This month, we continue our Spotlight on the Finance Department by highlighting our central warehouse, known as Stores.

Stores is where approximately $6.7 million in inventory is kept and well-maintained for our Electric, Gas, and Water Resources crews to use daily. Construction and repair materials for operating departments are received, inventoried, and dispersed at the warehouse. When crews receive their work orders each day, Stores is their first stop. Crews get everything from bolts to meters to utility poles and shovels — whatever is needed to do the job.

Stores also keeps an adequate inventory of supplies to handle all types of emergencies, from major storms to cut water or gas mains, and more. Before the start of each hurricane season, Stores employees order extra supplies to be used during storms. In addition, prior to large weather events, inventory levels on storm-related items are reviewed and vendors are contacted to ship materials earlier if possible.

Stores Manager Hunter Dixon is responsible for a staff of seven. In addition to overseeing the daily activities at Stores, Hunter works closely with Engineers on upcoming projects that require special materials, especially projects that require items not yet on contract. Assistant Stores Manager Chris Evans oversees inventory transactions, maintains and orders most of the small hand tools, as well as safety-related items like hard hats, rubber safety gear, cones, etc., and coordinates with vendors on the repair and replacement of battery-operated and mechanical tools.

Warehouse Technician David Boyd orders and maintains records for all first aid supplies. He also handles the sales of GUC logo items and assists employees with work orders, safety shoes, and a variety of documentation such as CDL license reimbursements and patch slip repairs (for when crews cut into roads or sidewalks).

Stores Warehouse Supervisor Blake Jones works closely with Stores Warehouse Technicians Mike Carmon, Jay Wetherington, Erik Askew, and Leonard Haddock. They distribute items and keep track of what comes in and what goes out. They make sure everything stays organized as they unload and check-in freight trucks at the warehouse or in the lay-out yard. In addition, this crew coordinates the pre-staging of incoming material for large capital projects. Mike Carmon, with the help of Chris Evans, is also in charge of the glove exchange program in which Electric crews bring in their rubber safety gear to be sent off for special testing, and pick up newly-approved gear.

Managing the inventory of four utilities requires an organized staff, skilled at juggling various tasks. Their mission is to keep the operating departments running in an efficient manner while maintaining a high level of safety and providing exceptional customer service.

Up next in Spotlight On: Fleet