Jason Hardee has been with GUC for 18 years, starting as Meter Supervisor in 2008 then Meter Superintendent since 2010.
He oversees the entire Meter Section, managing a team of 32 employees and supervising the daily activities of four sections: Reading, Service, Water/Gas Repair, and Electric Repair. Jason prepares the annual operating budget, handles all metering orders, and together with the Crew Leaders, is responsible for the design, installation, and maintenance of specialized commercial and industrial metering. They also coordinate training programs and stand-by work.
Additionally, Jason oversees the industrial and large commercial coincident peak data. This involves compiling monthly spreadsheets for GUC and customer-owned peak generators to determine whether these customers used electric services during peak periods or switched to a generator to avoid purchasing their power at the highest-cost times (peaks). He shares this information with billing staff to ensure accurate billing and to support cost-saving efforts for both customers and GUC.
Jason currently serves on GUC’s AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) Steering Committee, taking a lead role in the planning and implementation of the AMI project. He is a founding member of the CSI (Corporate Safety Initiative) team. And he participates in an ElectriCities of NC working group that develops training and career-development programs for meter technicians. Through this role, he teaches several weeks each year at locations across North Carolina, helping technicians build the knowledge and skills needed to advance in their careers.
Before joining GUC and fresh out of college, Jason went from serving as an intern to being hired as a Field Project Engineer with The Roberts Company. There he designed and maintained process equipment and contributed to structural steel and commercial construction projects. He later served as a Test and Reliability Engineer at NACCO Materials Handling Group (now Hyster-Yale Forklifts), supporting research and development for forklift designs.
Jason’s vast experience with those two industrial groups led him to his career with GUC during a time when he wanted to steer his career away from the traveling involved with his former positions.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
FUN FACT: Jason has enjoyed drag racing since seeing his first race at the age of 12. “I like working on my own race car, rebuilding and working on engines, and just about anything mechanical,” he said.
Did you choose leadership, or did leadership choose you?
I would say leadership chose me. My first job out of college was as a Field Project Engineer for a company that performed a great deal of mechanical and industrial work involving heat exchangers, pressure vessels, plant shutdowns, and other major projects.
During my first year, I was quickly placed in the field, managing projects that were highly time- and cost-sensitive. Prior to that, most of my experience had been in the shop environment, focused on design and internal project management in a more controlled setting. Fortunately, several experienced coworkers took the time to teach me the ropes. I learned quickly, matured professionally, and gained valuable field experience while working on projects from West Virginia and along the East Coast.
What have you enjoyed most about your leadership role?
I have most enjoyed meeting people and watching them grow and mature over the years. One of the most rewarding parts of leadership is seeing others advance in their careers, build confidence in their abilities, and step into leadership roles of their own.
My leadership role also gives me the opportunity to contribute to future-focused initiatives, such as GUC’s current AMI project. Being involved in projects like this allows me to help shape the future, lead teams through process development, and support meaningful change.
What have you enjoyed most about your career in the utility industry?
One of the things I have enjoyed most about the utility industry is the people. You have the opportunity to interact with coworkers, people from other organizations, and customers throughout the community. Over the years, I have met many people and developed friendships that I probably would not have had the opportunity to make in many other careers.
What advice do you give to those new to a leadership role?
Be patient and be a good listener. Listening allows you to understand different perspectives when dealing with decisions and challenges. You can learn a tremendous amount from your team members and peers and taking the time to hear their perspectives can help you make better, more informed decisions.
How do you approach decision-making in challenging situations?
I first try to look at the whole picture and consider the problem from several different perspectives. From there, I focus on the facts surrounding the issue and identify the desired goals and outcomes.
Once I have gathered the available information, I make the best decision possible based on the facts, along with any reasonable assumptions that may be necessary. My goal is to make a well-informed decision that addresses the immediate issue while also supporting the overall objectives of the organization and team.
Did you have any role models or mentors who helped you along the way, and can you share any of their advice?
My two biggest role models in life have been my granddad and my dad.
My granddad taught me many of life’s most important lessons: how to treat people, how to take care of your family, and how to appreciate what you have. He shared a great deal of wisdom from his own experiences growing up and living through the Great Depression.
My dad has shown me throughout my life the importance of family, faith, honesty, and integrity. Watching how he cared for my mom throughout her three-year illness before she passed away showed me just how extraordinary of a person he is. His advice to me has always been to be a good Christian, a devoted family man, and someone who is honest and reputable. Those are values I have tried to carry with me throughout both my personal life and my career.
How do you prioritize work-life balance as a leader?
I believe family is one of the most important parts of life. Losing my mother to ALS in my early twenties gave me a deeper appreciation for family and reminded me that life is short, and tomorrow is not promised. I work hard to make sure the job is done while also making time for my family.
GUC has also been different from some of my previous roles in the manufacturing industry because of its strong emphasis on family and community.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
I wanted to be an F-15 pilot. I also knew I wanted to pursue engineering, so for a while I planned to combine the two. I had completed the recruitment paperwork to join Air Force ROTC at NC State, earn my engineering degree, and graduate as a commissioned second lieutenant.
At the last minute, I decided not to pursue that path because of the required commitment of four years of college followed by an additional eight years to become and serve as a pilot. Although I chose a different direction, my interest in engineering remained and ultimately became the foundation of my career.
What is your proudest career accomplishment?
One of my proudest career accomplishments happened early in my career on a project in West Virginia. The job involved replacing a portion of a heat exchanger with a solid-nickel section.
At the time, I was the newest Field Project Engineer. When the bid package came in, no one expected us to win the project, so it was placed on my desk to prepare the bid, complete the material takeoffs, estimate labor, and develop the overall project cost. My bid package was reviewed and submitted, and when the bids were opened in West Virginia, we were the low bidder. Because no one had expected us to win, there was initially some concern that I might have missed something in the estimate.
The project became one of the largest and most complex jobs I worked on during my time there, valued at a couple million dollars. I had the opportunity to see the project through from the original bid to fabrication in the shop and, about a year later, installation at the plant. The field work took approximately a month and a half and was completed successfully. As my first major project, it taught me a tremendous amount about engineering, project management, responsibility, and leadership, and I was certainly relieved when it was successfully completed!
What was your very first job?
My very first job was working in tobacco. That experience gave me a different perspective on work and helped motivate me to think seriously about what I wanted to do with my future.
What would you like us to know about your family?
My wife, Jill, and I have been married for 27 years. We are high school sweethearts. We have two sons, Kyle, 24, and Blake, 21, along with our five-year-old Border Collie, Elly.
Kyle is a barber, and Blake is a senior at East Carolina University studying engineering. Family is extremely important to me, and I am very proud of both of my sons and the paths they have chosen.
What is your favorite family or holiday tradition?
Christmas is probably my favorite because it is a time when the whole family gets together, enjoys a meal, and spends time with one another.
Last year was especially meaningful because we celebrated Christmas at the house where my sons now live, which was also my childhood home. Being together as a family in the home where I grew up made the occasion even more special.
What is your favorite band, singer, or music genre?
I mostly listen to Christian music, and one of my favorite groups is Casting Crowns.
What have been your favorite travel destinations?
I do not really have one favorite destination. Any trip is a favorite when my whole family is together. We enjoy camping and have taken trips to many different places over the years.
One item on my bucket list is to take a big camping trip out West with my wife.
Do you collect anything or have any hobbies?
I don’t really collect anything, but I have volunteered in the fire service for 34 years. I have served with the Black Jack and Chocowinity Fire Departments, as well as Broad Creek EMS as an EMT. Serving my community has been an important part of my life, and it is especially meaningful now that I get to serve alongside my two sons in the fire department.
Do you have a favorite quote?
One of my favorite quotes is something my dad often told my sister, his grandchildren, and me as we were growing up: “You spend a lifetime building your reputation and keeping it, but remember, it only takes one bad decision to lose it all.”
That advice has stayed with me throughout my life and career. To me, it is a reminder of the importance of integrity, making good decisions, and protecting the reputation you build through years of hard work.
