In her younger years, Cassandra Massano, a current member of the Rhode Island Air National Guard and a self-described “military brat,” moved around the world with her parents, who are both Army veterans. Now, she’s served almost 17 total years in the Active-Duty Air Force and Air National Guard and has two small children of her own who will celebrate the Month of the Military Child in April.
Cassandra learned important lessons about leadership and developed a willingness to serve and to support others from her parents, Colonel (Ret.) Mary Whitworth and Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) John Whitworth.
In her role at Eversource, as an Emergency Preparedness Senior Specialist, she is very active whether the company is in Blue Sky or activated for a storm. “I make sure employees understand their storm roles and responsibilities,” said Cassandra. “And I keep the Incident Manager and Incident Management Team well informed when we’re in the thick of an ERP.”
It hasn’t taken long for Cassandra to make an impact with other veterans at Eversource. Although she has only been with the company for two years, she joined Eversource Veterans Association as a member and stepped up as the co-lead for the Veterans Business Resource Group (VBRG) in Connecticut.
“Cassie recently celebrated her two-year anniversary with Eversource, and in that short time, she has made a significant impact,” said Bill Gelinas, President of ES Veterans Association. “During her first few months as the co-lead for the VBRG in Connecticut, she helped prepare the nomination package that earned Eversource the inaugural Veterans in Energy Empowerment Award, a national honor bestowed by Veterans in Energy. Her attention to detail, exceptional organizational skills, commitment to process improvement, and unwavering focus on the mission exemplify why hiring veterans is such a valuable asset to our teams.”
Veterans in Energy
The Veterans in Energy Empowerment Award recognizes individuals and employee-resource groups within the energy industry who work to support, and enhance opportunities for, veterans in the workplace, as well as in the communities they serve and the energy industry. Essentially, it’s an award that celebrates veterans and veteran resource groups making a significant contribution to the energy field.
Eversource beat out 100 other energy companies to receive this inaugural award thanks to the work and dedication of the Veterans BRG and ES Veterans Association. You may view photos from the awards here.
Outside Eversource, Cassandra supports women across the military, focusing on maternal mental health issues and addressing the challenges of serving in a military family. For her work supporting women, Cassandra recently earned an Air & Space Commendation Medal for helping to create the first Family Planning Guide for the Department of the Air Force and for working to create the first lactation room in the Rhode Island Air National Guard.
“From the get-go, Cassie hit the ground running and raised the bar for communicating with, and engaging our BRG membership,” said Cayle Sargent, the VBRG co-lead in Connecticut. “Cassie has been an excellent partner in this work.”
Veterans in Energy – 2025 Leadership Forum
Advice for employees
Cassandra said that she always looks for areas to improve and assist those around her by asking questions and getting curious about processes and systems that could be updated.
“Trust your abilities and embrace opportunities for growth. In my military and civilian professions, preparation is key. I do that by building relationships with experienced mentors who I trust, supporting my peers in their own goals, and seeking education and training opportunities that will keep me and my team at the top of our game.” said Cassandra.
A creative direction
Cassandra was proud to share that she is currently working on a children’s book, her first, tentatively titled, “My Military Friends at Patriot Pines Day Care.”
It’s a story that she believes will resonate with children whose parents are serving in the military.
Miss Liberty, who runs a day care inside a pine tree, guides the branch-specific creatures whose parents serve in the military through their day, ensuring that they understand the importance of teamwork, resilience, and their parents’ sacrifices for their country.
“I have a clear vision for this children’s book series that highlights the resilience of military brats. I can’t wait to share more books with the military community,” said Cassandra.