Interns Receive Real World Experience at Blue Ridge Electric
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383, Ext. 3213; Pager: 1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (August 8, 2007) - As a part of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation’s commitment to education, the cooperative employs students as summer interns across all four districts in our front offices and as apprentice line technicians. These temporary positions allow interns to experience, first-hand, what it takes on a daily basis to provide services to the members of Blue Ridge Electric.
“We’ve employed business students during the summer in our front offices for several years now,” said Julie O’Dell-Michie, vice-president of human resources and administration. “However, this is the first time we’ve employed interns as apprentice line technicians and we’re extremely pleased with the results.”
The intern apprentice line technician works directly with an experienced line crew. They are exposed to all facets of electric line work and assist in all areas which do not include high voltage contact such as grounding and framing poles, installing overhead and underground services, and loading and unloading materials.
Caleb Warren, a rising senior at Hibriten High School and Caldwell district’s first intern apprentice line technician, was surprised that he grew to enjoy the job so much. “When I got this job I thought it would be, you know, just another summer job,” stated Warren. “But now I absolutely love it. All the people I work with have been great and I really want to come back next summer!”
When asked if he would like to pursue a career after graduation at Blue Ridge Electric as a line technician, Caleb enthusiastically replied, “Oh, yes!”
“Caleb jumped in with both feet when he came on board in June and has been eager to learn and do whatever we’ve asked,” said Jeff Benfield, Caldwell district operations manager. “I really hope he’ll consider a career as a line technician in the future – he would make a good one!”
“The success of this program has ensured that we’ll continue to offer internships in the future,” O’Dell-Michie concluded. “Blue Ridge Electric wants to continue to be a preferred employer throughout our service area and offer opportunities to students interested in co-op careers. It’s their future and ours.”
Affiliated with Touchstone Energy, Blue Ridge Electric is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 70,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, Avery and Alexander counties. Its subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, provides propane and heating fuels to Caldwell, Catawba, Watauga, Ashe, Avery and Alleghany counties.
