Atlanta Business Owner Helps Young People of Color Break Into Electrical Field

Tonya Hicks' company provides internships and mentorship to open doors in the industry.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Tonya Hicks, the president and CEO of Power Solutions International in Atlanta, is on a mission to help young people of color, especially women, access careers in the electrical industry. Through internships, mentorship, and initiatives like "She-E-V" and "Women Do Everything," Hicks is working to break down barriers and create opportunities in a field that has historically been dominated by white men.

Why it matters

The electrical industry has long struggled with a lack of diversity, with women and people of color facing significant challenges in entering and advancing in the field. Hicks' efforts to provide hands-on experience, mentorship, and targeted programs aim to address this disparity and open up new pathways for underrepresented groups to build successful careers in the industry.

The details

At Power Solutions International's Atlanta office, Hicks introduces her interns to the world of electricity and opportunity, preparing them for careers in the field. The company also recently launched a hydroponics lab at Best Academy, providing fresh produce to a community considered a food desert. Hicks credits her own perseverance and the encouragement of her grandmother for her success, and she is now focused on passing the baton to the next generation.

  • Hicks has been working in the electrical industry for over 25 years.
  • Power Solutions International is currently hosting an intern soiree to prepare its interns for an upcoming event.

The players

Tonya Hicks

The president and CEO of Power Solutions International, a multi-million-dollar company known for building solar and renewable energy projects. Hicks is on a mission to help young people of color, especially women, access careers in the electrical industry.

Brandon Benson

The intern manager at Power Solutions International, who is helping to prepare the interns for the upcoming event.

Mariyo Majette

A student at Best Academy, who has been involved in the hydroponics lab project that Power Solutions International helped launch in the community.

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What they’re saying

“We have an event coming. Why are y'all in the dark? They like being in the dark but that is why there is all this stuff but this is the interns' office. It's everything in here.”

— Tonya Hicks, President and CEO, Power Solutions International (CBS News)

“Right now we're preparing for our intern soiree, making sure that they have all the things they need for the retreat.”

— Brandon Benson, Intern Manager, Power Solutions International (CBS News)

“She said women ran this country while men were gone to war… so it was never in my mind or in my heart that I couldn't do this work.”

— Tonya Hicks, President and CEO, Power Solutions International (CBS News)

“I was part of this project basically from the start, since I was in 9th grade when we found the problem of our community being in a food desert.”

— Mariyo Majette, Student, Best Academy (CBS News)

“They are right there behind us waiting on us to pass them the baton, and I want to make sure they are ready.”

— Tonya Hicks, President and CEO, Power Solutions International (CBS News)

What’s next

Hicks plans to continue expanding her internship program and initiatives like "She-E-V" and "Women Do Everything" to help more young people of color, especially women, access careers in the electrical industry.

The takeaway

Tonya Hicks' efforts to provide internships, mentorship, and targeted programs for young people of color in the electrical industry are helping to break down barriers and create new pathways for underrepresented groups to build successful careers in a field that has historically been dominated by white men.