Line Technician at Progress Energy
Former Army artilleryman and Desert Storm veteran surges forward with Progress Energy.
by Warren Duffie
Like so many soldiers, Victor Ray spent his Army career preparing for war. His four years were served on an M109 Paladin, a 27-ton self-propelled tracked vehicle with a 155-millimeter main gun.
During his military tenure, Ray spent hours inside the armored hull conducting fire and maneuver drills that later served him well during Operations Desert Storm.
Nowadays, however, his battles are much quieter. Instead of a roving weapon, Ray commandeers a van as a line technician for North Carolina-based Progress Energy. He wages war against downed power lines, electricity outages, and dissatisfied customers. A tranquil departure from his soldiering days? Sure, but challenging nonetheless.
“The most common problem I deal with is downed lines,” says the former sergeant. “Of course, there are the usual above-ground lines that fall. But there are also underground lines. They vibrate a bit as electricity surges through, and sometimes a rock will rub against them, wearing a hole in the cable and allowing water to seep in and corrode them.”
Ray, 36, works in the South Asheville, N.C., area. His day begins at 6:30 a.m., when he and other linesmen meet to discuss safety issues. He then checks his designated routes for the day, loads up his service van, and hits the road, working until 4 p.m.
“Although what I’m doing now has nothing to do with my Army job,” Ray says, “being on time and paying attention to the small details are crucial in my work. People’s power is depending on me.”
Powering Your Civilian Success
Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 diversified energy company that can generate more than 24,500 mega-watts of power and earns over $10 billion in annual revenues. The company serves residential, small business, and corporate clients – and its holdings include two electric utilities serving approximately 3 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.
To maintain happy customers, the company is always looking for good employees, specifically those with military backgrounds. On its website, Progress states that it “understands the importance of recruiting separating military personnel. These professionals are exceptionally trained, accustomed to working in teams, have engrained leadership skills and offer worldly experience.”
This commitment goes beyond mere words. Progress representatives regularly attend TAP and ACAP classes as well as job fairs. It also has a “specialty recruiter” charged with recruiting veterans exclusively. More information can be found at www.progress-energy.com/aboutus/employment/military.asp.
To underscore Progress’ appreciation of veterans, here’s what Gary Hamrick, resource manager for Energy Delivery Carolinas - Western Region, has to say about Victor Ray: "Victor is a very strong performer who understands the benefits of collaboration, process adherence, and continuous improvement in the work place. His military experience prepared him to exhibit these important interpersonal skills. I would say Victor’s key strengths are integrity, teamwork, and quiet but effective leadership by example."
From Armored Vehicles to Electrical Lines
After graduating from high school in 1987, Ray thought about attending college, but money was tight. So like countless others before him, he enlisted in the Army to find his path to success. It was supposed to be a two-year hitch, but the Hendersonville, N.C., native liked the military so much, he decided to stay longer. Serving with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Armored Division, he was stationed in Kirchgoens, Germany, for a couple of years before being sent to Southwest Asia for Desert Storm.
When the brief war ended, Ray was offered the chance to take advantage of the Army’s “early out” program. He hadn’t forgotten about his college dream, so he got out and returned home to Hendersonville.
The next move was to figure out his course of study and career field. Let’s face it: There isn’t a huge demand for civilian howitzer crews. So Ray looked back to move forward. “I always enjoyed tinkering with radios and other electronic equipment, so I decided to get into the electrical field,” he says.
Using his G.I. Bill, Ray enrolled as a full-time student at nearby Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, N.C. While in college he saw a group of linesmen repairing power lines and decided that might be the job for him after graduating with an associate’s degree in electrical engineering in 1994. He found work with nearby Pike
Electric Corp.
But by 2002 Ray wanted a change – and more money. He knew about Progress Energy and its prestigious reputation in the area, and believed it would provide better opportunities. He applied and was hired within a couple of months.
“It’s been a great fit,” Ray says. “The pay is great. When I first started working with Pike, I took a big pay cut from my military salary, and it was tough at times. But now I’m truly blessed. Also, Progress has excellent benefits — medical, dental, retirement, and a 401(k) plan where they match 50 percent of your contribution.”
In addition, Ray says, recent years have seen a swell of opportunities arise for employees looking to make their way into management and engineering positions — a goal of his.
When asked for advice on how to charge up a successful transition, the electrical man says:
Save your money. “My first civilian job required a sizable pay cut, and I really had to tighten my belt. Make sure you have savings set aside to help during your first year as a civilian, which is usually the hardest.”
Get an education. “The military offers so many opportunities to get an education while you serve. I wish I had taken advantage of them, that way I’d have a bachelor’s degree rather than just an associate’s.”