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
Sparta, North Carolina (August 9, 2007) - As a part of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation’s commitment to education, the cooperative employs students and recent graduates 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.
Matthew Kroeger, a 2007 Alleghany High School graduate, was Alleghany district’s first intern apprentice line technician and has worked side-by-side with experienced line technicians since June.
“The intern concept has been very well received,” said Joe Ward, Alleghany operations manager. “The experienced crew members have enjoyed the extra help and the opportunity to share what they do to provide electric service to the members of Blue Ridge Electric.”
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.”
Blue Ridge Electric is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving some 70,000 member-owners in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, Alexander and Wilkes counties.
