Dennis McDade is a man of many hats, both literally and figuratively. A lineman for Dominion Virginia Power (DVP; Richmond, Virginia, U.S.), McDade spends his days proudly sporting a hardhat. After hours, his “hats” include those of songwriter, rap artist, actor and clothing designer. How does he manage to juggle so many pursuits and find success with them all? The answer is simple: by staying true to his roots.

Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., the lineman says his mother and grandmother instilled a strong work ethic in him at an early age.

“My mother and grandmother were the strength of my household,” he recalled. “My grandmother was very much of an entrepreneur. She owned a corner store, rental properties and a beauty salon. If I wanted something, she made me work for it. She taught me that things in life are not free.”

After studying for several years at Cleveland State University, McDade joined the U.S. Air Force, where he worked as a jet airplane mechanic stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia.

“Being part of the military taught me the value of discipline and responsibility,” he said. “It is also where I started writing and recording my music. Getting positive feedback about my music from people with different backgrounds and from all over the country really inspired me to go after my dreams.”

Once his military service ended, McDade went to work as a field technician for Cox Communications, a cable entertainment and broadband services provider also located in Virginia. This led to his career at Dominion in a roundabout way when he was sent out on a routine call.

“The gentleman I called on happened to be a manager at DVP,” McDade remembered. “I guess I must have impressed him, because he asked if I would be interested in working for them and if I would forward him my résumé.”

McDade answered yes to both questions and, two interviews later, officially became a DVP employee. The company sent him to the Southeast Lineman Training Center in Trenton, Georgia, U.S., from which he graduated after four months.

“I love being outdoors and being a lineman allows me to do that,” he said. “It also gives me the opportunity to act as a sort of modern-day hero. Linemen get a lot of gratification from helping restore electricity to people.”

McDade's job at DVP has also afforded him the chance to further both his music and acting careers. In 2008, he penned a rap about safety for the company's safety committee. It was an instant success, and he and his fellow lineman crew were asked to perform the song at various industry events around the country (to view the video, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7viGDALSoJE).

“That rap is my biggest hit so far,” noted McDade, who performs under the stage name Dyverse. “In fact, we won a first-place award for it.”

McDade also auditioned for and won a starring role in one of DVP's TV commercials (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=48874303).

Furthermore, he is a member of DVP's diversity committee, which seeks to get the message out that it's OK to be different.

To give back to the community, McDade is involved with the United Way and volunteers at local high schools, offering advice on possible career choices.

“Kids are our future,” he said. “I encourage them to learn as much as they can about whatever particular field they are interested in, whether it is college, the military or a trade. I tell them to ignore the naysayers and don't give 50% — give 110%. There are so many opportunities out there, but they aren't going to come to you. You have to be willing to pursue them.”

In addition to songwriting, rapping and acting, McDade writes poetry and designs both a men's and a women's line of clothing and accessories.

“The men's line is called Devine Youth,” he said. “Ms. Fit, my women's line, is geared toward women of all shapes and sizes who want to be physically fit.”

Despite his numerous extracurricular pursuits, McDade remains focused on his career in the power industry. He currently is attending college to receive a bachelor's degree in business management and regularly seeks the advice of his mentor, Rodney Blevins, a vice president at Dominion.

“Rodney knows I want to move up in the company,” he remarked. “He encourages me to keep challenging myself and always bring something different to the table. My dream is to be in his shoes one day. That would be awesome.”

Considering McDade's positive outlook and self-motivation, this aspiration may become a reality sooner rather than later.

“I'm not afraid to go after my dreams,” he said. “If I fail, at least I tried.”

Another of McDade's dreams came true on April 27, when his wife gave birth to a baby boy.