As Ryan Kornegay, an apprentice with Florida public power utility JEA, prepares to take the next step in his career and become a JEA lineworker, his choice of profession flows from a family with a long history in lineworking.
Kornegay has won APPA’s Overall Apprentice Award at the Lineworkers Rodeo the past three years. He has also won the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s overall apprentice award in 2023 and 2025
Kornegay is the son and grandson of lineworkers.
“As anyone can imagine with a lot of my family being involved in linework, I have always been surrounded by it. When I was younger, I was able to go with dad to some jobsites and watch line crews set poles with cranes,” he said.
“I think it was the first time my dad took me up in a bucket truck that really sealed the deal. My grandfather was a troubleman so he was given a bucket truck that he was allowed to take home,” Kornegay said.
“I was always fascinated by it and would go through the bins any time I had a chance. The one memory that has always stuck out to me as child was when my dad had some small climbing hooks made that would fit my feet when I was younger. I don’t know how he was able to get them made but I know that I climbed every tree in our yard with them!”
Kornegay also discussed how working for JEA has prepared him to take the next step in his career to become a journeyman.
“I still have a few months before I become a lineman, but I feel that JEA has one of the best training programs around. I have been fortunate enough to work with some great linemen that are full of knowledge and are great teachers. They take a lot of pride in training apprentices and even though they are tough on us at times, the reality is that they are just making us into the best that we can be. If we keep the bar set high, then everybody has no choice but to strive to be great.”
When asked how gratifying is it for him to be recognized for your accomplishments as an apprentice through the APPA and FMEA awards, he said, “It honestly means the world to me! My dad has always told me to work hard and let that speak for itself, and it seems like that is exactly what is happening! I am honored that someone would find me interesting enough to write about me at all!”
