In the very early hours of October 10th, employees began arriving at the Operations Center with cookers and food to get ready for GUC’s third annual “Pitmaster Challenge.” The event serves as the official kickoff to Public Power, Public Natural Gas, and Customer Service Week! 

This year, we had a record number of teams (13) that spent hours smoking pork, while Parkers BBQ provided the sides, Simply Natural provided the ice cream, and desserts were provided by Sam Jones BBQ. Employees were able to sample from each BBQ station and then choose which food line to join. 

Thank you to the planning committee, the Pitmaster Challenge teams, and the judges for all the hard work that went into pulling off this day of celebration!   

 Pitmaster Challenge judges were Sam Jones and Michael Letchworth from Sam Jones BBQ, and Matt Jones from Jones Southern BBQ. This year, ribbons for Best Taste, Best Appearance, Best Skin, and Best Sauce debuted as part of the judging and win potential.  

Our Pitmaster Challenge teams and winners included:  

Gas #1 led by Adam Wilson; Gas #2 led by Justin Oaks (3rd place); Gas #3 led by Chris Rouse; Electric #1 led by Tyler Nichols; Electric #2 led by Charles May; Electric #3 led by Jason Gaskins; Electric #4 led by Matt Craft (2nd Place and Best Skin Ribbon); Electric #5 led by Matthew McLawhorn; Electric #6 led by Lin Bunting (1st Place and Best Appearance / Best Sauce Ribbons); Fleet led by Kenny McDonald; Water #1 led by Justin Elks (Best Taste Ribbon); Water #2 led by Corbin Congleton; and Water #3 led by Brooks Nobles.  

Public Power, Public Natural Gas, and Customer Service Week 

The annual Public Power and Public Natural Gas Week gives GUC a chance to celebrate all of the advantages that we, as a locally owned and operated utility, provide our community.  

Throughout the week, we shared the many benefits of being a public utility with customers and employees in a variety of ways. Public Information ran print ads in The Daily Reflector and shared several posts and stories on our social media platforms. Employees came together to serve ice cream and GUC promotional items to customers at the Main Office and Express on that Wednesday.  

That week also happens to be National Customer Service Week, so our Customer Relations Department held a relief drive benefiting Western North Carolina residents affected by Hurricane Helene along with their annual Spirit Week of wearing specific colors each day. The drive and the Spirit Week efforts were shared with all of GUC to participate.