Durk Tyson’s ambition was never the pursuit of leadership, and yet, he naturally inhabited each of those roles in his career with discernment inspired by lived experience and practicality.
At every turn and with more than 30 years as an engineer, leadership roles were placed in Durk’s path that would appear to be only by happenstance. However, the reality of why he was offered these positions is clear.
Durk is a man who does the best work possible - whether as a design engineer turned leadership team member at a private firm or a Systems Engineer turned Director of Gas Systems at Greenville Utilities.
“Leadership was never an ambition of mine,” Durk said. “I studied engineering because I wanted to design and build stuff.”
As an engineer, he absorbs every detail of each step of a project all the way to its finish. His ability to see how each small detail contributes to the larger picture is the foundation of his engineering prowess.
Durk earned his BS in Civil Engineering and then went on to earn a Master of Engineering degree, both from NC State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer, a distinction he earned in North Carolina and Virginia.
He enjoyed living in Raleigh, with a network of friends and no intention of leaving; however, an engineering position brought him to Greenville.
Convinced it was only going to be temporary until another opportunity presented itself in Raleigh, Durk began his engineering career with the City of Greenville.
Seeing an opportunity at a private firm in Greenville with offices in Raleigh, he acquired a position there. By the time an opening was available at the firm’s Raleigh office, his social network had scattered and there was no reason to return to Raleigh. His choice to stay in Greenville was a practical one, but also serendipitous.
In Greenville, Durk would meet his wife of 30 years, Kathy.
It would also be where leadership opportunities began to embrace him. He moved up the ranks at his former company where he worked 25 years before joining GUC’s Gas Department.
“I started out as a design engineer and then became project manager and then a member of the leadership team at my last company,” he said.
Many of Durk’s greatest leadership and life lessons came from his time at that private firm, but it was also where many of his professional relationships were fostered. These relationships played a pivotal role in the progression of his career, and ultimately his journey to GUC.
At the private firm, he would meet GUC’s former Gas Systems Director Anthony Miller, and they would work together on more than 20 major expansion projects in GUC’s gas system over an 18-year period.
Anthony hired him as the Systems Engineer in the Gas Department once a position came open. Durk wanted a schedule that was more conducive to his family’s needs, and being there for his son, Ward, was a top priority.
From Systems Engineer, he was promoted to Assistant Director of Gas Systems and ultimately, he became the Director of Gas Systems in December of 2025.
As Director, he is responsible for the overall operation of the Gas Department. Notably, Durk led the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Plant expansion which brought in two additional liquified natural gas tanks, which saved GUC $2.5 million during the 2026 winter storm. He oversees services for 25,142 natural gas customers spanning 691 miles of main and 513 miles of service pipelines and the only municipal Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Station east of I-95 in the state of North Carolina.
Did you choose leadership or did leadership choose you?
I did not seek leadership. Anthony thought enough of me to promote me, and I’ll do my best as Director to prepare others to take over when I leave. I always wanted to do the best work wherever I was, but becoming a leader was never a goal.
What have you enjoyed most about your leadership role?
I love teaching. I enjoy mentoring people and seeing them grow.
What have you enjoyed most about your career in the utility industry?
The municipal natural gas industry is a very close-knit community. I’ve been able to build close relationships with peers from across the nation. For example, there are gas systems from Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Washington state that we routinely talk with and share best practices.
What advice do you give to those new to a leadership role?
This is one that Anthony shared with me, and I’d pass on to any new manager, “Listen 80 percent of the time and speak only 20 percent of the time.” This one is hard for me sometimes because I’m anxious to immediately start trying to fix the problem, but when you prioritize active listening over giving directions, you transition from a leader who simply dictates tasks to a leader that empowers people.
How do you approach decision-making in challenging situations?
I am more analytic in my approach to decision making. I weigh the pros and cons of the different choices, and then I think about it. I do not make impetuous decisions without deliberate consideration and thought into what each outcome would be. After I’ve thought the choices through, I then make the decision.
Did you have any role models or mentors who helped you along the way, and can you share any of their advice?
Anthony Miller had the biggest impact on me. Before he left, he made me a list of information and advice he thought I would need. There were also things he said and did over the 10 years I worked with him, and at the time, I didn’t realize the impact it would have until I was promoted in the director role.
How do you prioritize work-life balance as a leader?
I have struggled with work-life balance for myself in the past. I worked with a firm that did not prioritize it. Losing my parents forced me to put more emphasis on that. There is nothing we work on today that won’t be there tomorrow. I encourage the employees I lead to prioritize work-life balance. It is more of a priority here. You can’t get that time back. Unfortunately, I know this from experience. I regret some of the choices I made. This is where I think I can help and teach others to avoid the pitfalls I fell into.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
From a very early age I wanted to be an engineer. Around 8 or 10 years old I was disassembling my toys and rebuilding them into different toys. I shared what I built with my dad, and he said, ‘my son is going to be an engineer,’ but at the time I didn’t know what that meant.
What is your proudest career accomplishment?
When I left the city and went to work at a private firm for 25 years, I was proud of that. When I left there and came here, I was excited about that. Getting the promotion to Assistant Director and Director, I was also proud of that. Those are all career milestones to be proud of, but it is when I ride around the city and see all the projects I helped create and build and the LNG Plant expansion, that is what I am most proud of in the career I have built.
What was your very first job?
My first job was working at Hargett’s Drug Store. It was a Mom and Pop establishment. I did deliveries, stocking, and ran the register. I also learned that Chuck Mangione is a genius while working there, Durk said with a laugh. Whenever Mr. Hargett came in, he played Chuck Mangione, who was an American smooth jazz performer and flugelhorn player. I also drove a school bus for AG Cox Middle School while I was still in high school.
What would you like us to know about your family?
Kathy and I have been married 30 years this year. We have an adult son, Ward, who just got engaged. We also have four Boykin Spaniels.
What is your favorite family or holiday tradition?
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. During Thanksgiving, I spend time with my whole family. Kathy’s parents and my parents got along well. So, some years we’d drive to Raleigh for Thanksgiving and spend the holiday together and some years they would come to us and spend the holiday. Even now, after all the kids are adults, we still spend more together on Thanksgiving than we do at Christmas.
What is your favorite band, singer, or music genre?
I listen to a lot of beach music. I also like 80s New Wave, like Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, Squeeze, and Duran Duran. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, I listen to smooth jazz.
What have been your favorite travel destinations?
I am a home body. I don’t like to travel that much. Kathy and I are going to Charleston, SC to celebrate our anniversary.
Do you collect anything or have any hobbies?
I collect junk, like old cars and antiques. I collect Land Rovers. When Kathy and I started dating I was driving a 1967 Land Rover. There’s also a Land Rover group in Virginia, and we all meet up and go camping. I currently have three Land Rovers, two 1967s and a 1995. My son and I also have several boats.
Do you have a favorite sports team?
I would have to say the Wolfpack. I was a freshman at NC State in 1983 in their NCAA champion season.
Do you have a favorite quote?
My favorite quote would be “A rising tide lifts all boats.” It was popularized by President John F. Kennedy, but it’s really a New England saying. I say it’s my favorite because when something good happens to one of us, it lifts all of us up. Whatever is good for all of us is good for me.
