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Ready to leap into action for you: congratulations, new TECO Journeymen!

Graduating Journeymen and TECO training staff and company leaders at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City.
Graduating Journeymen and TECO training staff and company leaders at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City.

They aren’t action heroes, necessarily, and they don’t even play them on TV – though they probably could. Chances are you won’t see them in car chases on city streets, punching out masked badguys or leaping out of helicopters.

But Tampa Electric’s Journeymen – our linemen, substation electricians and network specialists – do come to the community’s rescue whenever they’re needed. They can save your day from power outages. They’re proud to keep your life running.

And a new slate of them just joined a long line of predecessors in all the communities where Tampa Electric makes safe, reliable power for you a top priority.

“Journeyman graduation is a tradition at TECO, because while we know a lot of these guys are happy to do their jobs without fanfare, their work is among the most important aspects of our business,” said Steve Dosal, manager of Energy Delivery Skills Training & Environmental with Tampa Electric. “Their work requires sharp minds and physical toughness, highly honed technical skills and a willingness to excel at work that not many people can do.”

Dosal served as emcee at a celebration for the newest graduating TECO Journeymen and their partners at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City on June 9. The camaraderie that will serve them well in their roles was on display as they received their certificates for completion of a rigorous four-year training program – one that includes 250 training modules, classroom instruction and work in simulated live-power environments as well as work shadowing veteran TECO Journeymen. The training the graduating Journeymen have under their belts translates to 30 semester hours toward a Hillsborough Community College Associate in Science Degree in Industrial Management Technology.

It's a tradition at TECO Journeyman Graduation for the wives of the training team to give special gifts to the partners of the graduating Journeyman as a way to say thanks for their support.
It’s a tradition at TECO Journeyman Graduation for the wives of the training team to give special gifts to the partners of the graduating Journeyman as a way to say thanks for their support.

This year’s graduating Journeyman class also included TECO’s first network specialist, Travis Ammann. With others in his role following in his footsteps, the company has new experts who can handle the intricacies of the electrical grid in the vaults beneath downtown Tampa and at Tampa International Airport.

“It’s great to see the Journeyman program growing along with the hardworking, dedicated team members whose knowledge and drive are critically important to our society’s way of life,” said Gerry Chasse, vice president of Electric Delivery. “These guys are telling Our Story in a way that connects with the nearly 750,000 customers that we’re privileged to serve – and the technological changes coming down the road will continue to require the expertise of those who build, maintain and repair the electrical grid.”

Here’s where you come in

You may not possess the skills of Journeyman, but that’s OK – because ours do in service to you. At the same time, TECO gives you several ways to prevent and manage outage situations. The biggest causes of outages are natural – like tree limbs in contact with electrical equipment. Never try to trim trees in these situations yourself; instead, let us know about them. We trim trees in ways that protect their health.

Read about our preparations for hurricane season and what you can do to be ready. Sign up for Power Updates so that we can keep you informed about the location, cause and restoration times of outages. On Facebook and Twitter, consider letting our Journeymen know you appreciate what they do!

“At TECO, especially for the team who trains our Journeymen and watches them excel in amazing ways under some challenging situations, these guys are like rock stars,” said Sam Nowakowski, supervisor of Technical Training. “They may not put out rock albums, but the work they’re proud to do ensures that you can enjoy the music you love in your home.”

Congratulations to our newest Journeymen:

Lineman
Jerrod Adams
Reed Bauer
Curtis Hoy
Eric Watson
Tyler Wyatt
Alex Fuller
Colby Compton
Mike Greth
Michael Jones
Dylan Landers
Antonio Vitale
Kasey Keys

Substation Electrician
Jeff Griffin
Kelly Crosby
Ryan Cooper
Brandon Bissell
Aaron Jordan

Network Specialist
Travis Ammann

 

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