January 2022 Newsmakers

January 2022 Newsmakers

January 31, 2022

Service Awards

Bill Edwards / 35 Years
Bill Edwards, Water Resources Engineering Assistant II, recently celebrated 35 years of service with GUC. He oversees new construction projects and work orders and often collaborates with the City of Greenville on projects related to water and sewer service, such as street resurfacing and stormwater projects. Bill works directly with developers, customers, and the general public when working on Water Resources’ capital projects. Bill also works with our sewer system TV inspection program, reviewing tapes and reports for implementation of any needed repairs. He, and others in the Department, collect field data and other technical information that the Information Technology Department uses to update our maps. What has Bill enjoyed most in his 35 years in the Water Department? “I like working with the people here at GUC,” he said, “and I also enjoy working with those outside of GUC, like our contractors and customers.”

Scott Mullis / 25 Years
Scott Mullis recently celebrated 25 years of service in the Customer Relations Department. He started out as the Credit Supervisor, then moved to Assistant Director of Customer Relations, and became the Director of Customer Relations in 2021. He oversees Energy Services, Customer Service, Billing, and Credit/Revenue Protection. Scott also takes the lead with our Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, which provides assistance with heating bills to low-income families. He is involved with community organizations as well, currently serving as the Board Chair for the Pitt-Greenville Crime Stoppers. “During my tenure at Greenville Utilities, I have been involved in two billing system upgrades, seen our Main Office relocate to our current building, and worked countless hurricanes and tropical storms, including two major flood events,” said Scott. “I count it a blessing to work with such a dedicated staff in a wonderful area of the country.”

Calvin Glover / 20 Years
Calvin Glover, Meter Technician III, has celebrated 20 years of service with GUC. Calvin works in the Electric Department’s Meter Section, which is responsible for approximately 138,724 electric, water, and gas meters on our system. Calvin is part of the Service Team responsible for completing all service-related orders that come in through Credit and Customer Relations as well as the 24/7 standby call rotation. In a nutshell, he’s responsible for turning off gas, electric, and water services for customers who are moving out or have non-pay disconnects, and for turning service back on for electric and water customers. He is also responsible for obtaining accurate start-up or close-out readings. Calvin started his GUC career in the Meter Reading Section. “Being a Meter Tech all these years, I can say that I’ve been on every road and in every neighborhood in our service area,” he said. “Having been a transplant to this area many years ago myself, I especially like greeting new customers who move here. I also enjoy the camaraderie with employees. I’m proud to be a part of the customer service team at GUC.”

15 Years
Juliet Telfair, Call Center Leader

10 Years
Josh Setzer, Systems Maintenance Crew Leader

5 Years
Chaz Hathaway, Pipe Layer III
Donnie Wilson, Master Mechanic

Promotions

Chris Wallace, Gas Engineering Assistant I
Sean Hawley, Senior Systems Analyst I
Tripp Morgan, WTP Maintenance Mechanic III
Tanner Hardee, Pipe Layer II
Durk Tyson, Assistant Director of Gas Systems
Walt Gaskins, WWTP Maintenance Instrumentation and Electrician Tech III
Ryan Martin Gregory, WTP Operations Coordinator

Sympathies

Our deepest condolences to Timmy Pollard, Electric Troubleshooter Crew Leader, on the passing of his mother, Leona Sutton Pollard.

Our deepest condolences also to Chris Rouse, Gas Systems Crew Leader II, on the recent passing of his grandfather, John Whitford.

Our sympathies are extended to Master Mechanic Kevin Lockamy on the passing of his father, Johnnie Lockamy.

Our deepest condolences are also extended to Ron Cullipher, Gas Technical Support Assistant, on the recent passing of his father, Edgar Cullipher.

Our sympathies go to Brian Greer, Water Treatment Plant Maintenance Mechanic III, and his father, Water Treatment Plant retiree Bud Greer, on the passing of Margaret Greer, Brian’s mother and Bud’s wife.

Our sympathies are also extended to the family and friends of Electric Department retiree Bobby Perkins on his recent passing.

Thank You's

Regina called to thank us for the gift of a blanket, which was one in about a hundred blankets donated to the Pitt County Council on Aging in December. Due to health issues, she cannot go out and depends upon Meals on Wheels for help. They dropped off one of the GUC blankets with her holiday box. She said she was deeply in need of a new lap blanket, and then ours showed up. “It was a surprise and a real blessing for,” she said. “It meant so much that I wanted to call to personally tell someone. Thank you, GUC!”

Julie Anne wrote a 5-star Google review about GUC, attributing her review to Gas Service Worker Jason Haddock’s visit to check on a possible gas issue in her home. “He got here when he said would, was very pleasant, and fixed the issue,” she wrote. “We are very pleased with both our service and that he was so very kind. I hope both Jason and everyone at GUC has a happy holiday and a blessed New Year!” Jason also received a compliment called in from Dennis Adams, who also complimented Gas Service Worker Senior John Sheppard. Mr. Adams said he was very pleased with their excellent customer service and persistence in identifying the gas leak, which was made difficult due to the vacant house beside his own house.

Mark Flowers called to commend Utility Locator II David Moore for a locate job David did at Mr. Flowers’ home. He said he was really appreciative of how courteous and professional David was during the locate.

Luke Hagee, WTP Distribution Water Quality Technician I, received a compliment in the following “Bless Your Heart” post in the Daily Reflector on January 5th. The writer referred to Luke performing a water quality check at one of our sample stations: BYH Greenville Utilities. What an awesome water resource employee you have — “Luke” who was working the Dalebrook Circle and Deerwood Drive brown water concern. Please give him a raise. What an authentically kind and caring professional he is.

Belinda Sealey called to commend Gas Systems Crew Leader I Paul Bunch for providing excellent customer service while stopping her gas service and removing her meter. She said Paul was nice, courteous, and very professional. In addition, she was impressed with how he took the time to explain the process to her and she felt that he deserved a pat on the back.

Steve Priola sent a compliment through our online chat regarding Customer Contact Representative I Robin Wyrick. He said that Robin was very helpful and professional, and that he was very impressed.

Eric Deal, Director of Plant Operations for the Cypress Glen Retirement Community, wrote a compliment regarding several Gas and Water crews that repaired a water main that was struck and ruptured by a contractor in late December. The gas lines in the area were impacted by the broken water main. “I witnessed the GUC teams work shoulder to shoulder for approximately 12 hours in and around a cold wet hole, encountering unforeseen issues that arose throughout the day,” he wrote. “Never did we hear anyone complaining. These guys had families to go home to. They skipped meals and breaks and we never heard a single grumble. The different disciplines worked together and efficiently throughout the entire process and were an impressive team.”

The following Water Resources employees assisted with this job: Bryan Bland, Calvin Butcher, Keith Clark, Matthew Clark, Alex Congleton, Tracy Colville, Corbin Congleton, Alvin Davis, Josh Dickens, George Fuller, Jordan Godley, Chaz Hathaway, Danny Lane, Bennie Pittman, Dean Roberson, John Roebuck, Kyle Veneski, and Robert Warren. The following Gas employees also assisted with this job: Blake Beddard, Willie Boyd, Chris Bright, Paul Bunch, Glenn Crumpler, Josh Harrell, Carson Knight, Butch Mills, Tony Richards, Stephen Roebuck, Chris Rouse, John Sheppard, Parham Stanley, and Brandon Stevens.

Dr. Jamie Rogers sent a commendation about Customer Contact Representative II Lee Eakes. “I wish all transitions were this smooth! You are an exception,” she wrote.

Sonya Elks called in to commend Meter Technician I Ty Hardee for stopping to help her mom who had fallen in her yard trying to take the trash out to the road. He was reading a meter cycle in Simpson and was going by her house when he saw her in the yard and stopped to help her back up.

Dennis Adams called to compliment Gas Service Worker Senior John Sheppard. He stated that John was very nice, courteous, and professional when he responded to a leak at his residence.