Sometimes, the paths that shape a career are the ones no one sees coming.

When Dee DeGeest arrived in the Fargo area in 1993, she was stepping away from a very different kind of work. She had been in law enforcement, including time spent undercover in narcotics, a role that demanded intensity, focus and resilience.

“I knew I was going to go back to law enforcement in some way, shape or form,” DeGeest said. “But I needed time to decompress.”

What she found instead was something that would shape the rest of her career.

A part-time data entry position at Cass County Electric Cooperative, suggested through a local connection, was meant to be temporary. But over time, that short-term role turned into a decades-long career, one that would place DeGeest in technical and field-based roles where few women worked at the time.

“You know what nobody talks about?” DeGeest said. “The fact that I was a woman in this position.”

Breaking New Ground

When DeGeest began her career at the cooperative in the 1990s, it was uncommon to see women working in engineering and system maintenance roles, especially in the field.

It wasn’t the first time she had stepped into a male-dominated environment. Her previous work in law enforcement, including undercover assignments, had already required her to earn trust and prove herself in high-pressure situations.

At the time, she didn’t think much about it. She was focused on learning the job and doing it well. But looking back, she recognizes how unique that experience was.

She was part of a small group of women in nontraditional roles at the cooperative, stepping into work that had historically been done almost entirely by men.

“I never gave it a second thought while I was doing it,” she said. “I just kept doing the job.”

Early on, earning trust in the field didn’t happen overnight. In some cases, it meant proving herself to crews who weren’t used to taking direction from a woman in that role.

“I realized I was breaking new ground,” she said. “I just had to keep proving myself over and over again.”

Instead of stepping back, she leaned in. She stayed consistent, asked questions and focused on doing the work right. Over time, that approach built respect.

“If I designed something wrong, they would point it out and help me fix it,” she said. “They didn’t tear me down. They helped me learn.”

That support, combined with her determination, allowed her to grow into the role and succeed.

Looking back, DeGeest takes pride in being part of that shift.

“I can say now that I’m proud of it,” she said. “It wasn’t typical at the time.”

Finding Her Place

What started as a summer job quickly became something more. DeGeest was offered a full-time role and encouraged to continue her education, eventually earning an electrical construction degree.

Over time, her career evolved alongside the cooperative. She moved from engineering into system maintenance, later transitioned into residential services, and eventually became a design and construction project manager. Each step brought new challenges, but also new opportunities to connect with members, contractors and coworkers.

But it wasn’t just the opportunity for growth that kept her at Cass County Electric Cooperative.

“At that time, it was just a family, fun, friend atmosphere,” she said. “I remember thinking, I never want to leave here because I love it so much. It wasn’t just the work. It was the people.”

That sense of connection turned a temporary role into a long-term career and shaped how she approached her work.

“I feel like I ended up where I did because of the people around me,” DeGeest said. “If you really want to do your job well, you build those relationships. It makes everything better.”

Those relationships often extended beyond the job itself.

“You develop friendships you wouldn’t have otherwise,” she said. “Some of those people are coming to my retirement. That means a lot.”

Moments That Mattered

Among the thousands of projects DeGeest worked on, one experience stands above the rest.

“The number one would be the flood,” she said.

During the 1997 flood, she was part of the cooperative’s response efforts, helping restore power and support members during one of the region’s most challenging times.

“There’s no greater feeling than making people happy, especially when they’ve been through something like that,” she said.

Some moments have stayed with her more than others. She recalls crews working in Oxbow, sandbagging equipment and restoring service while standing waist-deep in water, a scene that captured both the urgency and the commitment of the work.

But not every story had a happy ending.

“There were so many instances of pain and loss and suffering,” she said. “But it also made you realize how much what you were doing mattered.”

Looking Ahead

As retirement approaches, DeGeest is looking forward to a new pace of life, one that allows more time for the people and activities she enjoys most.

Her plans include tackling projects at home, spending more time with family and friends, and getting back to the things she loves, from horseback riding and golfing to simply being outdoors.

“I’ve got a list,” she said with a laugh.

But even as she looks ahead, what she leaves behind is just as meaningful.

When asked what she will miss most, her answer comes quickly.

“People,” DeGeest said. “I love the people.”

It’s a simple answer, but one that reflects a career built on connection, service and a genuine care for others. From coworkers to contractors to members, those relationships defined her experience and remain her proudest takeaway.

From undercover law enforcement to a career built on service, DeGeest’s journey is a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected paths lead exactly where you are meant to be.

And in her case, that path led to a career defined not just by the work, but by the people she served along the way.