual Portland Pride Parade and assorted activities.
What issues facing the LGBTQ+ community would you like to increase awareness of?
I feel that the act of “other-ing” those within the LGBTQ+ community, especially those within the trans/queer community, is at the forefront of the battle for acceptance and inclusion. The discussions and discourse in the recent years has only amplified the conversations and that work is still needed for all to feel welcomed.
What advice would you give to LGBTQ+ individuals who are navigating their careers?
There is one trait that tends to be very common within our community, and that is perseverance. Learn to lean in and push through the obstacles that life likes to throw your way. Often times you will find an improved outlook on the other side. In addition to perseverance, being flexible to the changing world around you, including if your first “5 Year Plan” did not even come close to what you first sought out to accomplish.
