Hoss Prestwood Named Construction Specialist for Blue Ridge Electric
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (April 11, 2003) – Ward “Hoss” Prestwood has been named construction specialist for Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, a not-for-profit member-owned electric utility serving over 66,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes and Alexander counties.
Prestwood previously served as a lineman and a crew leader in the cooperative’s Caldwell District. Before that, he served for 11 years as assistant foreman of the “floating crew”, a team of line technicians who traveled across the cooperative’s system conducting electric system construction and upgrades as well as maintenance to transmission lines.
“His knowledge of construction, his experience across the Blue Ridge Electric system, his enthusiasm for the work, and his dedication to serving the members of Blue Ridge Electric are all reasons why Hoss was selected to fill this position,” said Steve Peterson, construction manager. “Since he became a lineman at Blue Ridge Electric, Hoss has enjoyed a challenge in his work and this attitude has helped him understand the different types of construction used on our electric system,” Peterson continued. “He was an A-class lineman and crew leader, and he will deliver the same quality in his new role. He also has strong customer service skills and puts a high priority on serving the member-owners of Blue Ridge Electric.”
Prestwood will begin his new role with involvement in one of the cooperative’s largest projects in its history: a multi-year transmission line upgrade project designed to increase system capacity and meet the power needs of a growing membership now and into the future. The project spans across all districts the cooperative’s serves and will improve service to all its members.
Prestwood is actively involved in the Gamewell Optimist Club. He lives in the Gamewell community of Caldwell County with his wife, Beth, and children: Abby, 12, and Cain, 11. They are members of Hudson First Baptist Church.
