Ryan Hardee came to Greenville Utilities 26 years ago as a part-time tree trimmer.  Today, he works as an Underground Electric Distribution Supervisor, a promotion he received just a few days before his interview for this article.

A native of Ayden and a graduate of Ayden Grifton High School, Ryan's GUC story started soon after graduation. He's done just about every job, including overhead line worker and underground construction crew leader.  Now, instead of managing a five-person underground construction crew, Ryan manages six crews that include underground and overhead line workers. 

But even though his title has changed over the years, he hasn't forgotten his roots or the sacrifices the crews make each and every day to keep the lights on.

"The guys I work with are the backbone. Without them, it would be tough. They take pride in their work and that means a heck of a lot," Ryan said.

What Ryan loves most about his job at GUC is being outdoors while creatively collaborating with crews and engineers on various projects.

"Every day and every work load is different," he said, "it's always changing." Right now his crews are busy with a lot of new construction projects around Pitt County and Greenville, like the 10th Street Connector.

For these types of projects, GUC electric crews have to install transformers, run cable lines underground, and install and maintain street lights, among other things. 

Working at GUC is only a portion of what Ryan does. He is also a family man who loves spending time with his wife, Jennifer, and their kids.  You can find him coaching his five-year-old son, Reed's, t-ball team or helping with his eight-year-old daughter, Addison's, travel softball team.

And Like Ryan, Jennifer serves youth but on a professional level.  A graduate of ECU and originally from Elizabeth City, she works as a Clinical Manager at Port Human Services where she and her team help adults and adolescents who suffer from drug and alcohol addictions or mental health disorders.

Ryan and Jennifer met through a double date arranged by their best friends. And after 10 years of marriage, Ryan said he and Jennifer are just as inseparable today as they were back then.  Ryan loves taking the family fishing off the coast of North Carolina. However, sometimes, just building sand castles and collecting sea shells at Atlantic Beach works just fine too. "We just enjoy being around each other," he said.