• Born in Tacoma, Washington.

• Describes himself as hard-working, motivated, safe, honest and helpful.

• Enjoys golfing, fishing and hanging out with family.

• His favorite coworker was Russ Davis, who is also a close friend. He has a funny personality, is very good at his job and has been in the trade for 10 years. He also has an eye for safety and watches over everybody, especially upcoming apprentices.

• Can't live without his screw driver, channel locks and a hammer.

• His favorite projects are when he can work hot and use his rubber gloves.

Early Years

After job shadowing my high school soccer coach, Coach Moe, who is a lineman, and seeing what line work was all about, I realized that it was a career I could see myself doing well and being happy in. From then on, I decided that it was a goal worth working towards.

My first job was a 115-kV reconductor, which required me to work 18 days on and three days off for six months. The work was strenuous physically and mentally because I was new, but it got me ready for the trade.

The day I finished my last test and my apprenticeship was over was a good day. I had finally achieved everything for which I had worked so hard.

Day in the Life

I show up to the yard at 6:15 a.m., and then I have a tailboard at 6:30 a.m. I then get the material for the day's work and have a helicopter tailboard at 7:30 a.m. I then do various helicopter work for reconductoring jobs such as tower extensions, cutting out deadends, rollering up, re-insulating, cutting out sleeves and preparing for wire-pulling days. I usually return home at 5 p.m. Right now, I'm working for PG&E in Vacaville, California, doing a 230-kV reconductoring project.

Tight Times

One challenge facing the industry right now is the economy. The market is horrible in California, which is making new work scarce and slowing a lot of big jobs down. Instead of creating new jobs and businesses, we are more focused on maintenance.

Challenges and Rewards

One of the hardest things about being a lineman is putting in the long hours, working multiple days in a row and being called out on storm-damage calls and out-of-town jobs.

The reward is the ability to make a good, honest living and have pride in what you do every day. Because the job is demanding physically, it helps to keep me in shape and healthy.

Memorable Storm

Going down to San Diego in 2007 was memorable because of the amount of damage down by the massive fires that summer. We were sent about 12 hours away from our homes to help people whose houses had burned down. They lost everything, yet they were encouraging us while we continued to set poles and string wire. The work we had to do was in the mountains and hills, so every pole setting had to be done with a helicopter and hand rigged.

Safety Lesson

From the very first day, everyone says “stay out of the bite,” which could mean several different things: stay clear of anything that could come loose and hit you, don't get pinched in between the pole and the line truck, don't walk underneath a suspended load, or any number of other bad situations you could be in. All in all, watch every step or move you make.

Drawing Inspiration

My mom inspires me because she is such a strong woman and has always been there for me. Her attitude and patience has contributed to my work ethic and attitude toward life.

It was Coach Moe who truly inspired me to get into the trade. He is the kind of person you want to be like on the pole and off. His work ethic and good attitude influenced me on the soccer field and has spilled over into my personal and professional life. I am grateful to know him.

Looking Ahead

If I had to do it over again, I would definitely go into the power industry. I'm not sure what's ahead of me, but I'm going to trust in God and see where he leads me, because so far, he's done good for me.