Colorado Springs, Colo., April 1—Twelve teams and 13 individuals won awards at the American Public Power Association’s nineteenth annual Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo, held March 29-30, in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Eighty teams and 133 apprentices from not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities across the nation participated. The “rodeo” is a series of competitive events demonstrating lineworker skills and safe work practices.
“This event is all about safety, comradery, and pride in the craft of linework,” said Mike Hyland, senior vice president of engineering services at the American Public Power Association. “But I think each and every one of the competitors will tell you they had some fun,” he added.
The awards honor lineworkers’ expertise, and the events are judged based upon safety, work practices, neatness, ability, equipment handling, and timely event completion. All safety rules established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the American Public Power Association’s Safety Manual were observed during events.
There are two levels of competition within the rodeo—journeyman and apprentice. The journeyman teams consist of three members—two climbers and a ground person—and can include an optional alternate. A qualified journeyman has more than four years of experience within the electric utility trade. An apprentice lineworker has four or fewer years of experience.
2019 PUBLIC POWER LINEWORKERS RODEO WINNERS
Apprentice - Overall
1st – Curtis Blase, Westerville Electric Division, Ohio
2nd – Michael Darby, Jackson Energy Authority, Tennessee
3rd – John Reger, Gainesville Regional Utilities, Florida
4th – Josh Helton, City of Tallahassee Electric Utility, Florida
5th – Caleb Brickhouse, Greenville Utilities Commission, North Carolina
Apprentice - Three-Phase Fuse Replacement
1st – Philip Nelson, JEA, Florida
2nd – Dan Ash, Gainesville Regional Utilities, Florida
3rd – Justin Estes, SMUD, California
Apprentice - Hurtman Rescue
1st – Takoda Batenhorst, Lincoln Electric System, Nebraska
2nd – Dan Ash, Gainesville Regional Utilities, Florida
3rd – Riley Lowe, Lincoln Electric System, Nebraska
Apprentice - Load Transfer
1st – Cory Haag, Beaches Energy Services, Florida
2nd – Miguel Calderon, Memphis Light, Gas and Water, Tennessee
3rd – Brendan Laflamme, Kissimmee Utility Authority, Florida
Apprentice - Service Connection
1st – Cory Haag, Beaches Energy Services, Florida
2nd – Andy Pierce, Lakeland Electric, Florida
3rd – Philip Nelson, JEA, Florida
Apprentice - Written Test
1st – John Reger, Gainesville Regional Utilities, Florida
2nd – Michael Darby, Jackson Energy Authority, Tennessee
3rd – Clay McClure, Cleveland Public Power, Ohio
Journeyman - Overall
1st – Santee Cooper, South Carolina: Dow Hardee, Joe Sawyer, and Chad Williams
2nd – JEA, Florida: Michael Corbitt, Robert Hess, Gregory Johnson, and Chance Jones
3rd – Colorado Springs Utilities: Tyler Dimenza, John Rombeck, and Cody Strong
4th – Nashville Electric Service, Tennessee: Tommy Barksdale, Cody Roberts, Timmy Sanford, and Michael Shannon
5th – Colorado Springs Utilities: Robert Compton, Dylan McCain, and Brandon Morris
Journeyman - 4kV Alley Arm Insulator Change-Out
1st – City of Tallahassee Electric Utility, Florida: Blake Burns, Keith Kirkpatrick, and James Sanders
2nd – Santee Cooper, South Carolina: Jay Ayers, Johnny Brinson, and Kevin Rhode
3rd – Roseville Electric, California: Kyle Giesser, Phillip Hartnett, and Matt Jones
Journeyman - 12kV Arrester Change-Out
1st – City of Tallahassee Electric Utility, Florida: Blake Burns, Keith Kirkpatrick, and James Sanders
2nd – Santee Cooper, South Carolina: Jay Ayers, Johnny Brinson, and Kevin Rhode
3rd – Ocala Electric Utility, Florida: Cody Bondzinski, Tyler Homan, and Stephen Nice
Journeyman - Hurtman Rescue
1st – JEA, Florida: Josh Brown, Chris Childs, Davey Hicken, and Cody Stokes
2nd – SMUD, California: Justin Hirschi, Dwight Johnson, and Garrett Mcghehey
3rd – Kissimmee Utility Authority: Roberto Diaz, Austin Franey, Shane Paras, and Billy White
Journeyman - 12kV Pole Transfer
1st – JEA, Florida: Michael Corbitt, Robert Hess, Gregory Johnson, and Chance Jones
2nd – JEA, Florida: Josh Brown, Chris Childs, Davey Hicken, and Cody Stokes
3rd – Nashville Electric Service, Tennessee: Tommy Barksdale, Cody Roberts, Timmy Sanford, and Michael Shannon
Journeyman - URD Install
1st – Colorado Springs Utilities: Tyler Dimenza, John Rombeck, and Cody Strong
2nd – Colorado Springs Utilities: Robert Compton, Dylan McCain, and Brandon Morris
3rd – Santee Cooper, South Carolina: Dow Hardee, Joe Sawyer, and Chad Williams