Georgia Magazine - March 2022 - 14

Currents
News from Georgia's electric co-ops * Compiled by Amy Schneider
Carroll EMC donates bucket truck for
lineman training
I
n support of West Georgia Technical College's (WGTC) new
apprentice lineman program, Carroll Electric Membership
Corp. (EMC) in Carrollton recently donated a fleet bucket
truck to be used for the training of future electrical lineworkers.
WGTC's four-week, noncredit course at its Murphy Campus
in Waco provides students with the necessary skills for an entrylevel
position in the electric utility industry.
The technical school designed the course based on expert
input from neighboring electric utilities, including Carroll EMC
and Palmetto-based Coweta-Fayette EMC, as well as GreyStone
Power Corp. in Hiram, Diverse Power in LaGrange and Georgia
Power. Course instructor Scott Teal is a recent retiree of Carroll
EMC and teaches those enrolled in the program electrical safety,
construction, pole-climbing and, beginning in the next session,
bucket truck operation.
" Carroll EMC has proven to be one of our most steadfast
partners for many years, " WGTC President Julie Post said.
" We are deeply grateful for their continued support with the
donation of this bucket truck for our electrical lineman program.
It's through partnerships like this one that WGTC is able to
provide pathways for our students to be successful. "
Although pole-climbing is a required skill for the job, a bucket truck
often allows for a safer and easier way to work on power lines. Students
will learn the features of the truck and how to operate the bucket and its
controls safely. They also will practice simulated bucket-truck rescues.
Prior to enrollment, students must earn their commercial driver's licenses.
" Electrical linework is one of the most dangerous jobs, " said Tommy
From left are Jay Gill, Carroll EMC senior vice president of member
and external relations; WGTC President Julie Post; Carroll EMC
President and CEO Tim Martin; Tommy Cook, Carroll EMC vice
president of operations; Leigh Allen, Carroll EMC key accounts
manager; Carroll EMC Foreman Matt Sheffi eld; Brittney Henderson,
WGTC executive director of institutional advancement; Scott Teal,
WGTC course instructor; Linda Sullivan, WGTC executive director
of economic development; and Norman Deese, Carroll EMC key
accounts manager.
Cook, vice president of operations for Carroll EMC.
" There is no room for error, so linemen need adequate
training before going out in the field. WGTC's
program provides them with the basic training they
need, and we have had the opportunity to be a part
of it and introduce the students to the cooperative. "
Georgia EMC supports
young-farmers group
M
14
Georgia Magazine March 2022
ore than 500 members and guests of the Georgia Young Farmers Association
(GYFA) attended the 52nd Annual GYFA State Convention Jan. 28-29 at the
Marriott Savannah Riverfront.
Tucker-based Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) is a major sponsor of the
GYFA convention. Kaleb Frady, public relations representative at Georgia EMC, gave
greetings at the well-attended Saturday breakfast and staffed the EMC booth. Visitors
to the booth received information about scholarships and youth programming offered
by the EMCs and had the opportunity to have their photos taken in a " bucket-truck "
photo booth.
The GYFA has 61 county associations and more than 5,200 members. For many
years, the GYFA has claimed the largest young-farmer membership in the nation.
Hillery Culpepper, assistant director of development for the Georgia FFA Foundation, and her
husband, Ben, pose in the Georgia EMC bucket-truck photo booth at the GYFA State Convention.
COURTESY GEORGIA EMC
BRITTANY SHADIX / CARROLL EMC

Georgia Magazine - March 2022

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