• Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, and raised in Bellaire, Ohio, with his three sisters.

• Married for six years to his wife, Jaime, and has three children: Megan, Dylan and Faith.

• Enjoys yard work and around-the-house projects. If he's not at work, the self-described homebody is either at one of his children's ball games or at home reading stories to his youngest daughter.

• Describes himself as safe, dedicated, committed, particular and hard working.

• Says he would go into the power industry if he had to do it all over again.

Early Years

My first utility job was working for New River Electric Co. (Roanoke, Virginia). As a grunt, I helped to build a substation for REA-Belmont Co-op. Whatever needed to be done, I did it. It was a great learning experience.

Family Ties

I got interested in the utility industry through my father. He was not only a highly respected lineman, but he is also the most hardworking, caring person you will ever meet. Working through some great adversity, he never stopped giving — to his family, the industry and his community. He is truly my hero.

A Day in the Life

I start off my day at 5:15 a.m. having coffee with my wife, and I'm off to work by 6:30 a.m. I conduct job assignments and job briefings, and then I'm off to the job site. Quitting time is 3:30 p.m., but I often work on special projects until 4:30 p.m. or 5 p.m.

Commitment to the Job

Sometimes I work a 20-hour shift, come home for a few hours and then go back to work. My wife gives me all the support I need to be a lineman. Many times she paces the floor with worry when I'm out working long hours and out in the worst weather conditions. The only thing that puts her mind at ease is knowing that safety is my top priority, and that I'm dedicated to helping families who may be without heat because their power is out.

Challenges and Rewards

It is a challenge every day to work safely and efficiently and to be productive. The reward comes when everything falls into place and your day is over, and we all go home safe. The importance of safety has always been integrated into every job I do, from the smallest to the largest.

The Next Generation

Another challenge the utility industry faces is getting young people who are truly interested and passionate about being a lineman and making it a career and a lifestyle.

Career-Defining Moments

I'll never forget my first time gloving 12 kV (out of bucket and off work board), my first time barehanding 69 kV and my first time hot-sticking 69 kV. Another experience I'll never forget is working storm restoration on Hurricane Katrina.

Tools and Technology

I've been working for a long time without some of my more modern tools. Right now, however, I wouldn't want to lose any of them, especially my new battery press. To learn about some of the latest tools on the market, I serve as a Huskie Tool ambassador. I think it's a great way to get new ideas from field workers. I hope we can make a difference.

Future Plans

In the future, I plan to be very involved with the corporate fleet and safety teams. I will also continue to work as a lineman. There's no question that if I had to do it all over again, this would be my job of choice.

T&D World is looking for utility professionals who have made a valuable contribution to the industry. If you would like to nominate someone for a future profile, please e-mail Amy Fischbach at amyfischbach@gmail.com with the person's contact information and a brief description about what makes him or her stand apart from the rest of the field crew. This department profiles only field personnel; no vendor nominations will be considered.