We continue our new Leadership Q&A segment with Andy Anderson, Director of Information Technology (IT). Andy began his GUC career in April 2020. He directs all IT departmental operations and activities, including guidelines and directions for using information technology to serve both internal and external customers. He is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the technology that is supported by the six IT Teams: Help Desk, Infrastructure/Security, Field Systems Support, Central Systems Support, Applications, and Program Management.  

Andy joined GUC with an extensive IT background in the higher-education, healthcare, and telecommunications industries. He says he’s been fortunate to have worked on leading-edge projects that brought broadband to the home, introduced wireless cellular data (1G), and digitized healthcare information. 

FUN FACT! When Andy worked for a phone company, John Worrell, Sr. (the father of GUC’s Director of Electric Systems John Worrell) trained Andy. Mr. Worrell had retired from the phone company and came back as a contract trainer during the time Andy was completing some of his installation and repair technician courses (like pole climbing and AC/DC). Andy said, “Mr. Worrell told me with a smile, ‘you just might make it,’ and that stuck with me all these years later.” 

Have you served in leadership and/or volunteer roles in the utility industry?  I serve as Chair for the American Public Power Association’s (APPA’s) 2024 Cybersecurity and Technology Summit. This has historically been part of APPA’s Business and Financial Conference. Partnering with the 2023 Chair, we spearheaded an effort to convince APPA to make this its own event. I’m happy to report the number of registered attendees is three times that of last year. 

Did you choose leadership, or did leadership choose you? It chose me. Growing up, I worked a lot of construction where my value was tied to my personal productivity (how many squares of shingles, feet of baseboard, etc.). The summer I turned 18, my boss left me in charge, and I didn’t get lunch that entire week because there was always something extra to be done. Clearly management wasn’t for me. However, many years later, a team I’d built developed a solution that was far beyond anything we could have done as individuals. That’s when I recognized the role leaders play as part of a successful team. 

What have you enjoyed most about your leadership role? Helping employees come together as a team to accomplish more than they could individually and also supporting employees as they grow not just in their profession but as a member of the community.  

What have you enjoyed most about your career in the utility industry?  The sense of duty and pride our employees put into their efforts to serve the community.  

What advice do you give to those new to a leadership role? The skills that got you here are not necessarily going to make you successful as a leader. You need to listen, learn, apply, and evaluate, then adjust your approach if needed to become the best leader you can be.  

How do you approach decision-making in challenging situations? I strive to do my research, lean on the available data, and engage the experts as well as those who think outside of the box. I’ve found the Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation(s) (SBAR) framework to be helpful. 

Did you have any role models or mentors who helped you along the way, and can you share any of their advice? There are too many to name and I like to think I’ve incorporated the best of their styles into mine. Dad would always tell us that nobody makes it without help, so be grateful for what you have and be sure to help the next person.  

How do you prioritize work-life balance as a leader? I grew up working every Saturday and after school, so my work-life balance meter is a bit off. However, I do try to put work aside when I’m with family and friends. I also encourage my employees to take the time they need and assure them that their team and I are here to help carry the load and support them. 

What did you want to be when you were younger? An architect. 

What is your proudest career accomplishment? I was challenged to bring broadband key service measures in line with phone service results. The company had recently celebrated providing phone service for 100 years and broadband had been around for less than five. Once I got over my initial shock, I gathered my team and we brainstormed ideas for how to achieve the goal, then developed a plan. With support from our leadership and the operations teams throughout the country, we achieved the goal ahead of schedule. Because many of the processes used for broadband were based on phone, we also improved phone service results.   

What was your very first job? I worked with my dad as a carpenter from the time I could bring him tools and through college. The first job outside of working for my dad was working in a print shop during 8th grade. 

What would you like us to know about your family? My wife, Angela, has been with ECU Health for more than 30 years. We have two children. Our son is a cardiovascular nurse at ECU Health, and our daughter is a rising senior at ECU in Management Information Systems. We thought both kids would leave the area for college, but they genuinely enjoy and appreciate eastern NC. 

What is your favorite family or holiday tradition? Christmas. So many memories of being out in dad’s workshop (even as an adult) with a fire going, always working on a gift for someone, Christmas songs on the radio, and bottled Pepsis in the fridge – that’s hard to beat. 

Who is your favorite band, singer, or music genre? I’m stuck in the 80’s.  

What have been your favorite travel destinations? Really enjoy the Pacific Northwest, including Canada. Costa Rica is also a favorite for the surfing, fishing, and food. 

Do you collect anything or have any hobbies? Whether it’s converting an attic into an apartment for my daughter, laying tile my wife just picked out, or helping a neighbor update their fireplace mantel, I can usually be found fixing or building something. Although it’s not as easy as it once was, I also enjoy surfing and snowboarding. 

What is at the top of your bucket list? More snowboarding, and Utah is next on the list. 

What’s your favorite season of the year? Early fall when the ocean is still warm, and the air is crisp. It’s also good weather to work outside. 

Do have you have a favorite sports team? I have to root for ECU and NC State because I went to both. We also go to as many Carolina Hurricanes games as we can.  

Do you have a favorite quote? “You can’t change the wind, but you can adjust the sails.”