November & December 2023 Newsmakers

November & December 2023 Newsmakers

December 1, 2023

Service Awards

James Gay / 35 Years   
James Gay, Meter Supervisor, recently celebrated 35 years of service with Greenville Utilities. James supervises the group of Electric Meter Specialists who work exclusively on meters for the Electric Department. They are responsible for the testing, repairing, and calibration of a large volume of single-phase and three-phase meters. They also install the transformer-rated meter equipment for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. They test these services and do load checks using system analyzers. They also install communication devices for industrial customers and co-generation accounts for data retrieval. “I like that my job is challenging and that I do something different almost every day,” said James. “I also enjoy the people I work with here.”  

Anthony Miller/ 35 Years 
 Anthony Miller, Director of Gas Systems, recently celebrated 35 years of service with GUC. Anthony began his GUC career as our first Gas Systems Engineer in 1988. In 1991, he was named Director of Gas Systems. He is responsible for the overall operation of the Gas Department, which has received numerous state and national awards. Notable accomplishments include becoming the first North Carolina public utility to build a Liquefied Natural Gas Storage Facility as well as constructing the only publicly owned Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Station in North Carolina east of I-95. 

 Anthony attributes the success of the department to past and current personnel who work hard to ensure customers receive quality and reliable service. Anthony said, “my fondest memories at GUC do not involve awards, accomplishments, or peer recognition, but instead comes from watching the individuals within the Gas Department come into their own and be recognized for their skills and accomplishments. GUC values community involvement, which has afforded me opportunities to serve on many community, state, and national organization boards where I have met and interacted with many people and gained experience that has enriched both my personal and professional life. GUC also has a culture that supports creative problem solving, which has allowed the Gas Department to be innovative in utilizing technology to control costs, increase productivity, enhance efficiencies, and improve reliability and safety. GUC’s great reputation as an employer has allowed the Gas Department to attract and employ wonderful people – all these things have helped the Gas Department build a great reputation for reliability, safety, and customer service.” 

Keith Fisher / 30 Years 
Keith Fisher, Water/Sewer Systems Supervisor, recently celebrated 30 years of service with Greenville Utilities. Before his current position, he was a Pipe Crew Leader for heavy construction. He is now responsible for five crews whose jobs range from construction to troubleshooting service work. The construction crews are primarily responsible for installing water/sewer services off our existing mains and repairing any water/sewer leaks, while the two service crews focus on repairing small water service leaks and clearing sewer blockages that occur on service lines. Keith enjoys the variety of jobs that they do, plus working with customers. “I like being able to help our customers with any problems that arise,” said Keith. 

Julius Patrick / 25 Years
Water Treatment Plant Facility Manager Julius Patrick is celebrating 25 years at GUC. Julius is responsible for ensuring that all water provided to GUC customers meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water regulations/standards. He supervises the operation and maintenance of the 32 million gallons per day plant, as well as the state-certified laboratory, and remote sites that help the plant run smoothly. He is also responsible for compliance monitoring of all drinking water produced and for ensuring adequate water pressure and supply is provided to GUC customers. Julius is very active with the N.C. Waterworks Operators Association (NCWOA) and received a Special Award of Merit in 2011 for his work with the association and an A-Surface Certified Operator of the Year award in 2008. “I’m honored to work with a team that takes pride in their work 24/7, ensuring GUC is delivering the highest quality water to our customers,” he said. 

Bradley Hardee / 20 Years 
Tree Trimmer II Bradley Hardee is celebrating 20 years at GUC. Bradley works in the Electric Department’s Line Clearing Section. Our Line Clearing Crews keep the trees and vegetation near our power lines and rights-of-way cut back and maintained to help prevent outages and to make it easier for other crews to do their work. Tree Trimmers work through the entire system on a three-year cycle and are careful about how they do their jobs based on what species of tree they're working on. Additionally, the Line Clearing Section is also responsible for clearing the land of trees and underbrush to make way for new utility facilities to be built. They then maintain that property and rights-of-way after installation is complete. “I couldn’t do my job without my team; we all work together to get the job done,” said Bradley.  

15 Years 

Richard Gould, Lineworker First Class
Corey Weeks, Cashier I

10 Years
Troy Heath, Gas SCADA Network Coordinator
Kyle Meeks, WWTP Operator III
Ryan Gregory, WTP Operations Supervisor
Will Hardison, WTP Operation Crew Leader

5 Years

Derek Elks, Lineworker First Class
Spencer Letchworth, Water Resources Construction Inspector II

Promotions

Cody Eastwood, Water Resources Systems O/M Technician III
Nicholas Corsaro, Customer Contact Representative II
Larry Chambliss, Substation Const/Maint Electrician III
Hunter Sparks, Lineworker Third Class
Scott Farmer, Assistant Director of Water Resources
Brandon Vernelson, Meter Field Technician III
Meredith Dent, Accountant Auditor III

Congratulations

Congratulations to IT Systems Analyst II Krystle Frias-Nunez and her husband, Ruben, on the birth of their son, Leonidas.

Sympathies

Our condolences go out to Water Resources Systems O/M Crew Leader II Tyrone Moore and his family on the loss of his wife, Jacklyn Moore.

Our sympathies to Water Treatment Plant Operation Crew Leader Will Hardison and his family as they mourn the loss of his father, Joseph "Joey" Burton Hardison Jr.

Our condolences are extended to Water Quality Manager Anthony Whitehead and his family on the passing of his father-in-law, Randall Carter.

Thank You's

Mr. and Mrs. Layne Williams commended Gas Staff Support Specialist II Karyn Wilson for her "excellent customer service” in a thank you note they sent after she assisted them with their account.

Joyce Cary sent an email to the Gas Department complimenting Gas Systems Technicians Justin Oakes and Ramsey Covington for “providing excellent customer service while responding to a gas leak at her residence.” She also wrote that “they were very informative, patient, kind, and responsive,” and that she was very grateful for their knowledge.

Neal Woolard sent a note via GUC’s Facebook Messenger complimenting Electric Troubleshooter Crew Leader Jason Smith along with Control Room Operators Sharon Camacho and Tammy Warren for their assistance with a power outage. “You guys are awesome! Best example of customer service that we have experienced in a while,” he wrote.