Trusting the journey, finding forever roots

Turning on a light is a mundane task. For Erica Romac, ’13, however, there’s a lot more thought in it. As lead of technical development at Midcontinent Independent System Operator, she has a hand in overseeing day-to-day operations in the energy industry. MISO operates the electric grid for about 45 million people in the central United States.

“The work I do with my team to train operators helps them be ready for the real-time grid conditions they face,” Erica said. “Every time someone flips a switch or charges their phone, there’s a network of people and systems behind that moment. Being part of that support chain means I’m contributing to something essential and reliable. It’s a responsibility, but also a privilege.”

Discovering her path

Erica oversees a team that creates and executes training for the MISO control center and grid operators. One of the first courses she created was a hurricane readiness plan.

“Think of MISO as the air traffic controller for energy. Our company oversees the electric grid for 15 states, including Michigan,” she said. “The operators require certification and continuing education hours over a span of time. My team supports that training.”

Erica planned to pursue a degree in education at Central Michigan University, but ended up with a bachelor’s in business administration. Now, she does something close to her original plan: teaching.

What she likes about her career boils down to training and preparing people — giving them the resources they need to have a positive learning experience, she said.

Finding connection in her roots

Erica began her career working in the nonprofit space for panhellenic organizations and foundations. After moving to a new city in Indiana, she wanted to get involved in the community and was pleased to find a group of CMU alumni.

“I knew if there was anyone I could be connected to, one of those branches would be Central Michigan,” she said. “If I could find alumni here, I would have things in common with them, and I knew it would be a welcoming place.”

Erica joined the Alumni Association board in 2019, becoming vice president in 2023 and president in 2025.

She appreciates that the association is always there for alumni.

“CMU can be a constant for you; it will ebb and flow with you throughout life,” Erica said. “You’re a CMU Chippewa for life. You can come back and give back to campus when it makes sense in your life.”