Rita (Krievins) Sharpe
I work for Western Resources, in Topeka, Kansas. I started with KG&E in 1977, while working towards a degree in electrical engineering at Wichita State University (obtained in May 1983). While in school there, I met and married Randy Sharpe (1972 KU Grad - Electrical Engineering). Our twins, Abigail and Jennifer, were born in December 1980 in Wichita.
When KG&E and KP&L merged to form Western in 1992, we moved to Lawrence, Kansas, and I began a daily commute to Topeka. I went back to school and obtained an MBA from Baker University in 1995. My work at Western has been pretty diverse -- ranging from engineering and design, utility operations, running a couple of small unregulated businesses, even a stint in the M&A group. For the last couple of years I have been managing Shared Services, an organization that provides back-office services (human resources, IT, accounting, etc.) to several companies within the Western family.
Randy is an engineer for Honeywell at their plant in Lawrence, where he supports the manufacture of several electronic/avionic product lines.
Our nest is empty -- Abby is a Junior at Kansas State University in Manhattan and plans a double major in education and biology. Jenny is taking a break after a year and a half at KU in Lawrence. She's looking at several options -- all in the area of music and the arts (how can she be the daughter of two engineers?!)
Please pass my address and contact information on to my fellow Railroaders -- and if anyone is ever in Lawrence, please be sure to give us a call!